Carlisle United ascended to the third tier as Paul Simpson led the Blues to his third promotion with the Club as a manager, overcoming Stockport County in the Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final in a penalty shootout.

Cumbrians boss Simpson, who guided Carlisle to back-to-back promotions from non-league to League One between 2004 and 2006, was the hero once again.

The Blues came from behind to draw 1-1 after 90 minutes and following a period extra time, Carlisle were 5-4 winners in the shootout.

After a slow start to the game, Stockport came closest to breaking the deadlock. Paddy Madden combined with Kyle Knoyle who made headway down the right-hand channel. The latter’s low cross into the box found Isaac Olaofe but he was unable to get the ball out of his feet and Tomas Holy eventually gathered.

Minutes later, Carlisle responded with a chance of their own. Owen Moxon’s free-kick was met by the head of Joe Garner whose header was goal bound until the Hatters keeper intervened to push it around the post.

The opening goal came in the 34th minute as County took the lead at Wembley. Olaofe made tracks down the right and the striker’s cross-turned-shot took an unfortunate deflection off Jon Mellish, looping over Holy in the Carlisle goal to make it 1-0 to Stockport through an own goal.

With half time fast approaching, Joel Senior burst through on goal after winning back possession and looked as if he was about to level for Carlisle with John-Kymani Gordon to his left, but Senior’s delivery was blocked.

In four minutes of added time, Gordon pressed for the equaliser raced into the box and beat his man, only to send his effort into the stand behind the goal.

Ten minutes into the second period, an impressive team move by Carlisle almost caught Stockport on the break. Moxon fed the ball into Alfie McCalmont whose cut-back fell to Gordon. The Crystal Palace loanee spun inside the area but the ball ran away from him.

At the other end of the pitch, the Hatters won a free-kick which was delivered by Chris Hussey. From the set piece, Akil Wright got on the end of the cross but nodded just wide as the game came to life.

With 78 mins gone, Stockport substitute Myles Hippolyte attempted an audacious overhead kick on the edge of the penalty area which just cleared the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

Into the final 10 minutes of the Final, the Cumbrians missed a huge chance to restore parity. Senior’s deliver fell kindly to Mellish but from close range, Knoyle blocked his shot on the line. There were appeals of handball from the Blues which were waved away.

However, moments later, Omari Patrick – who was introduced in the second half by Carlisle boss Simpson – made it 1-1. With five minutes remaining, Stockport failed to deal with Senior’s delivery which came to Patrick on the edge of the area to slot home the leveller after the ball was only half cleared.

And Simpson’s side weren’t finished there, either. The Cumbrians almost made it 2-1 with a near carbon copy of the equaliser but County held on.

As nine minutes of injury time were displayed by the fourth official, Stockport found their second wind. First, Myles Hippolyte fired straight at Holy from a tight angle before a scramble in the box ensured, with Carlisle eventually clearing the ball to safety, forcing the game to extra time.

It was a tense additional 30 minutes, as both sides began to tire. Stockport’s Will Collar looked to tee up Ryan Croasdale. The latter took aim, but his strike took a nick off a red shirt to carry it over the bar.

Cumbrians keeper Holy produced a superb save in the second half of extra time. Jack Stretton let fly for Stockport from 20 yards and it needed the fingertips of the stopper to tip it over the bar and keep Carlisle in the contest.

And Holy’s opposite number Ben Hinchliffe rivalled that stop with one of his own soon after. Kristian Dennis’ glancing heading from a Moxon corner was destined for the top corner until Hinchliffe clawed the ball away and it would be penalties to determine who won promotion.

In the shootout, Blues keeper Holy kept out Ryan Rydel’s penalty to give the Cumbrians the advantage.

And it was Carlisle Academy graduate Taylor Charters converted the deciding spot-kick as Simpson’s side scored all five of their penalties to win 5-4 and secure promotion back to League One, ending a nine-year absence.

Carlisle United: Tomas Holy, Joel Senior, Jack Armer (Kristian Dennis 81’), Owen Moxon, Paul Huntington, Callum Guy (Taylor Charters 77’), Corey Whelan, Jon Mellish, Alfie McCalmont (Omari Patrick 61’), John-Kymani Gordon (Jordan Gibson 77’), Joe Garner (Ryan Edmondson 61’)

Stockport County: Ben Hinchliffe, Kyle Knoyle, Akil Wright (Will Collar 66’), Fraser Horsfall, Callum Camps (Neill Byrne 85’), Paddy Madden (Myles Hippolyte 66’), Antoni Sarcevic (Connor Evans 114’), Ryan Rydel, Ryan Croasdale, Isaac Olaofe (Jack Stretton 81), Chris Hussey

Attendance: 34,004


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