Both of the play-off semi-final first leg games have been completed. The second legs are both on Saturday 20th.
Here’s how those first games went…
Salford City 1 Stockport County 0
It was a tight game as both teams matched each other all over the park. Having won at the Peninsula Stadium earlier in the season, Stockport knew they could undo Salfords defence but it wasn’t to be on the night. Ironically, County hit the bar seconds before Matt Smith beat the County defence to a cross for the only goal.
It goes to Edgeley Park and its not over by a long shot. County will hope they can reset and aren’t as affected by injuries and a packed noisy home crowd can inspire them, Salford will hope to complete the task of reaching Wembley. The league game in Stockport ended level.
Bradford City 1 Carlisle United 0
In another close game, the Yorkshire side scored after the visitors had hit the bar in almost a carbon copy of the other play-off game. These two were only separated in the table on goal difference, and the two league games they played produced just one goal.
The game was a physical one that lacked any real quality as Bradford were roared on by the majority of the almost 21,000 crowd. Both managers will be reasonably happy, one with a slender lead, the other with it all to play for on Saturday.
