Notts County thrashed Salford City 3-0 in the 2026 Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final to secure a return to League One after a 11-season absence.
Jodi Jones sealed County’s third promotion in four EFL Play-Off Final appearances – having previously won in 1990 & 91 but lost in 1996 – with a 70th-minute strike from Conor Grant’s low cutback cross.
Alassana Jatta’s 32nd-minute finish and Lucas Ness’ 45th-minute header initially put Martin Paterson’s Magpies in firm control at half time.
Jones post-match explained to Sky Sports the importance of what promotion means to a club whilst enjoying the football.
“It’s unbelievable. It makes me really emotional when you work so hard for 11 months and everyone becomes your family. Personally for me, it’s being one of the hardest years of my life mentally but it all comes down to this day.
“I always say if you’re not going to have fun when you’re playing football, what’s the point of playing. It’s the most fun I’ve had all season, I was just having fun playing football.
“I just knew I’d score in front of our fans today. Look how good they are. It’s amazing, it’s one of the best days of my life.
“I was telling them we were going to win 3-0 yesterday. I knew we had too much quality for them.”
County will now return to League One for the first time since 2014-15 season, whilst Salford will stay in League Two for an eighth consecutive season, with both teams discovering their 2026-27 season fixture lists on Thursday 25 June at 12pm BST.
Having seen Hull and Bolton achieve promotion already on the play-off finals weekend despite having been the lowest ranked of the Championship and League One finalists respectively, Notts County unsurprisingly attempted to lay an early marker as they won an early throw-in.
Salford however stood firm in the scorching 37-degree heat of Wembley as both teams lacked much penetrable quality in the opening half hour, with no shots on target as both goalkeepers weren’t really tested.
Notts County eventually broke the deadlock as Jones tested Salford’s defence with a 32nd-minute long direct ball forward, which led to miscommunication between Adebola Oluwo and Brandon Cooper as Jatta snuck in between them and fired the Magpies ahead with a low right-corner strike.
Salford’s wastefulness soon haunted them once more as Haji Mnoga fouled Jones who swung a 45th-minute free-kick across to the far right, where Rod McDonald volleyed a unmarked cross into the centre of the box for Ness to head County’s second goal into the top-left corner.
Salford manager, Karl Robinson substituted Matt Butcher for Ben Woodburn at half time which sparked life into the Ammies’ attack as Kallum Cesay forced a save from County’s James Belshaw just 20 seconds into the second half.
Salford’s frustrations continued as Ryan Graydon saw a 55th-minute volley saved by Belshaw after County’s Jacob Bedeau elbowed a cross into his path, but his subsequent handball appeal were snubbed by referee – Tom Reeves.
County continued to soak up Salford’s pressure and broke forward on a quick 70th-minute attack which saw Grant play a cutback low cross across the box, although Jatta was wrestled too deep into the box yet Jones was alert to smash County’s third goal into the right corner.
Salford almost pulled a goal back two minutes later as Haji Mnoga’s cross was fumbled by Belshaw but substitute – Fabio Borini nodded wide.
County eventually saw out the win to secure their return to League One and a first EFL Play-Off Final win in 35 years, with their last such outing in 1996 having seen them lose 2- to Bradford – who will be one of their opponents next season.
Salford meanwhile fell to a first defeat at Wembley Stadium in all competitions and will remain in the fourth tier for an eighth consecutive season.
Teams
Salford: Matty Young, Haji Mnoga, Adebola Oluwo, Brandon Cooper (Borini 60′), Luke Garbutt, Ryan Graydon, Matt Butcher (Woodburn 46′), Josh Austerfield (Stockton 85′), Rosaire Longelo (Harris 60′), Kallum Cesay, Daniel Udoh
Substitutes: Fabio Borini, Alfie Dorrington, Mark Howard, Kadeem Harris, Cole Stockton, Ollie Turton, Ben Woodburn
Notts County: James Belshaw, Lucas Ness, Rod McDonald, Jacob Bedeau, Nick Tsaroulla (Bennetts 87′), Oliver Norburn (Palmer 78′), Scott Robertson, Jodi Jones (Kouhyar 86′), Tom Iorpenda, Jayden Luker (Grant 68′), Alassana Jatta (Ndlovu 86′)
Substitutes: Matthew Dennis, Conor Grant, Harry Griffiths, Maziar Kouhyar, Keanan Bennetts, Lee Ndlovu, Matt Palmer
Referee – Tom Reeves
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