Walsall March to Wembley After Clinical Play-Off Triumph Over Chesterfield
Well, what a night it was for Walsall Football Club. Under the floodlights at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, the Saddlers sealed their ticket to Wembley with a commanding 2-1 win over Chesterfield, making it 4-1 on aggregate across the two legs of the League Two play-off semi-final.
It’s fair to say this result has been brewing ever since that resilient first-leg performance. Coming into tonight’s match with a 2-0 advantage, you might have thought Walsall would sit back and try to defend their lead. But that wasn’t the case. Right from kick-off, they looked sharp, confident, and up for the challenge—determined to put this tie beyond doubt.
The breakthrough came late, but boy, was it worth the wait. Charlie Lakin, who had just come off the bench, found the net in the 81st minute thanks to a superb assist from Albert Adomah. It was one of those moments where the stadium just erupts. That goal made it 3-0 on aggregate and all but crushed Chesterfield’s hopes.
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But there was still drama to come. Chesterfield did get a goal back through Armando Dobra deep into injury time. A flicker of resistance, but honestly, it was too little, too late. And then, as if to end things on their terms, Walsall struck again. Levi Amantchi, who had missed a golden opportunity earlier, made up for it just seconds after Dobra’s goal. Another assist from Adomah, and this time Amantchi buried it—sparking wild scenes across the stadium.
The fans couldn’t contain themselves. Flares lit up the night, and supporters spilled onto the pitch in celebration. It wasn’t the smoothest ending, with delays and discussions about safety, but eventually, the final whistle blew, confirming Walsall’s place in the play-off final at Wembley on May 26.
What’s incredible about this run is the turnaround. Just a few months ago, Walsall looked like a team in freefall. They had blown a commanding lead at the top of the table and limped into the play-offs with barely a win in sight. But here they are, peaking at exactly the right time, riding the momentum of three straight victories, and showing that belief and unity can carry you through the darkest moments.
Manager Mat Sadler has every reason to be proud. He’s rebuilt confidence in the squad and reignited the togetherness that defines successful teams. As he said post-match, this is a moment to be celebrated—but the job isn’t finished yet.
So now, all eyes turn to Wembley. Walsall will face either AFC Wimbledon or Notts County in what promises to be a thrilling final. One game, one dream—promotion to League One. And if this week has shown us anything, it’s that Walsall are ready for the fight.
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