Stockport edge Stevenage in League One play-off after scoring bizarre late goal | OneFootball

Stockport dramatically seized the League One play-off initiative thanks to a bizarre last-minute goal in a 1-0 victory at Stevenage.

Ben Osborn was the hero, poking home the winner after Benony Andresson stumbled on a one-on-one, leaving Stevenage’s defence unable to clear.

The semi-final had been a cagey affair, seemingly heading for a stalemate as neither side stamped their authority.

Stevenage created the best first-half chances; Jordan Roberts’ hooked volley was tipped over by Corey Addai, and from the subsequent corner, Carl Piergianni headed wide.

Stockport wrestled momentum their way after the hour mark. Adama Sidibeh twice put efforts wide, and an Oliver Norwood free-kick flicked off the wall onto the roof of the net.

Filip Marschall also saved an Odin Bailey free-kick, but Osborn’s late intervention secured the crucial win.

Stevenage did have a couple of chances, none better than when Dan Kemp went through.

As Andresson would later on, he stumbled over his own feet but this time there was nobody there to prod the ball home.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Stockport boss Dave Challinor said: "It's one of the ugliest goals the play-offs has ever seen, but valuable as it puts us ahead in the tie.

"The jeopardy (in these games) is enormous. Stevenage are very good at making the game look like they want it to, they ask you questions.

"We've got to be a bigger threat but we've got a goal which puts us in a decent position.

"The tie is certainly nowhere near over."

Stevenage boss Alex Revell was frustrated with the late goal but insisted Boro are still in the fight for play-off glory.

He told Sky Sports: "Of course it's frustrating (to lose to a goal like that) we could have dealt with the situation a lot better.

"It's half-time, no matter what we would have had to go up to Stockport and try and win the game, it doesn't really change, even though they got the goal.

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Ben Osborn poked home a last-minute winner as Stevenage switched off and failed to clear once Benony Andresson had stumbled and fell over on a one-on-one (PA)

"The players want to win, they definitely don't want to concede a goal like that, it's up to us to pick them up and get them ready and prepared for Wednesday.

"The first half was really positive and we had a couple of moments in the second half when we could have got a shot away. Chances were few and far between today."

County will now take a one-goal lead into the second leg, as the tie moves to Edgeley Park with a place in the League One Play-off Final at stake.

Meanwhile, Bolton host Bradford in the first leg of their semi-final tonight at 8pm.