Walsall Head to Wembley After Thrilling Second Leg Against Chesterfield
The tension was through the roof at Poundland Stadium as Walsall and Chesterfield battled for a spot in the League Two play-off final. Heading into this crucial second leg, Walsall held a 2-0 advantage thanks to Taylor Allen’s penalty and Alfie Chang’s clinical finish in the opener. Chesterfield, managed by the ever-determined Paul Cook, arrived with one goal: upset the odds and capitalize on Walsall’s patchy form in the season’s second half.
Cook’s tactical gamble was clear from the opening whistle. Chesterfield played high, pressed hard, and tried to rattle a Walsall side that’s shown nerves before. But the home supporters were loud and relentless, urging their team to see out the job and break a Wembley drought that’s stretched back to 2001.
Late Goals and Drama Seal Walsall's Victory
The first hour delivered everything you want from play-off football: end-to-end attacks, big tackles, and just enough controversy to get both benches up in arms. Walsall created early chances but also found themselves pinned back as Chesterfield threw on attackers. When Albert Adomah came off the bench, the energy shifted. His run and whipped cross found Charlie Lakin in the 81st minute, whose powerful header all but ended Chesterfield’s hopes.
Chesterfield weren’t finished, though. Armando Dobra latched onto a loose ball in the dying minutes, leveling the score on the night and sending their fans into a frenzy—if only for a moment. With the away fans still celebrating, Walsall struck again deep in stoppage time. Levi Amantchi latched onto a loose ball after a mad scramble, blasting home to make it 2-1 on the night and 4-1 across both legs.
- Charlie Lakin’s crucial 81st-minute header
- Armando Dobra’s late equalizer for Chesterfield
- Levi Amantchi’s last-gasp winner in added time
Both fixtures were broadcast through a mix of TV and online live streams, so fans at home caught all the action and late drama. The result means next stop is Wembley for Walsall—their first trip there in over twenty years and a shot at a place in League One. For Chesterfield, it’s heartbreak and another year dreaming of promotion. But if this tie proved one thing, it’s that neither side left anything on the pitch. Supporters will remember the highs, the lows, and those unforgettable final minutes for years to come.
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