Bolton Wanderers have secured their return to the Championship for the first time since 2019, triumphing over Stockport County with a commanding 4-1 victory in the League One play-off final at Wembley. Substitute Sam Dalby proved instrumental in the decisive win, scoring a crucial third goal and playing a key role in an earlier own goal that restored Bolton’s lead, sparking wild celebrations among their nearly 30,000 fans.Ruben Rodrigues bookended the scoring for Bolton, netting the opener in the third minute and converting a late penalty to seal the victory. Stockport’s day was further marred by the stoppage-time dismissal of former Bolton right-back Josh Dacres-Cogley, who received a red card for a hair pull on Ibrahim Cissoko, marking County’s second Wembley defeat of the season.Steven Schumacher’s side, who had experienced play-off final disappointment against Oxford in 2024, took an early advantage when Rodrigues capitalised on a goalkeeping error. Stockport’s Corey Addai needlessly scooped a relatively tame 30-yard shot from Thierry Gale into the path of Mason Burstow, whose attempt was then cleared by Ethan Pye straight to Rodrigues, who fired home. Bolton intensified their attack in the second half, with Addai making another unconvincing save from Josh Sheehan early on (Getty Images)Stockport believed they had equalised eight minutes later through Adama Sidibeh, but a controversial VAR intervention – a technology notably absent throughout the regular season – saw referee Josh Smith overturn his on-pitch call, awarding Wanderers a free-kick for a "careless foul" on George Johnston. Despite this, Sidibeh did eventually level for the Hatters in the 29th minute, heading home an Odin Bailey cross, as temperatures on the pitch soared above 30 degrees.Bolton intensified their attack in the second half, with Addai making another unconvincing save from Josh Sheehan early on. The turning point arrived when Dalby replaced Xavier Simons on the hour mark. Just three minutes later, his pass sent Amario Cozier-Duberry through, whose weak effort was pushed by Addai onto Kyle Wootton, who inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net. Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham then showed his worth, making a crucial block to deny substitute Tanto Olaofe a goal-bound strike. This proved a pivotal intervention as Dalby then added a brilliant overhead kick for his 14th goal of the season, before Rodrigues sealed the victory from the spot after Dacres-Cogley’s dismissal, ensuring Bolton’s seventh play-off final appearance ended in glory.This emphatic win marks Bolton’s successful return to the second tier, two years after their previous play-off final heartbreak, and signals a triumphant end to their League One campaign.