The final match of the English domestic season saw Notts County secure their promotion to League One with an emphatic victory over Salford City. Under the baking sun at Wembley, Alassana Jatta opened the scoring, setting the tone for a dominant performance by County. Following a powerful header from Lucas Ness, Jodi Jones sealed the win with a second-half goal, confirming County's return to the higher echelons of English football.

The clash represented a battle between celebrity and tradition, with Salford, owned by football legends like Gary Neville and David Beckham, facing off against the historic club, Notts County. Despite Salford's star-studded ownership, they struggled to match County's intensity on the pitch.

County, managed by Martin Paterson, showed their quality right from the start, with Jones orchestrating play in the midfield. In sweltering temperatures of nearly 36 degrees, Salford's coach, Karl Robinson, watched his team exert themselves in vain as they chased shadows.

Key moments included:

• Jatta's opening goal, a product of a stunning pass from Jones.
• Ness's header doubling County's lead just before halftime.
• Jones's final goal, coming from a precise cutback by Conor Grant.

Salford, who finished the regular season just above County, had hoped to secure automatic promotion but fell short. They had beaten County in their previous encounters but found Wembley a different challenge altogether. Haji Mnoga's challenges went unpunished, and despite tactical changes, Salford could not find their rhythm.

As the final whistle blew, it marked a triumphant return for Notts County to League One, while Salford's ambitions faced a harsh reality in the playoffs.