Stockport strengthen grip on League One play-off spot after beating Wimbledon

Stockport strengthened their grip on a League One play-off spot after claiming a comfortable 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.

Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring very early on before suffering an injury and making way for leading marksmen Kyle Wootton, who added a second goal in the 39th minute.

And extra gloss was put onto the scoreline in second-half stoppage-time as Ollie Norwood got in on the act.

The Hatters remain in fifth place, but three points now separate them and seventh-placed Stevenage.

It took County less than two minutes to take the lead, with Sidibeh guiding the ball home from left-back Ben Osborn’s superb low cross.

Wimbledon came close to mustering up a swift response, but Omar Bugiel headed wide from Steve Seddon’s free-kick delivery.

Further chances came the visitors’ way beyond the half-hour mark, with Callum Maycock shooting wide from close range and Junior Nkeng being denied by an excellent save from Corey Addai.

The latter resulted in a counter-attack from the hosts and it was clinically finished off by Wootton – who replaced Sidibeh in the 28th minute – following Tanto Olaofe’s run and pass.

After a quiet start to the second half, Dons defender Ryan Johnson’s goalbound header was somehow touched onto the crossbar by Addai in the 58th minute.

A close-range effort from Zack Nelson and substitute Kai Jennings’ strike from distance also forced impressive stops out of Addai as the match neared its conclusion.

And in the seventh minute of stoppage-time, Norwood’s left-footed finish from the edge of the area sealed victory for County.