Notts County's Class of 26 way too strong for Salford's Man United old boys project

Last domestic fixture of the season

League Two play-off final

Notts County (2) 3 Jatta 32, Ness 45, Jones 70

Salford City (0) 0

Sometimes, you just can't beat old money.

One of the oldest pro football teams showed their pedigree to win domestic football's last fixture of the season at the expense of one of the EFL's newest additions - and it was fully deserved.

Notts County's reward is League One football next season while vanquished Salford must once again try to find a way up from League Two, having only just missed out on promotion this time around.

Salford did the double over County this season and seem to be something of a bogey side for the Magpies - having won five of the two teams' previous six encounters.

But there was only one point and one place between the pair over the 46 matches both played in League Two, so it suggested there might not be much to choose between them on a baking hot day at Wembley where the thermometer reached a blistering 35 degrees.

In the event, there was a big gap between the two as County seized the day with an assured, dominant display. Boss Martin Paterson had enjoyed a perfect afternoon.

County had the greater support against a club still building following the injection of support from the Man United Class of 92 - David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt were among those here to watch - and they were determined to see their side prevail against the arrivistes.

Just past the half hour, they got their wish. All it took was a well judged ball flighted ball from deep by Jodi Jones to bisect two defenders and Gambian striker Alassana Jatta raced on before calmly slotting past keeper Matt Young.

And just before the break, a free-kick swung out to the right by the ever-involved Jones was volleyed back into the danger zone by County skipper Rod McDonald for Lucas Ness to head in after a prodigious run and leap for a great connection.

Boss Karl Robinson had much to say at the interval, no doubt, and Salford came out of the traps to almost reduce the arrears when Kallum Cesay burst forward before running into keeper James Belshaw.

But in truth, County were never in danger of losing control and moments after Conor Grant had come off the bench for the Magpies midway through the second half, he scampered down the right flank to cut a ball back for man of the match Jones to put away. It capped an excellent display from the midfielder who later received a fitting ovation when he was subbed off.

If there were any doubts remaining about the outcome of this contest, they simply melted away in that instant as the party started up in the shadowed west end of the stadium while Salford fans were only too ready to escape the torment in their hot seats housed in the broiling east end.

County: (3-4-2-1) Belshaw - Ness, McDonald, Bedaeu - Tsaroulla (Bennetts 86), Norburn (Palmer 77), Robertson, Jones (Kouyar 86) - Iorpenda, Luker (Grant 69) - Jatta (Ndlovu 86)

Salford: (4-4-2) Young - Mnoga, Oluwo, Cooper (Borini 60), Garbutt - Graydon, Butcher (Woodburn h/t), Austerfield (Stockton 85), Longelo (Harris 60) - Cesay, Udoh

Attendance: 30,851