Jones stars as Notts County promoted
A Jodi Jones-inspired Notts County secured promotion to League One with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Salford City in the League Two Play-Off Final.
In soaring temperatures at Wembley, Jones was in scintillating form for the Magpies, creating the opportunity for Alassana Jatta’s opener, providing the free-kick that led to Lucas Ness heading in the second and capping off the result by slotting in his side’s third.
It was one of the great Play-Off performances, not just for his role in all three goals, but for a showcase that was littered with tricks and flicks that raised the pulses of the vociferous County fans at the National Stadium and earned him a standing ovation when he was subbed off in the 85th minute.
It marks County’s return to the third tier for the first time in 11 years and its first promotion since coming out of the National League in 2023.
For Salford, which only became an EFL side for the first time seven years ago, the pursuit of a debut campaign in the third tier continues into another season.
Chances had been few and far between in the opening period, with Jatta heading over for County and Salford’s Matt Butcher seeing a shot deflected off target.
It looked like it might take something special to break the deadlock and so it proved, as Jones delivered a superb through ball into the left channel for Jatta to chase and the Gambian slotted past Matt Young.
Jones was central again as County doubled their lead just before the break, whipping in a free-kick that Rod McDonald put back across goal for Ness to head in.
Kallum Cesay should have given Salford a lifeline just seconds after the restart, racing through on goal but failing to put the ball past James Belshaw.
But it was a brief moment of hope for the Ammies as that man Jones finished off the tie, pouncing on a cut-back from Conor Grant – who had been on the pitch for just two minutes – to cap a stunning solo performance.
County fans, who have now seen their side win three of its four EFL Play-Off Finals, have endured a four-year spell in non-league recently, but can now turn their attention to League One football next season.
