Deadly Dickinson downs Chairboys

Dickinson: Celebrates crucial goal with fans

The 6ft 4in forward registered his 20th goal of the season in the seventh minute after Wycombe skipper Mike Williamson inexplicably allowed the ball to slip under his feet on the halfway line.

Dickinson, 22, showed blistering pace to race clear of the visiting defence and remarkable poise to slip the ball past goalkeeper Frank Fielding with a neat right-foot finish.

That put County 1-0 up on the day and 2-1 ahead on aggregate and settled a disappointing encounter in which genuine goalscoring opportunities were scarce.

Stockport will relish a derby clash against near neighbours Rochdale, who beat Darlington 5-4 on penalties earlier in the day, and in Dickinson they have a forward with the pace and skill to unlock the best defences in the division.

Signed from local non-league side Woodley Sports in 2005, the Salford-born striker has this season emerged as one of the most lethal marksmen in the bottom tier of the Football League.

His early goal encouraged hopes among the home support of a repeat of the last meeting between the sides at Edgeley Park in December, when Dickinson was on the scoresheet in a 6-0 home win.

Such a scoreline was never likely, though, not with so much at stake and with Paul Lambert's men fighting for every ball as if their lives depended on it.

Last Sunday's first leg at Adams Park was characterised by a niggling undercurrent which saw five Wycombe and two Stockport players booked.

That ill feeling spilled over into this meeting, with both sets of players prepared to mix it, while Lambert exchanged angry words with Stockport counterpart Jim Gannon on the touchline.

After an insipid start, Wycombe improved and they fashioned two half chances as the interval approached.

In the 40th minute, 26-goal leading scorer Scott McGleish turned and shot from deep inside Stockport territory and the ball looked to have struck County left-back Michael Rose's arm.

The visiting players appealed vehemently for a penalty but referee Andy D'Urso was unmoved.

On the stroke of half-time, Wycombe midfielder Tommy Doherty turned and shot left-footed but County goalkeeper Conrad Logan had little trouble in making a routine save.

Lambert's men enjoyed spells of sustained pressure after the break and went close through headers from Gary Holt and McGleish and a neat move involving Sergio Torres, Holt and Delroy Facey.

Yet Logan - recalled to the side unexpectedly with fellow loanee John Ruddy nursing a knock - largely remained a spectator as Wycombe substitute Leon Knight slashed a shot wide in the closing stages.