Notts County beat David Beckham's Salford in League Two playoff final Notts County secured a 3-0 victory over Salford City in the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium, reclaiming a League One spot after an 11-year absence. The match, which saw former England captain David Beckham and his co-owned Salford side suffer a crushing defeat, highlighted the stark contrast between the two teams’ histories and current standings. Notts County, founded in 1862 and a founding member of the Football League, dominated the game, while Salford City, which had only escaped the non-league system seven years ago, were forced to remain in the fourth tier for at least another season. The match unfolded under sweltering conditions, with temperatures nearing 37 degrees Celsius, but Notts County’s attacking prowess proved decisive. The first goal came in the 32nd minute, orchestrated by Jodi Jones. After a through-ball from Jones, Alassana Jatta capitalized on a defensive error, side-footing the ball past Salford goalkeeper Matt Young. The goal was met with overwhelming support from Notts’ 20,000 fans, who celebrated Jones’ 17th goal of the season. Salford, who had previously defeated Notts in both regular-season meetings, struggled to match their opponents’ intensity. Haji Mnonga was booked for a reckless challenge on Jones just before halftime, and the hosts’ inability to capitalize on set-pieces became a recurring theme. A free kick in the 58th minute led to Notts’ second goal, as Rod McDonald headed home from a cross by Ben Woodburn, who had replaced the injured Kallum Cesay. The decisive moment came in the 70th minute when Jones scored his second goal of the match. Conor Grant’s run down the right flank created space for Jones, who outpaced Salford’s defenders to slot the ball past Young.#david_beckham #wembley_stadium #notts_county #salford_city #jodi_jones
