Carlisle United are promoted after win over Stockport at Wembley

The Blues won a dramatic League One play-off final on penalties to seal their return to League One.

Amid memorable scenes at Wembley, Maryport midfielder Taylor Charters struck the winning kick to send the United fans into ecstasy.

Tomas Holy had saved Ryan Rydel's penalty earlier in the shoot-out and that proved decisive.

United had fought back in the game after Jon Mellish's own goal put Stockport into a first-half lead.

But an impressive fightback, capped by Omari Patrick's equaliser, took things to extra-time.

Neither side could win it then, meaning a shoot-out was needed - and Carlisle claimed the glory.

It ends a nine-year absence from the third tier and a 17-year wait for promotion.

Simpson's side saw Mellish back from suspension to take the place of Ben Barclay in defence, as Corey Whelan moved from the left to the right of the back three.

Otherwise it was the same side that had started the semi-final second leg against Bradford, with Morgan Feeney deemed not fit enough to return to the squad.

Stockport boss Challinor made two changes, Ryan Croasdale and Antoni Sarcevic coming into their XI.

It was Stockport who settled the better early on with the first half-chance headed over by Paddy Madden.

Carlisle defended doggedly in the opening stages with Corey Whelan doing well to see off Olaofe's threat as Kyle Knoyle crossed from the right.

United's first real opportunity came midway through the half when Joe Garner rose to meet an Owen Moxon free-kick, keeper Ben Hinchliffe diving to push it past the post.

Mellish was booked as he fouled Olaofe as the County frontman broke, while Ryan Croasdale sliced wide after more Stockport pressure.

And Mellish was then unfortunate as his deflection gave Challinor's side the lead.

Olaofe was released on the right and, as he cut into the box and looked to deliver, the ball spun off Mellish's foot and looped over the stranded Holy.

Stockport were lifted by the goal and United had some more defending to do.

But Simpson's side could easily have found a way back late in the half.

On 44 minutes Joel Senior stole the ball and burst into the box but was thwarted by Akil Wright as he tried to square for JK Gordon.

And Gordon himself worked a great opportunity as he ran at Wright and left him for dead, but lifted his shot too high from the left of goal.

After the break Madden met a Ryan Rydel cross but headed off target as Carlisle looked for a way back.

It almost came on 56 minutes when Moxon drove forward and linked with Alfie McCalmont, but Gordon's touch was heavy as he tried to spin onto the low pass into the box.

And Stockport were then inches away from a second when Wright headed Chris Hussey's free-kick narrowly wide.

Simpson made his first changes just after the hour mark, Omari Patrick and Ryan Edmondson replacing McCalmont and Garner.

Stockport then responded by sending on Will Collar and Myles Hippolyte as they sought to kill the contest, before United, who remained short of chances, introduced Taylor Charters and Jordan Gibson.

And then, Kristian Dennis also coming on, they staged their late comeback, Mellish moved into midfield and denied with a goalline block which saw huge handball appeals turned down.

But moments later Gibson and Senior combined and, when a clearance fell to Patrick, he finished clinically to level the final in the 83rd minute.

It was all United in the closing stages of the 90 before Stockport responded in ten added minutes, denied a penalty shout as the ball struck Huntington in the box but the final then going to extra-time.

Mellish blocked a Hippolyte shot and Whelan superbly kept out a Croasdale finish as Stockport tried to regain the initiative in the first half of extra-time.

And in the second period, another County sub - former Carlisle striker Jack Stretton - turned and rifled towards the top corner, Tomas Holy denying him with a fine save.

United then came close to a winner when Dennis met Moxon's near-post corner and saw his header brilliantly kept out by Hinchliffe, but neither side could win it in extra-time.

Dennis, Mellish, Edmondson and Moxon all netted penalties for Carlisle, with Evans on target for Stockport but Rydel seeing their second spot-kick saved by Holy.

Hippolyte, Stretton and Collar scored but Charters kept his nerve to win it for the Blues.

United: Holy, Whelan, Huntington, Mellish, Senior, Armer (Dennis 81), Guy (Charters 77), Moxon, McCalmont (Patrick 61), Garner (Edmondson 61), Gordon (Gibson 77). Not used: Kelly, Robinson.

Goals: Patrick 83.

Booked: Mellish, Charters.

Stockport: Hinchliffe, Knoyle, Hussey, Horsfall, Wright (Collar 68), Camps (Byrne 85), Sarcevic (Evans 114), Croasdale, Rydel, Madden (Hippolyte 68), Olaofe (Stretton 81). Not used: Jaros, Lewis.

Goals: Mellish 34og.

Booked: Collar.

Ref: Tom Nield.

Crowd: 34,004.