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Dave Challinor’s stellar managerial record had brought him seven promotions in 16 seasons leading up to this campaign.

Having gone up with Colwyn Bay, AFC Fylde and Hartlepool United prior to his return to Edgeley Park, where he had spent two years as a player, he picked up the mantle with Stockport and took them back into the EFL.

He followed that two seasons later with promotion to League One. However, for two seasons on the bounce they have now missed out on automatic promotion to the Championship, finished third and then gone on to lose in the play-offs.

Challinor played for Stockport the last time they played second-tier football in 2002, but any return will be delayed by a further year.

For Stockport it was a case of ‘what if?’.

Had Sidibeh’s goal not been chalked off by VAR, which is only in place for the EFL play-off finals, could they have put their mark on a game which they could have led by the break?

In the end the match played out over two halves heavily influenced by conditions and individual errors.

Despite going a goal down following Addai’s mishap, Stockport pulled themselves back into the game when they could have sat back and calculated their next move with legs tiring.

After the break, however, Bolton made sure of their return to the Championship and by the time Wootton had put the ball into his own net, Stockport looked finished.

Dacres-Cogley’s late sending-off came at the end of a day to forget for Challinor’s side, who face a summer of reflection as they aim to mount another challenge for promotion next term.