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• Paul Simpson plans ‘really good night’ on the beers after Carlisle win promotion

  Overjoyed Carlisle boss Paul Simpson was happy for his players to head out and enjoy a beer following their dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout win over Stockport in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final.

  After the Wembley showdown ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, the Cumbrians held their nerve to score five faultless spot-kicks to seal promotion and return to League One after nine years away.

  “I’m delighted for all the players,” said Simpson. “They’ve shown the desire to really dig in during that second half, because we had to earn the right to take it all the way.

  “We had to hang in there a little bit, but I’m so pleased we’ve stuck at it and taken the game all the way.

  “We’ve done that all season, and to be honest that began on June 22 last year when we started pre-season.

  “Someone has said we were eighth favourites to go down but, after this, I’m just so unbelievably proud of the group, the whole football club, and of course the supporters.

  “I’ve lost all my previous games at Wembley so I felt that run couldn’t continue too much longer, but this day is going to be right up there.

  “We’ve probably overachieved in securing promotion, and I have to say I didn’t really expect this at the end of this season, but again credit to the players for their efforts.

  “We’ve always had the belief but wow, we’re in for a really good night now.

  “The players and the supporters have earned a beer.”

  It proved to be a tightly contested, energy-sapping first half amid summery conditions at Wembley.

  Stockport held the advantage at the break thanks to a touch of fortune when Isaac Olaofe’s cross flicked off Jon Mellish’s boot before looping into the far corner.

  However, Carlisle substitute Omari Patrick’s drilled finish in the 84th minute sent the tie into extra-time.

  After Ryan Rydel’s sole penalty miss in the shootout proved decisive, last season’s Vanarama National League champions Stockport missed out on back-to-back promotions.

  Boss Dave Challinor has urged his talented squad to learn from the heartbreaking defeat.

  “I wasn’t too surprised that the game was so tight, but obviously it’s a really disappointing way to lose,” he said.

  “We’ve gone through all the emotions over the last week – winning on penalties against Salford and then this – but we have to learn from days like today.

  “We have to learn from it and take all the positives we can.

  “It’s not a nice feeling, but we have to use this feeling to motivate us for what will be a different prospect in League Two next season.”

  Challinor felt huge sympathy for youngster Rydel, who has otherwise enjoyed a terrific season at Edgeley Park.

  “He’ll just have to learn from the experience,” added the County boss.

  “We’re all gutted for him, but anyone can miss a penalty in that situation.

  “Better players than Ryan have missed pressure penalties like that, and you have to say that all the other nine were pretty much perfect so that’s just how it goes sometimes.

  “Ryan has got to use this as a driving factor for his future career.

  “It’s an important experience he has to go through, but he’s a great lad and he’ll get over it.”

• Use of Hampden for Scottish Cup final great for women’s game – Claire O’Riordan

  Claire O’Riordan believes the use of Hampden Park for Celtic’s Scottish Cup final win over Rangers is another step in the right direction for the women’s game.

  The first time the two sides had met in the final of the competition was also the first time the showpiece finale was hosted at the national stadium where second-half goals from Natasha Flint and O’Riordan saw the Hoops retain the trophy with a 2-0 win.

  After the game, watched by a crowd of 10,446, Republic of Ireland international O’Riordan said: “Obviously, that shows a stepping stone in the right direction in the women’s game to be able to put it on such a stage, the progression that the SFA have been able to put into the women’s game and the support and exposure that has come with that.

  “It can only mean that the game can utilise that and continue to grow and again, it is really important for women’s football here in Scotland and around the world.”

  Celtic missed out on the league title last week after Glasgow City’s dramatic last-gasp winner against Rangers at Ibrox rendered the Hoops’ 2-0 win over Hearts at Celtic Park irrelevant.

  O’Riordan said: “Obviously, it was difficult finishing off the season the way we did last week but in some ways, we took the positives, another record crowd at Celtic Park (15,822) and another three points to finish off the league season.

  “And we just got back into work as we do every day, every week and we reaped the rewards today.

  “It was a tough task but the most important thing was we stuck together and grinded out the result.”

  Hoops boss Fran Alonso admitted the victory was “the perfect ending” for his side.

  He said: “This week was very hard to pick the girls up, which was our dream.

  “Credit to Glasgow City, they deserved it but football was cruel to us.

  “We transferred this anger and disappointment into aggression and passion and today – against a superb team – we dominated the game.

  “We could have scored more. I am extremely proud and it was what the girls deserved. They never give up and never let me down.

  “I told them before game even if we don’t win the game that I was proud of them – they have been 10 out of 10 this season. But that is the perfect ending. It is a very special day for me and my family.”

  It was Malky Thomson’s last game as Rangers boss before he returns to the club’s academy.

  The Light Blues secured the Sky Sports Cup earlier this season but came third in the league before their Scottish Cup final disappointment.

  He said: “You get to the latter stages of any competition and you want to try and win it, so there are a lot of emotions.

  “We have given a good account of ourselves across a long, hard season.

  “There are fine margins. When you create opportunities you have got to take them.

  “I have to say that no matter what, we have always been playing for something this season. That is a major positive.

  “We won one trophy, we got to the Scottish Cup final and we came close to retaining the title so there are a lot of positives.

  “It is a work in progress. That is three years we have been professional.

  “There have been massive expectations at this club. The learning experience they have gained will stand them in good stead for next season.”

• Dundee United’s relegation confirmed following defeat at Motherwell

  Dundee United’s relegation from the cinch Premiership was confirmed as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Motherwell.

  The Terrors required a victory and an eight-goal swing in goal difference to avoid the drop but they were unable to produce a great escape at Fir Park.

  Kevin van Veen took his incredible scoring run to 11 consecutive matches by breaking the deadlock after five minutes – setting a new Scottish Premiership record in the process.

  United responded through Jamie McGrath’s penalty and Steven Fletcher coolly fired Jim Goodwin’s side ahead early in the second half, but Motherwell would come surging back.

  Blair Spittal levelled after 69 minutes before Max Johnston grabbed a winner shortly after having a goal ruled out for offside.

  Spittal saw a shot gathered at the second time of asking as the home side threatened in the first minute.

  The opening goal arrived after five minutes when Sean Goss dispossessed Glenn Middleton and slid a neat through ball to Van Veen, who coolly rounded the goalkeeper before slamming the ball into the net.

  United were in desperate need of a response, and a good stop by Liam Kelly prevented Middleton drawing them level in the 10th minute. Fletcher was then denied an equaliser by an excellent goal-line clearance from Paul McGinn.

  Van Veen almost doubled his tally after he connected with Stephen O’Donnell’s cross, only for his header to clip the crossbar and drift over the top.

  Referee Steven MacLean awarded the visitors a penalty following a VAR check on the half-hour which showed Bevis Mugabi to have handled inside the area.

  McGrath stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick and he powerfully dispatched the ball beyond the reach of Kelly to restore parity for Goodwin’s men.

  Mikael Mandron passed up a glorious chance to head Motherwell back in front when he failed to hit the target following good work from Van Veen.

  Fletcher’s close-range header struck the outside of a post just before half-time, though the striker would complete the turnaround three minutes into the second half – giving their travelling supporters a glimmer of hope that they could orchestrate a miracle turnaround.

  Peter Pawlett did well to link with McGrath before surging forward, and he teed-up Fletcher for the simplest of finishes past Kelly.

  A superb save by Jack Newman prevented Mugabi’s point-blank header from finding the net and there was a further chance for Mandron before James Furlong’s low drive somehow stayed out after striking a post and flashing across the goal-line.

  The equaliser eventually arrived with 21 minutes remaining on the clock, Spittal drilling the ball beyond the despairing Newman from the edge of the box.

  Johnston saw a goal ruled out for offside as the home side continued to press and Goss really should have taken on a shot himself rather than squaring the ball to Van Veen who was hampered by a tight angle.

  Johnston was not to denied second time around when he found the net again with eight minutes left on the clock, turning home Furlong’s cross to put beyond any doubt that the Tannadice side would be relegated.