The 1991–92 season saw both Stockport County and Stoke City involved in the race for promotion to the Second Division. The season ended with Stoke in 4th position and Stockport in 5th with just a point separating the two sides. They faced each other in the end of season play-offs. The first leg saw Stockport win 1–0 thanks to a Lee Todd free-kick and in the second leg at the Victoria Ground Stockport scored in the first few minutes and despite Mark Stein pulling one back Stockport went through 2–1 on aggregate.
Route to the final
Stoke began the competition in the southern section whilst Stockport where in the northern section. Stoke advanced past Walsall 2–0 and Birmingham City 3–1 and Stockport recovered from a 4–0 defeat at Carlisle United to beat York City 3–0. In the first round Stoke beat Cardiff City 3–0 whilst County gained revenge on Carlisle beating them 3–1. The quarter finals saw Stoke beat Walsall 3–1 and Stockport record a 3–0 won over Hartlepool United. Both sides where then involved in close semi-finals City beating Leyton Orient and County getting the better of Crewe Alexandra winning 2–1. In the area finals Stoke and Peterborough United shared three goals in an exciting 3–3 and a Paul Ware goal earned Stoke a 2nd leg victory. Stockport had an easier tie beating Burnley 3–1. Home teams listed first.
Stoke City
Preliminary round: Walsall 0–2 Stoke City Preliminary round: Stoke City 3–1 Birmingham City First round: Stoke City 3–0 Cardiff City Quarter final: Stoke City 3–1 Walsall Semi final: Leyton Orient 0–1 Stoke City Area final 1st leg: Stoke City 3–3 Peterborough United Area final 2nd leg: Peterborough United 0–1 Stoke City
Stockport County
Preliminary round: Carlisle United 4–0 Stockport County Preliminary round: Stockport County 3–0 York City First round: Carlisle United 1–3 Stockport County Quarter final: Stockport County 3–0 Hartlepool United Semi final: Crewe Alexandra 1–2 Stockport County Area final 1st leg: Burnley 0–1 Stockport County Area final 2nd leg: Stockport County 2–1 Burnley
Match review
The two sides had met just three daysprior the final in the Football League play-offs with Stockport coming outon top. County began the first half the better of the two teams and Paul Wheeler had the ball in the back of the Stoke net after six minutes but was disallowed for a foul on Stoke 'keeper Peter Fox. The rest of the first half was end-to-end with Wayne Biggins and Lee Sandford going close for City whilst Fox had to pull off a fine save to deny Wheeler. In the second half, Stockport began to tire and Stoke took full advantage, Ian Cranson hit a long ball forward on 65 minutes only for Lee Todd to clear away but was returned by Vince Overson, leaving Lee Sandford free to flick the ball on to Mark Stein on the edge of the County area. Stein beat two Stockport defenders before smashing a powerful shot past Neil Edwards. Stoke had to withstand pressure from Stockport attacks but held firm to claim their first Associate Members' Cup victory.
