A Six of the Best Play-Off Special covering all of the play-off finals across Steps 3 & 4. The games are spread across the weekend from Saturday through to Bank Holiday Monday.
Saturday
Northern Premier, Division One South and Division One North
Salford City (3) v Workington (5). As far as final league position and head-to-heads go, it is definitely advantage Ammies. They won both league games, 4-1 in Cumbria and 5-3 at home. However, Workington hit form at exactly the right time. A final day 5-0 thrashing of Buxton was followed by a superb 4-3 win at Blyth in semi-final. This one could easily go either way but, whatever the result, expect goals.
Moor Lane, M7 3PZ. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/salfordcityfc/contact/
Shaw Lane Aquaforce (2) v Coalville Town (3). Shaw Lane survived a late fightback from Lincoln United, who scored twice in the last 5 minutes, to eventually go through to the final with a 3-2 win. Coalville, meanwhile, thrashed Basford 5-0 in their semi-final. The teams fought out a 0-0 draw at Shaw Lane early in the season, with Coalville winning the reverse fixture 3-2 in early April.
Shaw Lane, S70 6HZ. http://www.shawlaneaquaforce.co.uk/club/FindUs
Spennymoor Town (2) v Northwich Victoria (3). Spennymoor came back from conceding in the 2nd minute in their semi-final, eventually overcoming Burscough by 3-1. Northwich went through by 2-1 against a Glossop side reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes. In March, Town won 2-0 at home to The Vics whilst in their last meeting, Vics came out on top with a 3-0 home win just a couple of weeks ago.
The Brewery Field, DL16 6JN. http://www.spennymoortownfc.co.uk/page/club-information-directions/
Isthmian League Division One South
Worthing (3) v Faversham Town (5). The Rebels smashed seven unanswered goals past Hythe in their semi-final whilst Faversham scored an 89th minute winner to return with a 2-1 victory from Dorking. In the two matches this season, Faversham, just about hold the upper hand, winning 1-0 at Worthing in August with the game at Faversham finishing goalless.
Woodside Road, BN14 7HQ. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/worthingfootballclub/contact/
Sunday
Isthmian League Division One North
Harlow Town (3) v AFC Hornchurch (5). These sides met in January at the Harlow Arena with the home side coming out on top by 3 goals to 1. It was a 0-0 draw when Harlow visited the Urchins in November. In the semi-finals, Harlow defeated Cray Wanderers 3-0 whilst Hornchurch travelled to a Thurrock side, who had finished 10 points ahead of them, and came back with a 2-0 victory.
Harlow Arena, CM19 5BE. http://www.harlowtownfootballclub.co.uk/contact/
Monday
Southern League Premier, Division One Central, Division One South-West
Hungerford Town (4) v Leamington (5). Both of these sides had eventful play-off semi-finals. Hungerford came from 2 down at Hitchin to snatch a winner in the last 5 minutes. The Brakes came from a goal down at Redditch, equalising in the 94th minute and finally going through on penalties. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/late-night-spa). The league meetings this season slightly favour Leamington who won 2-1 at Hungerford in February before drawing 0-0 at home on the last day of the season.
Bulpit Lane, RG17 0AY. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc/contact/
St Ives Town (4) v AFC Rushden & Diamonds (5). St Ives came from behind twice in the semi-final at Egham, eventually going through with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win. Diamonds went through 2-1 at Royston in a game where both sides had a player sent off. In the two league meetings this season, Diamond shave the edge. A 2-2 draw in Cambridgeshire early in the season was followed by a 2-0 Diamonds victory at the Dog and Duck in February.
ProEdge Westwood Road, PE27 6DT. http://stivestownfc.co.uk/ground-location/
Banbury United (2) v Taunton Town (3). The Puritans are bidding to return to the Premier League at the first attempt after a narrow 1-0 win over Winchester in the semi-final. They face a Taunton team that came from a goal down at Swindon in their semi-final, eventually running out 2-1 winners. Banbury won the recent meeting of these sides, 2-0 at home, but will wan t to erase the memory of a 7-1 drubbing in Somerset just over a month ago.
Spencer Stadium, OX16 5TA. http://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/contact/
Isthmian League Premier
East Thurrock United (3) v Dulwich Hamlet (5). Neither of these sides conceded in their semi-final wins. The Rocks overcoming Tonbridge Angels 2-0 at home whilst Dulwich were 1-0 winners at Bognor Regis, scuppering the opportunity of a Rocks v Rocks play-off final. In February Dulwich scored twice in injury time to earn a point in front of over 1600 at Dulwich. The reverse fixture also finished 2-2 with East Thurrock coming from behind this time.
Rookery Hill, SS17 8LB. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/eastthurrockunited/contact/
Well, you reached the bottom of the page. Why not take a look at this recent entry http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/edies-butterfly-appeal and maybe put a butterfly on your home page?
Saturday
Northern Premier, Division One South and Division One North
Salford City (3) v Workington (5). As far as final league position and head-to-heads go, it is definitely advantage Ammies. They won both league games, 4-1 in Cumbria and 5-3 at home. However, Workington hit form at exactly the right time. A final day 5-0 thrashing of Buxton was followed by a superb 4-3 win at Blyth in semi-final. This one could easily go either way but, whatever the result, expect goals.
Moor Lane, M7 3PZ. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/salfordcityfc/contact/
Shaw Lane Aquaforce (2) v Coalville Town (3). Shaw Lane survived a late fightback from Lincoln United, who scored twice in the last 5 minutes, to eventually go through to the final with a 3-2 win. Coalville, meanwhile, thrashed Basford 5-0 in their semi-final. The teams fought out a 0-0 draw at Shaw Lane early in the season, with Coalville winning the reverse fixture 3-2 in early April.
Shaw Lane, S70 6HZ. http://www.shawlaneaquaforce.co.uk/club/FindUs
Spennymoor Town (2) v Northwich Victoria (3). Spennymoor came back from conceding in the 2nd minute in their semi-final, eventually overcoming Burscough by 3-1. Northwich went through by 2-1 against a Glossop side reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes. In March, Town won 2-0 at home to The Vics whilst in their last meeting, Vics came out on top with a 3-0 home win just a couple of weeks ago.
The Brewery Field, DL16 6JN. http://www.spennymoortownfc.co.uk/page/club-information-directions/
Isthmian League Division One South
Worthing (3) v Faversham Town (5). The Rebels smashed seven unanswered goals past Hythe in their semi-final whilst Faversham scored an 89th minute winner to return with a 2-1 victory from Dorking. In the two matches this season, Faversham, just about hold the upper hand, winning 1-0 at Worthing in August with the game at Faversham finishing goalless.
Woodside Road, BN14 7HQ. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/worthingfootballclub/contact/
Sunday
Isthmian League Division One North
Harlow Town (3) v AFC Hornchurch (5). These sides met in January at the Harlow Arena with the home side coming out on top by 3 goals to 1. It was a 0-0 draw when Harlow visited the Urchins in November. In the semi-finals, Harlow defeated Cray Wanderers 3-0 whilst Hornchurch travelled to a Thurrock side, who had finished 10 points ahead of them, and came back with a 2-0 victory.
Harlow Arena, CM19 5BE. http://www.harlowtownfootballclub.co.uk/contact/
Monday
Southern League Premier, Division One Central, Division One South-West
Hungerford Town (4) v Leamington (5). Both of these sides had eventful play-off semi-finals. Hungerford came from 2 down at Hitchin to snatch a winner in the last 5 minutes. The Brakes came from a goal down at Redditch, equalising in the 94th minute and finally going through on penalties. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/late-night-spa). The league meetings this season slightly favour Leamington who won 2-1 at Hungerford in February before drawing 0-0 at home on the last day of the season.
Bulpit Lane, RG17 0AY. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc/contact/
St Ives Town (4) v AFC Rushden & Diamonds (5). St Ives came from behind twice in the semi-final at Egham, eventually going through with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win. Diamonds went through 2-1 at Royston in a game where both sides had a player sent off. In the two league meetings this season, Diamond shave the edge. A 2-2 draw in Cambridgeshire early in the season was followed by a 2-0 Diamonds victory at the Dog and Duck in February.
ProEdge Westwood Road, PE27 6DT. http://stivestownfc.co.uk/ground-location/
Banbury United (2) v Taunton Town (3). The Puritans are bidding to return to the Premier League at the first attempt after a narrow 1-0 win over Winchester in the semi-final. They face a Taunton team that came from a goal down at Swindon in their semi-final, eventually running out 2-1 winners. Banbury won the recent meeting of these sides, 2-0 at home, but will wan t to erase the memory of a 7-1 drubbing in Somerset just over a month ago.
Spencer Stadium, OX16 5TA. http://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/contact/
Isthmian League Premier
East Thurrock United (3) v Dulwich Hamlet (5). Neither of these sides conceded in their semi-final wins. The Rocks overcoming Tonbridge Angels 2-0 at home whilst Dulwich were 1-0 winners at Bognor Regis, scuppering the opportunity of a Rocks v Rocks play-off final. In February Dulwich scored twice in injury time to earn a point in front of over 1600 at Dulwich. The reverse fixture also finished 2-2 with East Thurrock coming from behind this time.
Rookery Hill, SS17 8LB. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/eastthurrockunited/contact/
Well, you reached the bottom of the page. Why not take a look at this recent entry http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/edies-butterfly-appeal and maybe put a butterfly on your home page?