THE ROUND UP | PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS

Plenty of drama

The play-off semi-finals brought the expected drama on Wednesday evening across our four divisions.

In the Premier South, Farnham Town made it through courtesy of a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Berkhamsted. It took a late penalty from Darryl Sanders to send them through to the final where they will face Gloucester City on Monday afternoon.

It was quite a game at the KMM Energy Stadium where visitors, Poole Town twice took the lead before Joe Hanks’ leveller on 86 minutes took it into extra-time where the ever-present, Michael O'Regan bagged the winner.

Into the Premier Central and Real Bedford made their intentions clear with an opening goal in the first minute from Josh Setchell against Kettering Town before going on to secure a 3-1 success.

They will meet Spalding United in the Final on Monday after they edged past Halesowen Town courtesy of a goal from Yusifu Ceesay with 15 minutes to go.

Over in Division One South there was drama at Malvern Town where Joe Tumelty finally broke the deadlock for the hosts against Bishops Cleeve with just under 20 minutes ago direct from a corner – ironically a feat he also achieved in last season’s play-off semi-final between the same two teams.

The away team hit back with three minutes to go through Jake Lee before Malvern were reduced to ten men in stoppage time at the end. Despite having a man less, they went through late in extra-time thanks to veteran campaigner, Ryan Brunt.

They will now host Shaftesbury in Monday’s final after they secured a good 2-0 away win at Winchester City. Leading scorer, Toby Holmes weighed in with both goals, one in each half, to send his side through.

In Division One Central, extra-time was needed to separate Hitchin Town and Thame United as a cagey game ended goalless after 90 minutes. In the end a goal from Callum Kane in the 111th minute proved to be the difference as Hitchin made it through.

Meanwhile the battle of Biggleswade also went into extra-time. It was the visitors, Biggleswade Town, who went ahead in the first half through Rian Silver, but that was cancelled out on 77 minutes by Michael Simpson for Biggleswade FC before Tom Coles became the hero as he hit a late winner in extra-time to send the home side through to Monday’s Final.

PLAY OFF FINAL SCHEDULE

Premier South – Farnham Town v Gloucester City
Premier Central – Spalding United v Real Bedford
Division One South – Malvern Town v Shaftesbury
Division One Central – Hitchin Town v Biggleswade FC

All games will be played on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May, with 3pm kick-offs.

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IMAGE: Real Bedford FC