Date: Tue 25 Apr 2023

By Steve Whitney

Play-Off Semi-Final Preview

The excitement of the end-of-season play-offs begins tomorrow (Wednesday) evening in all four divisions of the Pitching In Southern Football League.

In the Premier Division Central Coalville Town, no doubt still disappointed to have been pipped by Tamworth for the championship on the final day of the regular season, welcome Rushall Olympic to what looks like being a packed Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium.

Last five results going into the game:

Coalville Town

Bromsgrove Sporting H Drew 1-1
Barwell A Lost 3-1
Stratford Town A Lost 1-0
Alvechurch A Won 3-0
Stourbridge H Won 3-1

Rushall Olympic

Basford United H Lost 1-0
Hednesford Town A Drew 0-0
Stourbridge A Lost 2-0
AFC Rushden & Diamonds A Won 3-1
Alvechurch H Lost 4-1

Key Men

Coalville

Tim Berridge 17 goals
Ash Chambers 16 goals
Tom McGlinchey 16 goals

Rushall Olympic

Sam Mantom

Sam Mantom

Sam Mantom 14 goals
Andre Carvalho-Landell 11 goals

Meanwhile, over at Victory Road, third-placed Leiston entertain fourth-placed Nuneaton Borough.

Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger’s Suffolk outfit have enjoyed an exceptional season, finishing in their highest ever position as a Step 3 club.

They were in contention for the title right up until the final week or so when a crucial 3-1 home win for Tamworth effectively killed off their hopes.

Jimmy Ginnelly’s Nuneaton never really threatened the top two but have been in contention for a top five spot for the majority of the campaign.

Last five results going into the game:

Leiston

Rushall Olympic H Won 2-1
Barwell H Won 2-0
Needham Market A Won 2-0
Tamworth A Lost 3-1
Hednesford Town H Won 1-0

Nuneaton Borough

Kings Langley H Drew 1-1
Mickleover A Lost 3-1
Ilkeston Town A Won 3-2
Tamworth A Lost 3-0
St Ives Town H Won 3-0

Key Men
Leiston

Will Davies 29 goals
Ben Fowkes 16 goals
Finlay Barnes 11 goals

Nuneaton Borough

Luke Benbow 11 goals
Ryan Beswick 11 goals

The Premier Division South play-offs look fascinating.

Second-placed Bracknell Town, whose strenuous end-of-season run-in proved too much in the end, will have benefitted from a few days rest before they welcome fifth-placed Chesham United to The SB Stadium.

The Robins finished three points behind champions Weston-super-Mare in the end, but they put up a superb challenge in their first-ever season at Step 3 level.

They also enjoyed an Emirates FA Cup run from the First Qualifying Round to the First Round Proper when they welcomed former cup winners and now League One title contenders Ipswich Town, who won 3-0.

And Bracknell also had a terrific Isuzu FA Trophy run, beating higher level clubs Tonbridge Angels, Eastbourne Borough and Bath City before bowing out to Vanarama National League side Altrincham 3-1 at home.

However, great as those runs were, it probably cost them dear in the league, having to play so many games in a short space of time to catch up.

Chesham held off challenges from Swindon Supermarine and Hayes & Yeading United to take the final play-off spot by a two-point margin.

Last five results going into the game:

Bracknell Town

Beaconsfield Town H Won 3-1
Gosport Borough H Won 3-1
Truro City A Lost 1-0
Metropolitan Police A Won 1-0
Plymouth Parkway A Won 3-1

Chesham United

Yate Town H Won 5-1
Dorchester Town H Won 2-0
Hayes & Yeading United A Won 3-0
Salisbury H Won 3-1
Swindon Supermarine A Lost 5-3

Key Men

Bracknell Town

Joe Grant 16 goals
Mikel Platt 12 goals
Darryl Sanders 11 goals
Jordan Esprit 10 goals

Chesham United

Karl Oliyide 17 goals
Ricardo German 11 goals
Jeanmal Prosper 11 goals

Sam Beasant

Sam Beasant

Sam Beasant Goalkeeper

The other semi-final sees third-placed Truro City welcome fourth-placed Poole Town to Bolitho Park.

The White Tigers finished the season strongly and only ended up a point behind Bracknell.

Paul Wotton’s side have done well to maintain a top three spot for the majority of the season, especially having to play in front of relatively small crowds so far from home.

The vastly experienced Tom Killick has once again guided his Poole side to another play-off challenge.

The Dolphins finished a point above Chesham on the final day of the season.

Last five results going into the game:

Truro City

Plymouth Parkway H Lost 3-1
Metropolitan Police H Won 2-0
Bracknell Town H Won 1-0
Salisbury H Won 4-0
North Leigh A Won 2-1

Poole Town

North Leigh H Won 2-1
Dorchester Town A Won 6-1
Harrow Borough H Won 1-0
Swindon Supermarine A Lost 2-1
Hendon A Won 4-0

Key Men

Truro City

Tyler Harvey

Tyler Harvey

Tyler Harvey 27 goals
Rocky Neal 19 goals
Dan Sullivan 13 goals

Poole Town

Tony Lee 26 goals
Toby Holmes 18 goals
Wes Fogden 12 goals

Who progresses to Step 3 from the Division One Central sees Didcot Town host Walthamstow at the Christchurch Homes Loop Meadow and Biggleswade FC have Ware visiting The Eyrie tomorrow.

The title race was done and dusted very early doors, with Berkhamsted proving to be too good to be caught.

For short periods of the season, Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip’s Biggleswade side kept pace with the Comrades but in the end had to settle for an exceptionally good second place – their highest as a Step 4 club.

The Greens finished three points above third-placed Didcot and 11 of the chasing pack.

Paul Halsey’s Ware side seemed to have blown their top five chances on several occasions when losing games they were expected to win.

However, they clinched fifth spot in the end, finishing 4 points in front of sixth-placed Cirencester Town.

Last five results going into the game:

Biggleswade FC

Kidlington A Won 4-0
Biggleswade Town H Lost 1-0
Aylesbury United H Lost 2-0
Walthamstow A Won 1-0
Highworth Town A Drew 2-2

Ware

Walthamstow A Lost 3-0
Berkhamsted A Won 2-0
Hertford Town H Won 4-2
Kempston Rovers H Won 4-1
Aylesbury United A Lot 2-1

Key Men

Biggleswade FC

Alex Marsh 24 goals
Tom Coles 12 goals
Daniel Bond 8 goals

Ware

Liam Dulson 19 goals
Brandon Adams 10 goals
Theo Ofori 9 goals

Didcot finished 13th in 2021/22, so Jamie Heapy has done a fantastic job in pushing the Railwaymen to finish third, three points behind Biggleswade and 8 in front of the chasing pack.

They face a Walthamstow side who came up trumps in appointing the experienced and shrewd Nick Ironton as manager in September and he has guided them to their highest ever position.

The Stow finished fourth, three points behind Didcot and on paper, this looks a tight one, although the visitors` last few results going into the tie have been disappointing.

Last five results going into the game:
Didcot Town

Cirencester Town H Won 1-0
Biggleswade FC A Lost 2-0
Kidlington H Drew 0-0
FC Romania A Won 5-2
Waltham Abbey H Won 3-2

Walthamstow

Highworth Town A Won 3-2
Waltham Abbey H Won 3-2
Cirencester Town A Lost 6-1
Biggleswade FC H Lost 1-0
Berkhamsted H Lost 2-1

Key Men

Didcot Town

Connor Barrett 13 goals
Jenson Wright 10 goals
Seth Humphries 7 goals

Walthamstow

Duncan Culley

Duncan Culley

Duncan Culley 11 goals
Callum Ibe 9 goals
Damaray Anyadike 9 goals
Bilal Sayoud 8 goals

For long periods of the season, Sholing have been eventual Division One South champions AFC Totton’s nearest rivals – as well as being neighbours.

But in the end, the powerful Stags pulled away to win the title by a 7-point margin, leaving the Boatmen to take on Wimborne Town at the The Imperial Homes Stadium in the play-off semi-final.

Dave Diaper’s side finished 7 points clear of third-placed Hamworthy United and a whopping 21 ahead of Wimborne, so it will be a tough test for Tim Sills` Magpies.

Last five results going into the game:

Sholing

Willand Rovers A Won 1-0
Bashley H Drew 1-1
Tavistock AFC H Won 4-1
Larkhall Athletic A Lost 2-0
Exmouth Town A Won 3-2

Wimborne Town

Larkhall Athletic A Won 3-1
Bishops Cleeve H Won 2-1
Hamworthy United A Lost 2-1
Slimbridge A Lost 1-0
Bideford AFC H Drew 1-1

Key Men

Sholing

Dan Mason 18 goals
Lee Wort 18 goals
Jake Cope 7 goals

Wimborne Town

Harry Baker 11 goals
Dan Bartlett 10 goals
Lewis Beale 7 goals

In the other semi-final, Hamworthy United’s first season as a Step 4 club has been tremendous, finishing third and 14 points ahead of the fourth-placed team.

The Hammers maintained the momentum of winning the Wessex League title and Dan Cann’s side have been in and around the top five for the majority of the campaign.

Making the long trip to the Poole area to the Sunseeker International County Ground are Evesham United who came with a late run to take a play-off spot, thanks to a final day victory over champions AFC Totton.

The experienced Mike Ford saw is team edge out Wimborne to finish fourth on goal difference – an even more remarkable achievement considering four of the Robins last five matches were all away from home!

Last five results going into the game:

Hamworthy United

Lymington Town H Won 3-2
Paulton Rovers A Won 1-0
Wimborne Town H Won 2-1
Bristol Manor Farm A Lost 2-1
Bishops Cleeve H Won 2-1

Evesham United

Cinderford Town A Lost 3-1
Bideford AFC A Won 1-0
Bristol Manor Farm A Won 3-1
Willand Rovers A Won 1-0
AFC Totton H Won 3-2

Key Men

Hamworthy United

Cameron Munn 12 goals
Max Wilcock 10 goals
Will Fletcher 8 goals

Evesham United

Kyle Belmonte (Photo Stuart Purfield)

Kyle Belmonte (Photo Stuart Purfield)

Kyle Belmonte 13 goals
Dan Griffiths 10 goals

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