Premier Division Play-Off Final Preview

It’s a big Bank Holiday Monday for eight clubs in the Pitching In Southern Football League as its play-off final day.

Looking to join Premier Division South champions Weston-super-Mare in the Vanarama National League South are either Bracknell Town or Truro City, who commence battle at The SB Stadium.

For the hosts, making a two-step leap in successive seasons would be a major feat, having been switched to the Southern League by the Football Association last summer, having comprehensively won the Isthmian League South Central title in 2021/22.

For the White Tigers of course, it would be a return to Step 2, where they had two spells, the first one from 2011 to 2013 and then from 2015 until 2019.

Bracknell and Truro finished second and third respectively in the regular campaign and both threatened Weston’s title at various stages of the season.

Truro make the long trip to Berkshire having earned a dramatic semi-final victory over Poole Town at Bolitho Park last Wednesday when, following a 1-1 draw after extra-time, goalkeeper James Hamon became the Cornishmen’s hero with two spot-kick saves to help them through 4-1.

Bracknell were also taken to extra-time in their semi-final against Chesham United before a Gary Abisogun goal settled a tight contest.

Truro will take confidence from having beaten Bracknell both home and away in their league encounters.

They had a convincing 3-0 at the SB Stadium in March before a late Ryan Brett effort earnt the White Tigers a 1-0 win at Bolitho Park on Monday April 17th.

The Premier Division Central play-off final looks like being a sell-out at Nuneaton Borough’s First Class Safety Stadium against Rushall Olympic.

Nuneaton and Rushall finished fourth and fifth respectively at the end of the regular season, with the Pics having also enjoyed Walsall Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup success.

Last Wednesday, Jimmy Ginnelly’s Boro side edged out a Leiston side who had enjoyed a terrific campaign to finish in third place.

But the Suffolk side were beaten 2-1 at Victory Road, thanks to goals from Kane Richards and Tyrell Waite after extra-time, following George Quantrell’s leveller for the hosts.

Liam McDonald’s Rushall side faced a really tough task in their semi-final away at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium against a Coalville Town side who had finished as runners-up to Tamworth and a massive 16 points better off than the Pics.

A fantastic crowd of 1,613 saw the visitors break the deadlock 9 minutes into the second half through Andre Carvalho-Landell.

However, just as it looked as though they would see out the game, Coalville grabbed an 89th minute equaliser through Tom McGlinchey.

All-square at 90 minutes and after extra-time, but it was Rushall who held their nerve to triumph 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out.