PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE | PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL REVIEW

A night of pure drama

It was a night packed full of drama across all four divisions as the play-off semi-finals took place.

In the Pitching In Southern League Premier South, AFC Totton were pushed all the way by Bracknell Town as the game went to extra-time. Tony-James Lee gave the home side the lead on 65 minutes before the visitors levelled matters late on through Thomas Jackson.

It meant that the game went into extra-time as Ethan Taylor grabbed what proved to be the winning goal to set up a final against Salisbury who came from behind to beat Gosport Borough in dramatic fashion.

A goal from Dan Wooden with just under 20 minutes to go gave the visitors the lead but it was cancelled out with three minutes to go by Josh Hedges and then hot-shot Noah Coppin stayed cool to convert a stoppage time penalty to send his side through to Monday’s final.

Over in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central, it was equally as tight. A goal in each half from Montel Gibson and Remi Walker gave AFC Telford United a home victory over Mickleover in front of a packed house.

They will now host Leamington in Monday’s final after the Brakes secured an extra-time victory over Redditch United as the experienced Jack Edwards popped up to grab the only goal of the game in the 106th minute

In the Pitching In Southern League Division One South, Frome Town secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Mousehole. Two goals in the opening 18 minutes from Kane Simpson and James Ollis put them in the driving seat as Ollis added a third right on the stroke of half-time.

They will now host Bristol Manor Farm in the final after they battled out a 2-1 away triumph at local rivals, Cribbs. Owen Brain put the visitors ahead early on but parity was restored on the hour-mark through Jacob Hodgson. Just under ten minutes later, Harry Lucas restored the lead for the away side and they managed to hold on.

Last but by no means least, in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, Bedford Town grabbed two goals just before the break to help them secure a 2-1 victory over Ware. Alex Collard set them on their way before Leon Lobjolt doubled the advantage. The visitors pulled a goal back right at the death through Kieran Bishop but it proved to be too little, too late for them.

The final will see them up against Waltham Abbey as they ran out 8-7 victors on penalties at AFC Dunstable after it finished 3-3 at the end of extra-time. Jesse Akubuine put the visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time but the home side responded soon after the restart through Arnold Matshazi, who then turned the scoreline on its head just past the hour-mark. A last-minute leveller from Aaron Eyoma took the game into extra-time.

That was just as dramatic as Enrico Greco put the hosts back ahead only for Tami Ogunnowo to equalise with time running out to take it to penalties where his side were able to edge through as it went all the way to sudden death.

It rounded off a long but thoroughly entertaining night. The finals will now be played on Monday afternoon, again it will be just a one-legged affair with extra-time if the scores are level after 90 minutes and then a penalty shoot-out if that still does not separate the sides.

PREMIER SOUTH | AFC Totton v Salisbury
PREMIER CENTRAL | AFC Telford United v Leamington
DIVISION ONE SOUTH | Frome Town v Bristol Manor Farm
DIVISION ONE CENTRAL | Bedford Town v Waltham Abbey

IMAGE: Bristol Manor Farm FC