Boreham Wood 2 Rochdale 2 (aet; Rochdale won 3-1 on penalties) - Another dramatic National League Play Off final sees Rochdale come back from two goals down to eventually see off Boreham Wood on penalties and return to EFL after three years out

Enterprise National League Play Off Final, Sunday 10th May

This has become an annual event me and my good mate Adam attend every year, grabbing an early bird deal in Club Wembley to bag a very decent seat in the blocks next to the Royal Box for only twenty quid, good value, and this year it saw Boreham Wood & Rochdale do battle to see who could grab promotion and join champions York City in the football league next season.

Boreham Wood had finished the season in fourth with ninety points and had to play a couple of games to reach this final, whereas Rochdale were seconds away from actually pipping York to the title before the Minstermen broke Rochdale's hearts by levelling in the 103rd minute of that huge title showdown at Spotlands, it's a wonder how Rochdale picked themselves up from that devastating heart break to actually win their semi final to give themselves a second shot at getting back into the football league after three years out following relegation in 2023.

The Dale amassed 106 points in the season but still failed to win the league after York managed 108 themselves, many felt it would be unfair if the runners up, who finished sixteen points above today's opponents in the table, and eleven above third placed Carlisle, would not earn their place back in the football league, but that's the rules currently, so they had to enter the lottery of the play offs if they wanted to grab that place back in the EFL.

Six teams therefore had hopes of joining York at the next level, Scunthorpe United, who finished in fifth place, defeated sixth placed Southend United in one of the eliminators, whereas Boreham Wood saw off seventh placed Forest Green Rovers in the other, setting up the semi finals that would be played at Rochdale and Carlisle United, Dale saw off Scunthorpe whilst Wood won on the road after extra time in Cumbria, setting up today's final at Wembley.

Now unlike Dale, who had a spent 102 years in the Football League until they fell out of it three years ago, Wood have never ever been there, they got very close a few years ago but lost out to Tranmere Rovers at this venue in the 2017/18 play off final, and in fact they have been down into the National League South before bouncing back, and this season they have managed to give themselves another shot at gaining promotion to the football league for the first time in their history.

No doubt most neutrals wanted Dale to get promoted though, especially after the season they had experienced, any other year they would have walked the league, but they had one more game to try and grab what they felt like a deserved promotion, but Wood on the other hand were trying to create history, so you could not begrudge them a go in the EFL as well, who could hold their nerve in this biggest of games for either side?  

Well, Boreham Wood should have been in front inside a minute, getting behind the Rochdale backline but Leon Ayinde failed to beat Dale stopper Oli Whatmuff who made a terrific stop to deny the ex Dale player, but midway through the first half Wood had the breakthrough and the lead, and it was all down to excellent play from Abdul Abdulmalik who was increasing causing problems for the Dale backline,

The tricky winger danced his way past two Rochdale defenders before firing in a ball towards Matt Rush, and the striker managed to divert the ball off his chest and loop into the far corner of the net, and Adbulmalik almost made it 2-0 himself but saw a lovely curling effort superbly tipped over by Whatmuff who was keeping his side in the contest, Rochdale did have a couple of openings themselves but were largely on the back foot.

Wood passed up more opportunities after the restart and you felt they may come back to rue these missed chances as you felt Dale had to have a decent spell at some point as they had been rather poor so far in this contest, but when Wood did find that second goal in the 69th minute, the superb Abdulmalik finding the bottom corner after cutting inside onto his right foot and seeing his effort deflect beyond Whatmuff, you felt Wood had done enough to win this game and take a histortic promotion.

It was going to take something special for them to be denied now, Rochdale had offered very little and the Wood backline had stood firm with anything thrown at them, but, with 78 minutes on the clock, Dale gave themselves a life line, a long clearence from keeper Whatmuff saw a defender slip, allowing substitute Tyler Smith to get in and fire home, game on, and Dale had around fifteen minutes or so to find a leveller.

These National League Play Off finals are always dramatic, and this one was to be no different, six minutes were to be added on, and with about ten seconds of those remaining, Dale found a last gasp leveller to deny Wood promotion for now and send the game into extra time, Casey Pettit's ball in found Mani Dieseruvwe whose header went in off a defender and gave keeper Ted Curd no chance, and sent the Dale fans behind that goal wild, their them were beaten but had somehow pulled themselves back from nowhere to send this to extra time.

Wood were crushed, but they had to somehow get themselves up for an extra half hour and possibly penalties but you felt Dale had the momentum now, but in an extra time period that didn't really have the same drama as the second period, Wood were the ones who were pushing for a winner, but they could not muster one, and the game would go to spot kicks to determine who would join York City in the EFL.

Well, Whatmuff, who had been excellent in the game itself and had kept his side in the contest at times, was the hero in the shootout, he first of all saved Callum Reynolds effort in the first penalty of the shoot out, and then made a superb one handed stop to deny Rush, and at 3-1 to Dale, Wood needed to score to keep the shoot out going but saw Cameron Coxe hit the bar and Dale had somehow won this final and returned to the football league after three years out.

This will be a very painful one for Boreham Wood to take, they should have been out of sight at one stage, and were ten seconds away from winning it in normal time, a very bitter pill to swallow and their hopes of promotion to the EFL for the first time in their history was shattered, for Dale though maybe it was a deserved promotion after the season they had had, justice done maybe, but they were second best for large parts of this final, but they managed to get through it and earn their place in the Football League once again.

So, a dramatic afternoon at Wembley for one of these finals, to be expected after previous seasons when extra time and penalties are often required to separate sides, am absolutely gutted for Wood but pleased for Dale, it was certainly a very enjoyable watch.

Full time Boreham Wood 2 Rochdale 2 (aet; Rochdale won 3-1 on penalties)

Essex Senior League Finals Day at Oakside - Barking U23s stun Billericay Town Reserves to lift Len Cordell Memorial Trophy & Great Wakering Rovers retain Errington Challenge Cup after victory over Halstead Town

(Great Wakering Rovers celebrate retaining the Errington Challenge Cup after victory over Halstead Town at Oakside)

Essex Senior League Finals Day, Monday 4th May

It was the turn of Oakside, Redbridge FC, to host the now annual event in the Essex Senior League as a double header of finals took place, firstly the Len Cordell Memorial Trophy at lunchtime followed by the Errington Challenge Cup in the late afternoon, so this blog will cover both contests throughout the day, starting with of course the Len Cordell Memorial Trophy final.....

Len Cordell Memorial Trophy Final

Barking U23 Vs Billericay Town Reserves

This final brought together a Barking U23 side who finished down in ninth in a ESL Reserve league that ended with thirteen sides (after starting the season with fifteen before two sides pulled out) having grabbed twenty five points from their twenty four games, only six wins too, and a Billericay side that finished runners up to winners Bowers & Pitsea (ten points behind) having won seventeen of their twenty games and grabbing twenty seven points more than today's opponents.

However, one of Billericay's six defeats in the season came at home to Barking, with the visitors that day netting a 3-2 win, Billericay did win 2-0 at Barking in the return game but despite the huge gap in the finishing standings, this final could well be closer than many people would expect, it was a final after all so it's who applies themselves on the day the best and who can hold their nerve that normally come out on top.

Barking did actually get knocked out in the First Round, losing on penalties to Hashtag Reserves, but, that Tags side folded meaning Barking were put through instead, and they have taken full advantage of that, facing penalties again but winning this time against Takeley in what was a action packed Quarter Final (I did see this one myself and it's included in this blog if you are interested https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2026/02/mayesbrook-park-double-header-saturday.html)

They then thumped Rayleigh Town 4-0 in the semi final to set up a final against a Billericay side who netted sixteen goals in their three ties to get here, a 7-1 win over Hutton U23, a 4-0 win at Brentwood Town U23 before they defeated title winning Bowers 5-4 in the semi final, Billericay would certainly be favourites but it would not be easy against a confident Barking U23 outfit.

And this was evident in the early exchanges as Barking flew out of the traps and were a goal up inside three minutes, a corner swung in from the right saw Kyle Smith rise to send a powerful header towards the bottom corner, and although Billericay keeper Fred Strang got a strong hand to it, he could not prevent it from finding the net, and in the 17th minute they had doubled that lead.

Barking had a shot from outside the box deflect through behind the back line, and nobody except Barking skipper and striker Teddy Bowden reacted to this and he duly strode in behind the defence to prod the loose ball beyond Strang and into the net, leaving the Billericay side looking at each other and wondering what was going on.

Well, they did regroup and pulled a goal back midway through the half, as a corner swung in from the right by Joe Davis appeared to be glanced home by Alex Ansell across goal and into the far corner, although some did say the corner went straight in without anyone touching it, whatever happened what was certain was it was now 2-1 and Billericay were right back in it.

They could not find a leveller before the break though and the second period wasn't that old before Barking established their two goal cushion once again, the superb Nelly Mallek burst down the right before sending a lovely ball across for skipper Bowden to fire home into the roof of the net for his second and Barking's third, giving them a cushion and allowing them to breathe easier.

It was a lead they never really looked like giving up either and were the better side for the majority of the game, Billericay were not on their game today it appeared and so it was a deserved win for Barking who made the most of that reinstatement into the competition that first round defeat by winning the whole competition, congratulations to them for doing that.

Full time Barking U23 3 Billericay Town 1

Onto Part Deux of the afternoon then, the Errington Challenge Cup Final.....

Errington Challenge Cup Final

Halstead Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers

This final saw a Halstead side who finished eighth in the ESL Premier in what you could say were the best of the rest in the division after finishing several points off seventh and way off the play off places, up against a GWR side who of course were embroiled in a title battle with Little Oakley and SOUL Tower Hamlets, finished third in the end and lost in the play off semi final to eventual play off winners Buckhurst Hill to end that part of their season in disappointing fashion.

The points gap between the two sides though over the thirty eight game season was vast, nineteen points to be exact, however, Halstead had beaten GWR 2-0 at home earlier in the season, and at Burroughs Park GWR netted a 3-0 win over today's opponents, so one win each although those results were pretty academic in trying to work out who could get the win in this competition.

Halstead's route to the final saw a 2-0 win over Barking before they thumped Romford 5-1 at Mayesbrook Park to reach the Quarters, the last eight tie against Woodford was far more stressful as after a 1-1 draw Halstead needed penalties to progress, and in the semi final they saw off Hullbridge Sports 2-0 to set up today's final against a GWR side who began their quest for the Challenge Cup by netting a 2-1 win at Frenford.

They then edged past West Essex 1-0 at Burroughs Park before netting a superb 4-2 win at Roding Lane against Buckhurst Hill, and then they claimed their place in today's final by seeing off title winners Little Oakley 4-0 at Burroughs Park, and after failing to achieve promotion, GWR were no doubt desperate to claim a trophy this season to at least end it on a positive note. although of course The Humbugs wanted to end their season on a high too, who would prevail.

Well, it was GWR who drew first blood in the 14th minute, Max Harbrow was slipped in with a lovely pass and he duly fired it beyond Jack Cherry in the Halstead goal who although got a touch to the effort could not prevent it from going into the net, and to be honest they should have been further in front before the break but missed two or three guilt edged chances to go further in front.

The Humbugs had threatened themselves on occasions, but knew they needed to improve after the break to get back into this contest, they did just that and were level eight minutes after the restart when after being awarded a penalty for a foul inside the box, Kane Gilbert made no mistake from the spot and Halstead were now the ones with their tails up and GWR appeared to be losing their way somewhat, it could go either way you felt at this point.

But, GWR did regather themselves and they restored their lead in this one in the 75th minute, a great ball in from substitute Shaun Gittleson went right across goal and saw Max Gnandi with an unmissable chance and he duly tapped home from close range with the goal at his mercy, advantage GWR and they now had found their mojo again and made it three just five minutes later.

This time it was Bradley Bennett with the ball into the box, and his lovely pass was perfect for GWR skipper Ben Search, who made no mistake by side footing home beyond Cherry and into the net, and you felt it was game over now, and despite some late Halstead pressure in the nine added on minutes at the end, GWR had done more than enough to take the victory and retain the Errington Challenge Cup and at least end their season on a positive note.

Full time Halstead Town 1 Great Wakering Rovers 3

Two decent finals then, and eight goals in total, and attendances of 231 for the Len Cordell Memorial Trophy final and then 427 for the Errington Challenge Cup final, very good crowds indeed and an awesome day once again, congratulations to the winners and commiserations to the runners up, they all played their part today in two very watcable contests.

Buckhurst Hill 1 Barking 0 - Arthur Massingham's superb 82nd minute strike hands Buckhurst Hill victory over Barking in the Essex Senior League Play Off Final to send them up into Step Four for the very first time in their history

Essex Senior League Play Off Final, Saturday 2nd May

My fourth play off outing in a row and the fourth one in seven days came from Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, for a big Essex Senior League play off final, and it was between two sides who finished fourth and fifth in the standings after they both won on the road in their semi final games in midweek. 

Buckhurst Hill had been in an incredible run heading into the play offs and had finished five points ahead of Barking who also got into the play offs before the final weekend, but with them finishing in the final play off spot they knew they to win promotion they would have to do it the hard way and win on the road twice, well they achieved stage one of that in midweek, and now they faced a rampant Hill side for a place in Step Four.

Shall we see how both The Stags and The Blues won those semi final ties, below is how they achieved it....

Great Wakering Rovers 1 Buckhurst Hill 1 (Buckhurst Hill won 3-1 on penalties)

Buckhurst Hill were up against a GWR side who were in a title battle for the majority of the season, but ended up five points behind winners Little Oakley, and actually only finished above Buckhurst Hill on goal difference in the end, well, Thomas Barton handed the hosts an 18th minute lead, Harry Lusher levelled five minutes before the break, and with no further goals, the tie went to penalties, and Hill prevailed to keep their dreams of promotion going for another few days.

SOUL Tower Hamlets 1 Barking 2

And over at Mile End, Barking were taking on runners up SOUL who still had a chance of winning the title on the final day, and despite winning they saw Oakley win too to take the title by two points, Barking finished eight points behind their opponents but that meant nothing in this one, and although SOUL went in front through Samir Bihmoutine eleven minutes before the break, Barking turned it around, levelling through James Folkes midway through the second half before Ryan Pickles stoppage time winner sent the visitors into today's final.

Now these two had met in a final already this season, the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy at Billericay Town, Barking had ran out 1-0 winners in that and had also beaten them 4-1 at home in August, but, the last time the two met was the final day of the regular season only a week ago, and Hill won that 2-0 at Roding Lane, today's venue, which ultimately sees them at home tonight, had Barking won that game they would have finished fourth and Hill fifth, and it could have been a different outcome as both would have played different sides in the semi final too.

Anyway, all that was immaterial now and it was only today that counted, Hill had never been any higher than the level they are at now, Step Four was always a dream but now it could become reality, Barking of course have been at that level before and wanted to return there once again, so who could keep there nerve in front of a bumper crowd of 1,044 at Roding Lane, we would soon find out. 

The first period was certainly a cagey affair, no surprise with what was at stake, Barking were ones who probably had the better chances that did come along, but both struggled to play any free flowing football, Finlay Dorrell did have the ball in the hosts net early on but saw the flag raised after the ball had hit the net, and then Christian North had to make a smart save to deny Ryan Pickles.

Hill didn't really create much in the way of clear cut chances, which for them was very unusual, which was a credit to the visiting defence, but they almost went in front right on half time when hosts full back George Edwards curled a brilliant effort against the underside of the bar, and it would turn out to be the final action of a first half that in the main was pretty mediocre and with neither side able to find any goals.

Would either side manage to play any expansive football after the break, well not really, a similar type of contest continued as both sides tried desperately to gain an advantage, Hill were very grateful to North in their goal, he made a couple more stops, both from the luckless Dorrell in front of goal, Hill still could not find that clear cut chance to give them any advantage either, would anyone find a winner before the end came and extra time and maybe penalties would then be required.

Well, step up Arthur Massingham, on the bench for this one but being brought on in the 74th minute to try and make a difference, well, he certainly did that, as eight minutes after coming on he got the ball and ran towards the penalty area, he then cut inside onto his right foot before curling an absolute beauty beyond visiting keeper Omer Ozer who to be fair did not have much to do all afternoon, and into the top corner.

It was an absolute worldie, and completely out of context in the game itself, and it now meant The Stags had around eight minutes plus stoppage time left to keep The Blues out and win promotion to Step Four, what did, if anything, the visitors have left, they didn't have long to salvage this tie, but they could not find a way through a stubborn Hill back line.

And after a tense few minutes for the hosts, the referee brought an end to proceedings and Buckhurst Hill had completed a remarkable journey from Step Seven, even Eight at one stage, through to Step Four in only a few years, what an achievement this is for the club and for manager Mark Williams, and also chairman Simon Cornwell, these guys are good people and deserve this success, what a day for the club, and what a wonderful promotion they have achieved.

Commiserations have to go to Barking though, they more than played their part in this one and could easily have won this themselves had they taken the chances that did come their way, but their always has to be a loser in these games, and today sadly for them it was the visitors, Craig Edwards and Co have had a great season and I am sure they will be back firing again next season after a summer of reflection.

Final word to Buckhurst Hill though, amazing achievement, and now they must prepare for Step Four football next season, incredible, am sure they will celebrate a bit first before having a summer to relax before embarking on what will no doubt be a tough season next year but also a great experience too. Go well boys go well.....

Full time Buckhurst Hill 1 Barking 0

Finally it was good to spend the day with Scott W & Sam Gardiner, part of the Back Post podcast crew which sadly had to be paused in December, but good to catch up with these people as always, and a nice photo below was taken before we all left, good times and a great day all round, marvellous.....

Billericay Town 3 Chatham Town 2 - First half goals from Benton, Merrifield & Lewis-Burgess enough for Billericay Town as they survive Chatham Town fightback to set up tasty Isthmian Premier Play Off final against neighbours Brentwood Town

Isthmian Premier Division Play Off Semi Final, Wednesday 29th April

Another evening and another play off semi, this time it was the turn of the Isthmian Premier Division the tie at New Lodge between Billericay Town and Chatham Town, Essex Vs Kent, and a hug crowd duly turned up to watch to see who could make the Bank Holiday weekend final for a chance to play National League South football next term.

The hosts were looking to go all the way in this play off series, and at least get past the semi final stage after last years heartbreak when they missed out in the title on goal difference before losing at home in the play off, but they regrouped and under Danny Scopes have mounted another charge for promotion, finishing third in the division and two points behind rivals Aveley, Scopesy's old club, and miles behind runaway leaders Folkestone Invicta, who won the division by twelve points and at a canter.

This means another play off semi final, and they are up against a Chatham Town side who finished fourth and only three points behind tonight's opponents, the visitors finished ninth last season and thirteen points off a play off spot, so this season has been a much improved campaign for the Kent side, they were looking to upset the apple cart this evening and reach the play off final.

Billericay won both meetings between the two clubs during the regular season, netting a 2-1 win at New Lodge back in November before a 1-0 win in Kent in late January, both games then well competed and close, and there was no reason why tonight's game would be no different, no doubt another fiercely fought contest was going to take place in front of a good atmosphere, who could hold their nerve in such a big contest?

Well, the hosts have been in scintillating form of late, since they lost 2-0 at St Albans back on January 27th, they haven't lost and went on a run of ten straight wins until they were held by Welling United in their final league outing last time out, so to say they were coming into the playoffs in form was an understatement, in fact they have only lost two league games this calendar year, the other loss coming at home to Hashtag United, a game I attended on January 3rd, hope that's not a bad omen for the hosts!!!

That's two defeats in twenty, and seventeen wins, did Chatham have a chance, well of course they did, they qualified for this playoff on merit and will pose a stiff test for the hosts, as proven in both their league games this season, and their form towards the end of the seasn was also pretty good, after losing at Dulwich Hamlet in late February, their only two defeats came against Aveley and local rivals Dartford, that's two defeats in twelve, and before those losses they had been on a run of seven games unbeaten which had a run of five successive wins.

And they ended the season with three straight wins too, culminating in a 2-1 win over Lewis, the previous games saw them win 4-0 and 6-0, so plenty of confidence boosting from those games, so tonight's game would certainly be played between two highly confident outfits, how would it go?

Well, it looked like the hosts would cruise to the win early on, they found themselves two goals up inside the opening twenty minutes as they really settled into the tie, the opening goal was a beauty, and it came after twelve minutes, Jon Benton curling an absolute beauty into the far corner, and then in the 17th minute it was two nil, Jack Evans sending in a free kick for Frankie Merrifield to nod home at the back post, it had been the perfect start for The Blues, and the majority of the 2,717 in attendance were in good spirits.

Chatham did have a lot of the ball in the opening forty five minutes but could not find an end product, and Billericay always looked dangerous when they made their way forward, and in the 42nd minute it looked as if the tie could well be done when the hosts made it 3-0, another ball in by Evans this time found Keon Lewis-Burgess who applied the finishing touch, Chatham were furious that a free kick had not been awarded in the build up, but they now had it all to do to get back into the contest.

The large Chatham following behind one of the goals to their credit had kept singing away and encouraging their side on despite how the opening half was going, and a minute before the forty five was up they were given a life line, and yes I missed it looking at my phone, oops, but I was told it was a lovely finish from Sam Sene-Richardson and this certainly gave Chatham some hope of a revival as the teams headed into the dressing rooms.

It was weird, even though Billericay had a 3-1 lead heading into the second half, you felt some nervousness amongst the home crowd, and even the players seemed a touch nervous too, that Chatham goal right on half time had certainly given them something to think about, and the visitors sensed this knowing another goal back would really make it interesting, and Chatham certainly were doing all they could to make that happen.

The Blues though were not without their chances to seal the game and make it more comfortable, on one occasion only a spectacular clearance off the line prevented the hosts from finding a fourth, Chatham then wanted a penalty but this fell on deaf ears, much to the visitors dismay, they also struck the post too, but, in the 71st minute they found a second goal to really put this tie back in the balance, Kian Moynes thumping home from inside the box, and those Chatham fans behind that goal were now really making some noise, and the nerves amongst the home ones were cranking up somewhat.

It was tense, could the visitors complete what looked an unlikely comeback when they went 3-0 down, the home side had to survive a few nervy moments before the game was out, and seven minutes of stoppage time didn't help the heartrate amongst anyone to do with the home side, but, they did manage to hold on and see the game out, and take their place in the final on Bank Holiday Weekend.

It had been a very entertaining play off match, played in front of a big crowd under the lights in what was a decent atmosphere, but a game played in the right way with no nastiness on or off the pitch, just how it should be, so well done to all, an enjoyable night and for the hosts their promotion dreams live on for another few days. 

Full time Billericay Town 3 Chatham Town 2

So what of the other semi final tie this evening, an all Essex affair at Parkside, let's see what happened.....

Aveley 1 Brentwood Town 4

Hosts Aveley had finished runners up in the division and six points ahead of fifth placed Brentwood Town, but this meant nothing in this contest as the visitors netted three goals in added on time to take victory at Parkside.  All the goal action came after the 75th minute, it had remained goal less until then, and when Bradley Sach handed the visitors a 76th minute lead, they may have thought that would be the only goal of the contest.

But no, in the 86th minute Jesse Nwabueze levelled for the hosts and you thought ok, maybe penalties would be needed to decide this one, but, after the referee indicated their would be a minimum of FOURTEEN minutes added on, Brentwood took full advantage of this additional time, seeing Ade Cole net a 97th minute penalty before Louie Johnson than scored in the 101st minute and they made it four in the 106th minute when Jesse Okulolu netted, sending the visitors through.

Quite a dramatic end to this one then, and a sad way for it to end for the hosts who have had an incredible season, but it ends here, but for Brentwood it continues.

It all means that on Bank Holiday Monday the final will take place at New Lodge, Billericay Town Vs Brentwood Town, that will be some occasion that's for sure in front of no doubt a sold out crowd too, it is a local derby in every sense of the word, and the prize at the end of it for the winners is National League South football for next season, no biggie then.....