Vanarama National League Promotion Final, Sunday 1st June
My final game of the 2024/25 season was at Wembley Stadium, and it was a big one as it brought together two sides eyeing a return to the Football League (The EFL) after dropping out of it recently due to poor ownership/management off the field which saw both clubs almost go to the wall and not exist, so this was a celebration of sorts for both too as they probably did not think this day would come again.
Oldham fell out of the EFL back at the end of the 2021/22 season, and became the first ex-Premier League side to be relegated out of the Football League and play non-league football, they had been founder members of the new Premier League back in the 1992/93 and amazingly winning promotion to be part of that was the last time the club had won a promotion, some thirty odd years ago.
Southend fell out of the EFL at the end of the 2020/21 season to complete back to back relegation's after they fell out of League One the season before that, and saw them drop out of the Football League after 101 years of being a member of it amid severe financial issues which almost put the club out of existence on several occasions, mainly due to the now previous owner of the club.
Thankfully both clubs have stabilised somewhat now and are now looking upwards rather than downwards, so this game certainly meant a great deal to both clubs and their superb sets of supporters who both deserved this moment at Wembley after what they had been through, neither would have thought this possible only a few years ago when both clubs nearly died, promotion would therefore be a wonderful present for both, who would grab that prize, it was certainly a tough one to call.
Both had certainly surprised many by being at the final, Oldham finished 5th in the regular season and comfortably saw off FC Halifax Town (who finished 6th) before they travelled to much fancied York City who had finished runners up to champions Barnet and had finished a huge 23 points above them in the table, but that meant nothing as Oldham secured a brilliant 3-0 success away from home to stun York and take their place in the final.
Southend's route was far more dramatic to say the least, after squeezing into the final play off spot (7th) on the final day, they found themselves 3-1 down at Rochdale, who finished 4th, before mounting an incredible comeback to net a 4-3 win after extra time, they then travelled to Forest Green Rovers, who finished 3rd, in the semi final, and after netting a late leveller in extra time, won on penalties to earn their place at Wembley and a chance of promotion.
A superb atmosphere greeted the players at kick off, with over 52,000 in attendance, a National League promotion final record, a brilliant effort from both and if more tickets had been available (that is a discussion for another day) then more would have been sold for sure, however, the atmosphere was pretty special, and the Southend end revealed a murial too, with a picture of a boy cleaning the sign at Roots Hall in dark days for the club when fans were asked to come along and get the stadium up to standard to host National League football after the owner left it to rot basically, a reminder of where the club had been and where they were now trying to get back too.
Well, after just four minutes it was the fans from Essex who were celebrating, as their side grabbed an early lead, Gus Scott-Moriss played a ball through which Charly Kendall ran onto, and with defender and keeper coming to try and thwart him, the ball was poked past the keeper and into the net, it went down as an own goal in the end but Southend didn't care, they had the lead!!!
Could Oldham respond? Well they certainly should have been level on more than one occasion, Vimal Yoganathan could only send a close range effort off target before Joe Garner saw a header hit the outside of the post, and then Mike Fondop somehow lofted an effort millimeters wide of the far post and being sent clear on goal, and it meant The Latics went into the half time break scratching their heads as to how they were behind, Southend though would have been delighted on how the game was going thus far, they were forty five minutes from promotion.
However, barely a minute into the second half, Oldham had a golden chance to level, Manny Monthe, the man credited with that own goal early in the game, was hauled down inside the box meaning a penalty was awarded, and Joe Garner rolled home the spot kick and the match was all square, game on!!!
Fondop then saw an effort from inside the box brilliantly saved by Shrimpers keeper Nick Hayes, but the majority of the second period thereafter was tight and tense, no surprise with what was on offer for the winner, Blues best moment of the half saw Scott-Moriss effort go straight at Hudson, and in the nine added on minutes at the end of ninety minutes Oldham had one final opening when Fondop flicked on but James Norwood could not connect.
It meant that for the fifth straight year, the Promotion Final would go to extra time, Oldham had been the better side but it wasn't them who would grab the next goal, this is because Southend were to go back in front a minute or so into the extra half hour, a Scott-Moriss cross took a deflection meaning keeper Hudson could only push across goal right into the path of Leon Parillon who had the simple task of heading into the open net.
Joyous scenes amongst the Shrimpers fans, they were now within touching distance of the Football League, and early on in the second period of extra time they should have sealed their promotion but saw Hudson deny Josh Walker to keep Oldham in the final, Southend though were looking good, but that was all about to change in dramatic fashion.
Firstly the referee Elliott Bennet walked off the pitch with an injury to be replaced by fourth official Aaron Bannister, and with around ten minutes remaining Oldham sprung forward and saw Norwood through to round Hayes and roll the ball into the empty net, and whilst The Shrimpers were still reeling from this set back, Oldham struck barely a minute later to completely turn this final around when Kian Harrat's cross found the far corner of the net, sending the Oldham players, bench, fans absolutely wild with delight, they had around eight minutes to see out and return to the EFL.
It was utter carnage, a bonkers few minutes, typical promotion final stuff really, and it was now Southend chasing the game and trying to find a way back in and keep their promotion hopes alive, it had been a frantic few minutes for sure!!!
Oldham had to defend for their lives in the final few minutes as Southend desperately tried to find a late leveller to send the final to penalties, and after several tense minutes the final whistle went to confirm that Oldham Athletic had netted victory and won promotion back to the Football League in dramatic circumstances!!!
It had been another incredible promotion final, well done to Oldham on securing promotion, and commiserations to Southend who miss out in the cruellest of ways, but considering they almost didn't have a club less than two years ago, they have come a long way and can really give it a go again next year and dream of a better future rather than worry if their club has one.
Full time Oldham Athletic 3 Southend United 2 (aet)
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