Round-up | Step 4 play-off finals

In the NPL East Division, Stocksbridge prevailed 5-3 on penalties against Dunston. 

Both meetings during the regular season went the way of the away side, and so it proved again in the play-off final after Saturday's game at the UTS Stadium had ended goalless after 120 minutes.

The all-important moment in the shootout saw Stocksbridge goalkeeper Ben Townsend deny JJ O'Donnell with his knees, keeping out the home side's first penalty.

"To win it that way is just exceptional," said manager Ian Richards, who took charge of the club in September 2021.

"For this football club to get promoted to Step 3 shows what can be achieve by great people coming together.

Photo credit: Football Landscapes

"I'm talking about the players, the management team, the committee, chairman and community. It's so special, and what we've achieved is by far the greatest in my 29 seasons in semi-professional football.

"It shows everyone out there that it's not about who has the biggest budget or resources or profile. It's a group of people coming together with a common goal."

In the NPL Midlands Division, there was plenty of late excitement in normal time as Worcester were 2-1 winners at Corby Town.

Quickfire goals from Zach Guinan and Felix Miles saw the Blues go 2-0 ahead, before Reuben Marshall pulled a goal back for the home side three minutes from time.

Corby, who finished 12 points above their play-off final opponents at the end of the regular season, pushed for an equaliser, but it never came as Worcester earned a return to Step 3.

"I don't think anyone expected us to win the game today," manager Chris Cornes told BBC Hereford & Worcester Sport.

"I had my doubts at times because Corby are a very good side. We've turned up, and tactically the lads have carried it out to an absolute tee.

Photo credit: Rob Bazley

"We knew what they were going to do. Gary [Setchell] is a brilliant manager and bloke, and he openly admits the way they play.

"It's down to any team they come up against to try and stop it, and I thought we nullified that and were brilliant.

"I'm proud for the players and proud for the club."

In the only one of the three Step 4 finals to go the way of the home team, Hednesford defeated Congleton Town 2-0 in front of almost 5,000 fans at Keys Park.

The deadlock was broken in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, Jake Jervis keeping his cool from 12 yards out to put the Pitmen ahead.

Jervis' goal came from Hednesford's second penalty of the afternoon - the first coming with eight minutes gone as Dominic McHale was denied by Congleton goalkeeper Travis Ziglam.

But the first half was marred by a serious injury to Congleton top scorer Max McCarthy, who was stretchered from the field after receiving treatment for several minutes.

Photo credit: Hednesford Town

The visitors' job became harder when Peter Williams was sent off nine minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

It took until the 94th minute for Hednesford to put the result beyond doubt, substitute Jack Bearne scoring within six minutes of his introduction to seal promotion back to Step 3 - and a potential return to the Northern Premier League's top division for the first time since 2018/19.

Promotion was watched by a Step 4 play-off record 4,701 attendance - and also Hednesford's highest-ever attendance at Keys Park.