Round-up | Trio earn promotion in Step 4 play-off finals

The three play-off finals across the NPL regional divisions did not disappoint, with plenty of goals in the West, and penalty kicks having to separate the sides in the East and Midlands.

Nevertheless, they were all tightly-contested affairs, and the three sides that have secured promotion came off knowing that they had earned it.

Emley claim West Yorkshire bragging rights

NPL East Division play-off final result:

• Emley 0-0 Bradford (Park Avenue) (Emley win 5-4 on penalties)

Unsurprisingly, when the two best defensive sides across the entire NPL went head-to-head in the play-off final in the East Division, neither Emley nor Bradford (Park Avenue) blinked during 120 minutes of action.

Even with the chances that both sides managed to create during the game, both Jordan Porter and Jack Hall were equal to them.

So, penalties it was after a goalless final, and both sides converted their first three penalties each, before Park Avenue missed their fourth.

Richard Tracey’s side remained perfect, and local lad Joe Clegg netted the decisive spot-kick to send Emley into Step 3.

Racing Club Warwick end long wait for Step 3 return

NPL Midlands Division play-off final result:

• Belper Town 1-1 Racing Club Warwick (Racing Club Warwick win 7-6 on penalties)

A hectic couple of minutes towards the end of the first half was the tale of the play-off final in the Midlands.

Belper took the lead through Kevin Bastos, but Warwick would answer back just seconds after the restart, courtesy of James Harding.

Nothing would separate the two sides in the second half, nor in extra-time, and after both sides prevailed on penalties to get to the play-off final, a shootout would once again decide who would head into Step 3 next season.

After a routine start from both sides’ first takers, Curtis Burrows would miss for Belper, handing the advantage to the away side. 

However, Warwick couldn’t hold onto that advantage as Connor Taylor missed their third penalty.

With the remaining regular takers proving why they were chosen for the occasion, we went into sudden death at 4-4. 

Danny South took Belper’s eighth penalty, but missed, which meant that Jasper Tetlow had the opportunity to promote the away side - an opportunity he spurned.

But when Jack Broadbent would miss the Nailers’ ninth penalty, Jordan Hayward made no mistake for Warwick, winning a marathon shootout 7-6 to secure promotion for Jack Edwards and Chris Knott’s side.

Avro crowned winners in the West

NPL West Division play-off final result:

• Avro 4-2 Stalybridge Celtic

The ClubberTV cameras picked up a play-off final classic at the Vestacare Stadium, as Avro and Stalybridge Celtic traded leads before Jon Macken’s side ran out of steam, allowing the hosts to pull away and secure promotion.

Taylor Dyson opened the scoring for Avro with an excellent free-kick, and they held that lead until half-time. 

But Stalybridge came out of the blocks fast in the second half, with Jack Tinning heading in an equaliser just two minutes into it, and then taking the lead through Ellis Horan 10 minutes later.

But, with their backs against the wall, as was the case against Lower Breck in midweek, Avro pulled through. They got their equaliser when Darrhyl Mason headed home a Jake Cottrell cross, and took the lead again through James Simms.

Then, as Stalybridge pushed for their second equaliser, the West Division’s Golden Boot winner, Kyle Hawley, would seal things for Grant Shenton’s side, scoring Avro’s fourth in added time.