The potential make-up of the National League North for the 2019/20 season came a step closer last night following results in the Evo-Stik Premier Division North play-offs.
Favourites South Shields beat Buxton 4-2 at Mariners Park in front of a healthy crowd of 1, 878 with two goals from Carl Finnigan sandwiched in between strikes from Jon Shaw and Josh Gillies. Buxton saw defender Tom Dean sent-off just after the hour-mark for a second bookable offence.
South Shields will now face Warrington Town in the Evo-Stik Premier Division paly-off final on Saturday, and the winners will progress to the “super-play off final” where they will battle for a promotion place. Warrington beat Nantwich Town 4-1 in the other semi-final.
Farsley Celtic are already promoted to the National League North after lifting the title last week, ending the campaign three points clear of the free-spending South Shields.
Alvechurch, Stourbridge, King’s Lynn and Stratford Town await confirmation from the Football Association as to when their re-scheduled play-off’s are due to take place following an investigation into an allegation that Stratford Town have fielded an ineligible player at some stage during the season.
The Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division – South play-off’s will be played tonight as the Metropolitan Police entertain Salisbury, whilst Taunton Town face Poole Town in the other semi-final. Weymouth are already promoted to the National League South as Champions.
Locally, Westfields beat Pegasus Juniors 6-0 at Edgar Street in the HFA County Cup Final. The game was virtually “one-way traffic” from the start. Aidan Thomas (2), John Mills, Ollie Butler, Craig Jones and Alex Hainault were the scorers for ‘Fields.
Keith Hall
Images: Kev Wilson/South Shields FC.
Will Cheshire/Herefordshire FA.