Blue Square North
Southport 1 v Stalybridge Celtic 0 P/O SF
Stalybridge 2 v Southport
1
Stalybridge win 5-3 on penalties and play Barrow at Burton's ground on
Fri 9th May
for a place in next seasons Conference.
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MOVERS and
SHAKERS
Stalybridge Celtic
- Play off final 3rd
Buxton
- Play off place 5th
AFC Wimbledon - Promoted
New Mills
- Champions |
AFC Dons in Dreamland
Staines 1 AFC Wimbledon 2
The Dons have failed in the play-offs in the past two seasons,
but a remarkable comeback left them jubilant and Staines
heartbroken.
The home side took the lead on 36 minutes, skipper Matt Flitter
heading home Andre Scarlett’s left-wing corner.
Flitter was lucky to be on the pitch by that stage, after
hauling down Jon Main when the Dons striker was through on goal.
Referee Matthew McLaughlin let the defender off with a warning,
much to the anger of the visiting fans, who numbered over 2,000.
Staines deserved to be ahead at the break, but injury robbed
them of the Ryman Premier Division’s top scorer, Mark Nwokeji,
midway through the second half, and the Dons grew in confidence
as the game wore on.
Terry Brown’s side felt they should have had a penalty with 15
minutes remaining, when Main appeared to be fouled inside the
box, but the referee overruled his assistant, who was flagging
for the spot-kick.
It didn’t matter, though, as seven minutes later Nic McDonnell
crossed for Luis Cumbers, who headed home from six yards.
And with five minutes left, Mark De Bolla, whose Dons career
seemed to be over after he was sent out on loan to Bromley at
the beginning of March, scored a dramatic winner in his first
game for the club in more than two months.
His 25-yard free-kick beat home keeper James Courtnage and
earned the Dons promotion at the third attempt.
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