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7 non league promotions, 1 relegated and crowd trouble halts playoff final for 30 minutes

Bank Holiday Monday saw 7 non league promotions, 1 relegated and disruptive crowd trouble halts one particular playoff final for 30 minutes.

Gateshead’s draw at Chorley means they National League North Champions and have gained automatic promotion back to the National League.

Chorley went ahead after 28 minutes with Jacob Blyth scoring, though that was cancelled out on the 49th minute when Olley’s free kick was sent up into the box and Magnay was there to nod home the rebound.

Gateshead made it 2-1 in the 68th minute when Longstaff’s shot from the edge of the box looked to be going wide, but Bailey was there to flick home at the near post. Chorley levelled quick after that, but it didn’t matter as Brackley drew 2-2 at Hereford.

Runners-up Brackley are given a second bite of the cherry via the playoffs.

At the bottom of the table Guiseley occupy the one relegation spot with one game to go.

However, they could still leapfrog AFC Telford United and Farsley Celtic on Saturday.

As mentioned, there are 7 non league promotions and crowd trouble halts one playoff final for 30 minutes so let’s get to that.

Playing Step 6 football until 2016 in the United Counties League Division One, Peterborough Sports have now secured a place in the National League North at Step 2 level next season.

In front of a record-breaking crowd of 1,895 at the Bee Arena, the club, who are nicknamed the Turbines, finished as runners-up to Banbury United and started well against Coalville Town.

It took only 12 minutes for the opening goal to come, striker Mark Jones scoring when he fired home Dion Sembie-Ferris` cross.

Adam Stevens` visitors came more into the game having falling behind, Luke Warner-Eley slipped allowed Coalville’s Billy Kee (yes, the former EFL player) to go close with an equaliser 5 minutes before the break and then Tom McGlinchey’s effort struck the top of the crossbar.

Peterborough Sports went into half time a goal to the good, and after a quiet start to the second period, the home crowd celebrated jubilantly when Josh McCammon’s deflected shot beat Coalville `keeper Tiernan Brooks, making it 2-0.

Coalville had a great opportunity to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty after centre-back Richard Jones was deemed to have handled the ball.

Kee’s spot-kick was flicked wide by Peter Crook’s foot before another penalty was handed to Coalville six minutes from time with McGlinchey fouled in the box.

Crook came to the rescue with another fine save to prevent Kee from scoring.

Peterborough held on to secure victory, promotion and a place in the National League North, a fourth promotion in five years.

There was however some crowd trouble, the game was delayed for 30 minutes and there was a heavy police presence at the ground.

Scarborough Athletic has been promoted to the National League North in what was their biggest game for 15 years, beating Warrington Town 2-1 at the Flamingo Land Stadium.

The game was livestreamed on YouTube, with around 10,000 people watching, as the match attendance hit 2,805 as Michael Coulson and Bailey Gooda scored the Seadogs’ two goals to secure the victory.

Scarborough Athletic are managed by former Manchester United, West Brom, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough midfielder Jonathan Greening, who is Scarborough born and bred.

The club was formed on the 25th of June 2007 as a phoenix club following the winding up of Scarborough Football Club. So this was a hugely momentous day in their history…

Hornchurch saw their hopes of promotion to National League South shattered by Cheshunt at a packed Bridge Avenue with Mark Stimson’s men beaten by Zack Newton’s second-half wonder goal to guide the Ambers to step two level for the first time in their history.

Cheshunt opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Re’s free-kick found Kassarate, who beat his marker at the far post to head past Joe Wright.

Hornchurch equalised on 35 minutes when Christou was on hand to fire home from 12 yards out.

Cheshunt however were awarded a penalty on 43 minutes with Newton being brought down in the box, only for Liburd to see his spot-kick prevented from going in by Wright, diving to his right.

Cheshunt regained the lead on the 66th minute when Newton cut inside from the left and hit the ball into the far top corner.

Farnborough came from behind to net a late winner to see them win 2-1 at Hayes & Yeading in the Southern League Premier South playoff final.

Farnborough were 1-0 down in the first half after Moses Emmanuel scored his 41st goal of the season – but striker Reggie Young levelled on the verge of half time.

Hayes went down to 10 men five minutes into the second half when Francis Amartey was dismissed.

Though former Oxford United player Sam Deering popped up with an 86th minute winner, which saw the north Hampshire outfit return to the National League South for the first time since 2015.

With the NLS increased from 21 to 24 clubs next season, there are six spaces to fill with two clubs going up (Maidstone and the play-off winner) and Billericay going down having lost 2-1 and Welling winning.

Dover and Weymouth are down from the National League, with Taunton (Southern League) and Worthing (Isthmian) going up as step 3 champions.

The list of six new clubs are completed with Farnborough and Cheshunt, who won the Isthmian Premier play-off final 2-1 at Hornchurch as mentioned.

NON LEAGUE PLAYOFF RESULTS:

Northern Premier League – Premier Division Play-off Final
FT Scarborough Athletic (1) 2-1 (1) Warrington Town

Isthmian League – Premier Division Play-off Final
FT Hornchurch (1) 1-2 (1) Cheshunt

Southern League – Premier Central Play-off Final
FT Peterborough Sports 2-0 Coalville Town

Southern League – Premier South Play-off Final
FT Hayes & Yeading United (1) 1 2 (1) Farnborough

Southern League – Central Division Play-off Final
FT Ware 2-4 North Leigh

Southern League – South Division Play-off Final
FT Winchester City 4-1 Bristol Manor Farm

Winchester were playing in the Hampshire League as recently as 2002/03, before going on to win the Wessex League title in 2003/04, 2005/06 and 2011/12. They were promoted to step 4 after finishing Wessex runners-up in 2014/15.

Now they are promoted to step 3 for the first time in their history, and will face Gosport in the Premier South in 2022/23.

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