Kidderminster return to the National League after a seven-year absence with a National League North playoff final win at Brackley.
Coming into this game, Brackley have had a tough time when it comes to the playoffs as in May 2018, they suffered a semi-final defeat to Harrogate Town, before losing in 2019 to Spennymoor Town.
In 2020, the Saints lost to Gateshead and then a year later, Covid happened, then they suffered pain again last summer after playing eventual promoted side York City.
Five defeats from five however became six, interim manager Gaz Dean left gutted at missing out as Harriers kept them quiet.
Two years prior to the Brackley began their playoff misery, Harriers were relegated from the National League and have remained ever since.
But now, they are back in the top tier of non league, winning 2-0 at Brackley following wins against Alfreton and the favourites King’s Lynn Town.
13 minutes into the playoff final, there was mistake in the back line and Ashley Hemmings pounced, running fully 50 yards to slot the ball home.
Kiddy extended their lead with 30 minutes remaining, sending the away end wild and his side within touching distance of promotion.
Ashley Hemmings pounces on a defensive mix-up to put @khfcofficial a goal up in @TheVanaramaNL North play-off final ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/IX2dH8aKzM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 14, 2023
Ashley Hemmings has done it again 😤@khfcofficial are half an hour away from playing in @TheVanaramaNL next season! pic.twitter.com/fqUtPc3ekZ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 14, 2023
Kidderminster are going up ⬆️
An Ashley Hemmings brace secures @khfcofficial will be playing @TheVanaramaNL football next season for the first time in seven years! pic.twitter.com/yhDFkMGyw2
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 14, 2023
SEE MORE: Huge thrashing as history is made at the 2023 National League South Playoff Final
Here’s the social media reaction as Kidderminster return to the National League after a seven-year absence with their playoff final win at Brackley…
@stevend62932731: As a Darlo fan well done on your promotion and good luck in the national league
@a49bullsfan: Fair play. That was one helluva run to get in to the playoffs then go up too. Will miss our Christmas game next season!
@Ashleyw20693651: What a great win. Back where we belong. Well done @AshHemmings10 very good goals. @RussellPenn16 has turned this team right around. Well done lads.
@GlenDunvegan: Absolutely phenomenal – what a run to go on at the end of the season when it wasn’t looking like Harriers were even going to make the play-offs. Many congratulations to the staff, players, board and fans!
@Jhill1965: What a superb performance, every player and fan. We are going up….
@MrGregEvans: Unbelievable. Going to the Kettering game more in hope than expectation. Done it the hardest way, nobody can take this away. Unbelievable.
@AlecHitchSUFC: Congratulations! Look forward to welcoming you to Roots Hall next season 🤝
@adam_york: Brackley must hate the play-offs, failed in them in all of the last 5 full seasons. Kidderminster definitely the better away day to look forward to though
@paul_reader1: Brilliant, brilliant performance, lads. Ash rightly gets the plaudits but heroes every last one of them. A special word (or 2) for the back 3 – absolutely immense! #COYR
@FolgerSam: Well done Kiddie, well deserved after that performance, hope to see you again sometime, from a Telford fan 👏
@JrKroz: Well done! Maidenhead fan already looking forward to visiting your place next season. You’re a proper club and it’s good to see you doing well.
@IW150322: Well done Kiddy. Great end to the season for you winning nine in a row. Can’t ask for better than that to win you promotion 👏👏
@ramsfan0285: Brilliant performance from Harriers, 3 away Play-Off victories, 6 consecutive wins in the regular season to sneak in at the death and now back in the National League. Now get Joe Foulkes signed on a permanent deal. #Harriers #KHFC
@onesamaaron: Congrats to Kidderminster. Easily the better side there, Leesley pulling the strings for the Harriers. That’s 2 full time clubs gone up leaving 3 for next season; Scunthorpe, Kings Lynn and South Shields. I expect only KL out of those 3 will make the top 7
@AllsportJoe: Fair bloody play to Kidderminster. Managed to scrape into the playoffs in that ridiculously close National League North final day and ended up going up. Been a long time coming, but they deserve National League football
@Andrew_TRP: Superb result for Kidderminster Harriers. Back in the National League after winning 9 games in a row. Looked out of it at the start of April but 6 wins in the final 6 games in the league got them into the play offs. 3 away wins in the play offs to get promoted. @khfcofficial
@therussellmoore:
Eight points off the play-offs in April
Nine straight wins later (six away from home)
Promoted back to the National League 😍
#KHFC 🦅
@Walsallfantasti: Well done to kidderminster on the promotion to the national league. Joe foulkes had a very decent game for kiddy and this experience be so good for him. Can he be part of the @WFCOfficial squad next season @VitalWalsall @WalsallFanTV need a u23s/reserve team for our youth 🤷♂️👀🤔
@Browny_90:
NLN playoffs.
21/22 – York 19 points behind 2nd, wins the final.
22/23 – Kidderminster 24 points behind 2nd, wins the final.
Basically, don’t do too well in the league table.
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