Second half updates:

Stockton v Guiseley                          Attendance    2125
Stocksbridge v Belper                       Attendance     953
Worksop Town v Ashton United        Attendance    1756
Corby v Long Eaton                          Attendance     1496


Worksop 1 Ashton Utd 1                    Jason Gilchrist               59 mins
Stockton 1  Guiseley 0                        Kevin Hayes                   66 mins             
Corby 1 Long Eaton 0                            Jack Keeble                     62 mins
Worksop 2  Ashton Utd 1                    Jordan Burrow                76 mins
Congleton 0 Chasetown 1                     Jack Langston                   86 mins
Stocksbridge PS 1   Belper 1                 Kevin Bastos                     88 mins
Congleton 1  Chasetown  1                    Daniel Needham               90 mins
Hednesford 3 Vauxhall 1                        Daniel Trickett-Smith         88 mins

Full Time :  Stockton 1 Guiseley 0
Full Time :  Worksop 2 Ashton Utd 1

Full time. Hednesford 3 Vauxhall 1
Full Time : Congleton 1. Chasetown 1.   exta time being played
Full Time : Corby 1  Long Eaton 0
Full time : Stocksbridge 1 Belper 1.   extra time being played

Dunston 1 Emley 0                                    Dan Turner                         90+4 mins
Full Time  :  Dunston 1  Emley  0

Full Time : Anstey Nomads 0 Worcester City  2


     
 

Last edited by Matchman (03/5/2025 6:38 AM)

Worksop 2-1 now

Play Offs - Extra time score updates;
Stocksbridge v Belper.  1-1          Come on Jonathan Wafula. Score the winner
Congleton v Chasetown   1-1

Congleton 2  Chasetown 1.                       Max McCarthy                        103 mins

HT extra time : Congleton 2  Chasetown 1
HT extra time : Stocksbridge 1 Belper 1

Stocksbridge 2 Belper 1                             Tomas Poole                            110 mins
Congleton 2 Chasetown 2                          Luke Yates                               111 mins

FT after extra time : Stocksbridge PS  2  Belper 1 
Both Belper and Long Eaton lose their playoff matches

FT after extra time : Conleton 2 Chasetown 2.  It's a penalty shootout 

Pens:

Chasetown.     miss.  goal.  goal.  goal   miss
Congleton.       goal.  goal.   goal  goal

Congleton win 4-3 on penalties


 

Last edited by Matchman (29/4/2025 8:37 PM)

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The semi-finals were won by the teams with home advantage so it's :

NPL Prem final.      Worksop Town v Stockton Town          Promotion to Step 2 (NLNorth)

NPL East final        Dunston v Stocksbridge Park Steels    Promotion to Step 3 (NPL Prem)

NPL Mids final       Corby Town v Worcester City                 Promotion to Step 3. (Southern League Premier Central)

NPL West final       Hednesford Town  v Congleton Town    Promotion to Step 3 (Southern League Premier Central if Hednesford win or NPL if Congleton win)


The six teams going out of the NPL Prem are:
1 Macclesfield
2 Worksop or Stockton
3 Blyth
4 Basford
5 Mickleover
6 Matlock

Likely to replace them in the  Northern Premier League:
1 Warrigton Town  (relegated from NL North)
2 Farsley Celtic (relegated from NL North)
3 Cleethorpes (from NPL East)
4 The winner of Dunston v Stocksbridge (from NPL East)
5 Widnes (from NPL West)
6 Congleton (if they beat Hednesford. (from NPl West)

If Hednesford beat Congleton they would go into the Southern League Premier Central.
There may then have to be a movement of one Southern League team to make up the six needed to join the Northern Premier League.

Possible choices to be moved from the Southern League Premier Central to the Northern Premier League are Spalding United or Stamford

 

Last edited by Matchman (30/4/2025 8:12 AM)

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If Hednesford beat Congleton in their playoff final, I'm thinking that they might go into the Southern League and Spalding United or Stamford could get switched from the Southern League Premier Central to the Northern Premier League.  
Or Rushall Olympic (relegated from National Leagur North) could be put in the Northern Premier rather than Southern League.

Last edited by Matchman (30/4/2025 1:19 PM)

Matchman wrote:

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Something occurred at Stockton's playoff match against Guiseley last night.

Stockton Town FC.   -   Club Statement  
Disciplinary Matters
Stockton Town FC can confirm that we have received communication from The Football Association regarding disciplinary charges brought against the Club and one of our players following the Play-Off Semi-Final on 29 April 2025.
We wish to make it clear that we are denying all charges and strongly believe we have acted in full accordance with FA notifications and procedures at all times. The club has submitted the necessary responses within the required timeframe and will fully cooperate with the disciplinary process.
Given the ongoing nature of the matter, we are unable to comment in detail at this stage. However, we are actively seeking further clarification and guidance from the relevant authorities and will provide a more detailed update to our supporters as soon as we are able to do so.
We would like to thank our fans for their continued support and understanding.

 

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25128569.stockton-town-fa-talks-play-off-disciplinary-matter/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ_JYtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmWTXdr-dVyRPhc6ew3NMATVfMtO2UwaO84RTZ3yyoeJx5__D9APQpsxF-lb_aem_l2S3vNdGdKuYCFMgOsj_aQ

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The Northern Premier League officers and staff work tirelessly to ensure that their rules are strictly adhered to. 
One could say they work tirelessly to try to catch clubs out for administrative errors

Either way I don't think that the League would make such a controversial call without being sure of their decision. Personally, I can't see the League backing down

Stockton have until midday today to appeal.

Interesting to see what the outcome is. My guess is Stockton will be removed from the playoffs. But If that happens; do the losers (Guiseley) go through to the final or do Worksop get a bye in the final?

This situation appears to be unprecedented.

It would be a pity if Worksop were given a bye in the final. because If there was no playoff final the income from a 2000 plus gate would be lost. 

What about this for a solution 
Stockton need to receive some sort of punishment so how about they lose home advantage and the two teams play again but this time at Guiseley on Saturday. Then the Final be put back to Bank Holiday Monday.





 

Last edited by Matchman (01/5/2025 7:29 AM)

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Stockton Town FC @stockton_townfc

Club Update 
Stockton Town FC can confirm that we have now attended a hearing with The FA regarding the recent disciplinary matter involving the play-off semi final.The case is now handed back to the NPL who we are in communication with regarding next steps, and will have more information tomorrow evening. As always, we thank our supporters for their patience and continued backing during this time whilst the club is working tirelessly to bring this matter to a conclusion. We will provide an update as soon as we receive official confirmation. 



So the outcome is to be decided by the NPL who will give their decision Saturday evening. 

I would expect the NPL to stick to their original decision that Stockton played an ineligible player,

If they were to allow Stockton to go unpunished and to play in the playoff final this would be unprecedented. 

If Stockton are disqualified, are they replaced by Guiseley or do Worksop get a bye in the final ?

Thousands of tickets have already been sold by Worksop and Stockton for the final.

What a situation!!!!






 

Last edited by Matchman (02/5/2025 9:55 PM)

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NPL Step 4 playoff finals (Sat 3rd May)
Today’s 3 NPL Step 4  playoff winners will join champions Cleethorpes, Quorn and Widnes in being promoted to Step 3. Some of six promoted teams will be allocated a place in the NPL Premier League Premier Division and some of them will be allocated a place in the Southern League Premier Central  

Today’s Playoff finals
NPL East Div  playoff :  Dunston v Stocksbridge.     
NPL Mids Div playoff :  Corby v Worcester                
NPL West Div playoff :  Hednesford v Congleton.      

 Who are the strongest of the teams who could come into our league? 
Quorn won the Midlands division by the biggest margin and scored the most points. Their 103 points was 18 points more than 2nd placed Corby but Quorn are likely to be allocated a place in the Southern League.
Cleethorpes in the East Division scored 93 points, 12 points more than Dunston
Widnes in the West Division scored 85 points, 3 points more than Hednesford. 

League points scored by the teams in today's playoffs
Corby               85 points      finished 2nd   NPL Mids
Worcester        73 points      finished 4th    NPL Mids
Hednesford      82 points      finished 2nd   NPL West
Congleton        78 points      finished 3rd.   NPL West
Dunston           81 points      finished 2nd    NPL East
Stocksbridge   78 points      finished  3rd    NPL East

None of the teams finishing 5th in the NPL leagues got through to a playoff final.



 

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Only one goal in the playoff finals so far

Hednesford 1 Congleton 0                     Jake Jervis.  (pen)              45+7 mins.    

No goals in the other playoff finals at half time. 

Last edited by Matchman (03/5/2025 2:07 PM)