Play Offs you say? We've got four today!

By Ian Townsend

One at the top, three at the bottom, as we have massive matches for Ashford United and Herne Bay, Lancing, Witham Town and Chalfont St Peter.


We have four absolutely critical Play Off matches this afternoon, one which you'll read about here at the final whistle- between Ashford United and Herne Bay, and three more where Lancing, Chalfont St Peter and Witham Town try to preserve their Pitching In Isthmian League status.

The Nuts and Bolts and Bay face off at Homelands, home of Ashford United. The two ended the season in second and third place in the Pitching In Isthmian South East, with two points between them, and the Nuts and Bolts will be favourites, courtesy of the fact that they've already done the double over Bay, winning three-nil at the MBS Stadium in January and two-one on their own patch in September.

That said, on form alone Bay look stronger, winning their last four of the normal season and keeping five clean sheets in a row, whereas United lost two of their last three. Again, however, Bay may be fatigued after going through the ordeal of extra time and penalties in midweek, whilst the Nuts and Bolts completed their narrow win over Cray Valley PM in normal time.

Yes, you're quite right, we haven't got a clue what will happen! Join us at Homelands to find out, or read all about it here at 5PM, or 5.30, or perhaps ten to six. Hopefully one of the first two timings will be correct, as it will mean we've avoided the lottery of penalties.

Now, our focus remains South East, as Lancing welcome Newhaven to Culver Road for the right to stay up/get promoted. Newhaven and Lancing were regular rivals in the SCFL until last season, and the visitors today finished third during the campaign just ended, being elevated to this play off because Saltdean United, who were in second place, failed ground grading requirements. The visitors include Alfie Rogers, formerly of Lewes and Horsham, who scored twenty nine goals, and Lee Robinson, who has managed twenty three this season but has scored goals for fun at Newhaven for many years- and is the brother of former Billericay Town striker Jake, who you may remember also scored goals for fun as the Blues took our title a few years ago.

Witham Town welcome Saffron Walden Town as they try to retain their place in the North Division. Saffron Walden sealed second spot in the Essex Senior League on the final day, and have scored an incredible one hundred and one goals this season, so Witham's back line may need to be at their best.

Finally, Chalfont St Peter welcome Boldmere St Michaels, in a match that sounds as if it's between two church football teams. We expect no bookings and at atmosphere of reverence! St Michaels finished second in the Midland League Premier Division, which we know little about, but they seem to be solid at both ends- although they did lose their last league match three-nil to Walsall Wood. Mind you, they were secure in second place by then and couldn't catch the leaders, Hanley Town, so perhaps they rested a few players for this match.

The best of luck to all of our sides this afternoon.

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Where next?

Bay make the Greens Blue Herne Bay triumphed in the Pitching In Isthmian South East Play Off Final. Here's how they did it.
Gulls triumph! Canvey Island took on Brentwood Town in the Pitching In Isthmian North Play Off Final. After one hundred and twenty minutes and a tense shootout, the Gulls are back in our top flight

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