SSML Prem Play-Offs

[Manorite]

Excitement building for play-offs in SSML Prem. Does anyone know if all 5 clubs in the box seats currently have the requisite ground grading for Step 4 and actually want to get promotion?

[Rhodes]

On 01/04/2024 at 18:08, Manorite said:

Excitement building for play-offs in SSML Prem. Does anyone know if all 5 clubs in the box seats currently have the requisite ground grading for Step 4 and actually want to get promotion?

Manorite - Yes, indeed, Milton Keynes Irish, FC Romania, Leverstock Green and Harpenden Town you mean 😉, I assume those four Club's all meet the necessary criteria however at Rothamsted Park there is quite a walk from the changing rooms to the pitch if I recall, I haven't been there in a while. Of the other Club's who might possibly sneak in, Tring Athletic have declined promotion previously for whatever reason and have never played at Step 4 although Tring Town did back in 2002/03, Cockfosters would have problems with Chalk Lane and, again, have never reached Step 4 level previously.

[tringarmy]

The only time Tring hasn’t taken up promotion was when we were at Miswell Lane and didn’t have floodlights. We’ve finished second at Step 5 since moving to Cow Lane, but that was when it was only the top club getting promotion. Ground grading shouldn’t be an issue based upon previous assessments. 

Edited April 8 by tringarmy

[Rhodes]

TringArmy - Thanks for that and nice to see you on here again, you may recall this interesting article with then Tring Athletic Chairman Mick Eldridge back in 2011, it would be really nice to see the popular Club get promotion to the next level, either this season through the play-offs or in the near future:

The Essentials: Tring Athletic FC (lyonwill.blogspot.com)

[Rhodes]

So the Premier Division play-off's will be between Milton Keynes Irish, Harpenden Town, Leverstock Green and FC Romania in the Premier Division and Moulton FC, Winslow United, Wellingborough Whitworth and Northampton Sileby Rangers in Division One. Watch this space for details of the fixtures when arranged, a mention for Langford who are on a run of five successive wins in Division One but it has come too late for the popular Forde Park Club following a very poor start to the campaign.

[Rhodes]

On 15/04/2024 at 15:39, Rhodes said:

So the Premier Division play-off's will be between Milton Keynes Irish, Harpenden Town, Leverstock Green and FC Romania

It is looking very much like the two SSML Premier Division play-off Semi Finals will be as follows:

Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania (at Manor Fields)

Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green (home Club tbc)

[Rhodes]

There was an interesting article about the Step 5 and Step 6 play-off's in yesterday's Non League paper and giving the dates for the ties:

Club's at Step 5 and Step 6 are gearing up for the start of a new era in the National League System with Divisional four-team play-offs kicking off this week. The move was brought in by the FA for all Step 5 Leagues to replace the Inter-Step 4-5 play-offs which came into play for one season only at the end of 2022/23. It means two Club's will be promoted into Step 4 Divisions in order to increase League sizes to 22 Club's. There will be one relegation spot from each Step 5 Division. The play-offs will see the second placed team take on fourth with the Final taking place at the home of the Club who finished the regulation season highest. Unfortunately the bad weather has played havoc with schedules with a number of Leagues forced into a rethink in order to complete the regulation season.

SSML Premier Division play-off Semi Finals - Wednesday 1 May. Final Monday 6 May.

SSML Division One play-off Semi Finals - Tuesday 30 April. Final Saturday 4 May.

[Rhodes]

On 19/04/2024 at 15:50, Rhodes said:

It is looking very much like the two SSML Premier Division play-off Semi Finals will be as follows:

Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania (at Manor Fields)
Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green (home Club tbc)

Harpenden Town are jumping the gun slightly aren't they however they are undoubtedly the in form team of the four play-off participants:

[Rhodes]

On 19/04/2024 at 15:50, Rhodes said:

It is looking very much like the two SSML Premier Division play-off Semi Finals will be as follows:

Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania (at Manor Fields)
Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green (home Club tbc)

Yes, it's Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania at Manor Fields and Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green at Rothamsted Park, both on Tuesday 30 April:

Tuesday 30 April (kick off 7.45pm)

Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals

Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green

Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania

Edited April 27 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 22/04/2024 at 12:01, Rhodes said:

SSML Division One play-off Semi Finals - Tuesday 30 April. Final Saturday 4 May

See a separate thread for the SSML Division One play-off's which have been delayed due to regular season fixtures involving Northampton Sileby Rangers, Wellingborough Whitworth and Winslow United yet to be competed.

[Rhodes]

Apologies, there was some confusion with the Premier Division and Division One play-off Semi Finals that will all be taking place this week following the confirmation of the Division One placings on Saturday:

Tuesday 30 April (kick off 7.45pm)

Division One Play-Off Semi Finals

Northampton Sileby Rangers v Wellingborough Whitworth

Winslow United v Moulton FC

Wednesday 1 May (kick off 7.45pm)

Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals

Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green

Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania

Edited April 29 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

4 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 1 May 
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Final
Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green

This one at Rothamsted Park promises to be a classic doesn't it:

Edited April 29 by Rhodes

[View from the Boundary]

Yes two good sides there, played them both this year albeit Levy was our last PSF, more clinical finishing was the main difference both times. Should be a cracker.

[Rhodes]

You have to feel sorry for Milton Keynes Irish after the campaign they have had and pushing Champions Real Bedford all the way, it just goes to show how 'unfair' play-off's can be:

Wednesday 1 May

Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals

Harpenden Town 1 Leverstock Green 3

Milton Keynes Irish 0 FC Romania 3

[Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

You have to feel sorry for Milton Keynes Irish after the campaign they have had and pushing Champions Real Bedford all the way, it just goes to show how 'unfair' play-off's can be:

Wednesday 1 May
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals
Milton Keynes Irish 0 FC Romania 3

A groundhopper from another Forum was at Manor Fields:

Milton Keynes Irish 0 FC Romania 3. Spartan South Midlands Premier play-off semi-final (2nd v 5th). Admission: £9. Programme: Free four-pager with admission. Crowd: 400 approx.
Play-off football. What it lacks in fairness it makes up for in drama.
Red-hot favourites MK Irish dominated the first half here but were victims of one of the biggest smash and grab raids you'll ever see.
A first visit to the Irish Centre. The most famous clash between sides of Irish and Romanian heritage was, of course, the 1990 World Cup tie which finished with David O'Leary sealing a spot-kick triumph.
It seemed unlikely this match would be going to penalties. MK finished 24 points ahead of their opponents and did the double over them in the regular season.
Many of you will have been here but I'll describe the ground anyway. There is a seated stand (three rows) for the length of one side of the pitch with a smaller seated stand on the opposite side plus uncovered terracing. Some kind of work is going on behind one goal, possibly more terraced standing, either way this ground is already better than plenty at Step 4.
Disappointingly, the home club do not have a young and noisy band of supporters, which would, for the CIA historians among you, inevitably be known as the MK Ultras.
Despite being scheduled as a 7.45pm start, this didn't kick off until 7.55pm.
Clinton Zawe looked like he had scored an early goal for MK but his low shot across keeper Elgi Fejzo rolled wide of the far post. A minute later Fejzo saved a shot from Ryan Smith with his legs, the ball deflected to Johan Becka on the goal line who cleared, MK's claims that the ball had crossed the line were ignored.
The home side were dominant and a spell of pressure ended with a low cross rolling to JJ Meadows at the far post, but, with the goal at his mercy, he missed his kick.
FC Romania looked to have weathered the storm but there were two further chances for the home side just before the interval. A shot from the edge of the box by Mason Spence hit the underside of the crossbar. Again, appeals that the ball had crossed the line were ignored. Then a Zawe cross found Meadows at the far post. Unlike before, he did make contact but this time fired wildly over the goal when it looked easier to score.
The question at half-time was would MK regret these missed chances? The answer, a minute after the restart, was yes. Tomas Mendes headed in a long throw to give FC Romania a shock lead.
Sub George Shrieves and Spence blasted shots just wide as MK sought to regain parity.
Then a sickening blow for MK on 72 minutes. Lanre Balogun got goalside of the home defence and shot low past keeper Tom Ladyman.
There was a shambolic third goal for FC Romania in the dying moments after a Ladyman kick was charged down. Mendes scored into the empty net.

[Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 1 May
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals
Harpenden Town 1 Leverstock Green 3

A groundhopper from another Forum was at Rothamsted Park last night, also see Leverstock Green's match report:

(A) Harpenden Town - Leverstock Green F.C. (levgreenfc.co.uk)

142

Wed

1/5

Spartan South Midlands Premier (Play-Off)

Harpenden Town

1

3

Leverstock Green

917

Goals: Harpenden Town (90 mins) Leverstock Green (4, 38 & 69 mins)
Ground: Rothamsted Park, Amenbury Lane, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2EF
Pitch: 3G
Weather: said it was 17 C today, didn’t think so, but it was, heavy, thundery, 15 C tonight, travel - Miles: 44 
A big game for both clubs, but bigger for Leverstock Green, who won convincingly.
Harps goalkeeper spilled a shot and L G mopped up, then he almost let a shot through his legs and luckily pulled out of a challenge, which avoided conceding a penalty. L G’s keeper sprawled three times to save, ‘what a difference in the keepers’. L G set up number two, ball moved quickly to the far side of the penalty area to be finished across the goal. Polite applause, a bit like a cricket match, home supporters quite quiet. Half-time 0-2.
Leverstock Green had plenty of control against a team that had none. They looked comfortable from the moment they opened the scoring. Harps actually had some momentum for 15 minutes, but did nothing. Sucker punch, L G’s substitute immediately set up a third, clipped in from 6 yards. Harps played with no width, no attacking flare, L G had it all and three goals. Harps scored a consolation goal right at the end, header off the underside of the crossbar and successfully scrambled in.
Only one month ago, I watched H T win 6-0 at home, albeit against the bottom club, obviously was flattering and very deceiving.

[Rhodes]

Highlights from Rothamsted Park last night, Harpenden Town will be disappointed with their performance and an opportunity to reach Step 4 level for the first time in the Club's history which Leverstock Green will do if they are successful in the play-off Final against FC Romania at Pancake Lane on Bank Holiday Monday (6 May):

[Rhodes]

On 02/05/2024 at 10:16, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 1 May
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Final
Milton Keynes Irish 0 FC Romania 3

Over 100 photographs from Manor Fields, courtesy of groundhopper and photographer Local Bus Driver:

[Rhodes]

An eagerly awaited SSML Premier Division Play-Off Final on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May, at Pancake Lane between Leverstock Green and FC Romania, kick off 3.00:

[Rhodes]

On 02/05/2024 at 11:42, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 1 May
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals
Harpenden Town 1 Leverstock Green 3

Groundhopper and Blogger Oliver Sims was also in attendance at Rothamsted Park last Wednesday: