SSML Premier Division Play-Offs - 2025/26

[Rhodes]

Following recent results here are the finalised Premier Division Play-Off Semi Final ties for the right to be promoted to Step Four next season with Championship winners Haringey Borough:

 

Wednesday 29 April (kick off 7.45pm)

Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals

Risborough Rangers v Cockfosters 

Winslow United v Kings Langley

[Rhodes]

Let's hope that Winslow United, for the sake of fairness, prevail over Kings Langley on Wednesday 29 April who finished ten points ahead of the Orbital Stadium Club in the regular season and led the Premier Division table for the best part of the campaign only to be denied automatic promotion on goal difference (by three goals):

[Rhodes]

A mouth watering Winslow United v Cockfosters Final then to take place on Bank Holiday Monday (4 May) at Elmfields Gate:

Wednesday 29 April 

Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals

Risborough Rangers 0 Cockfosters 1

Winslow United 2 Kings Langley 1

[Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 29 April 
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals
Risborough Rangers 0 Cockfosters 1

A groundhopper from another Forum was in attendance at Horsenden Lane:

Risborough Rangers 0 Cockfosters 1. Spartan South Midlands Premier play-off semi-final (3rd v 4th). Admission: £8. Programme: Online. Crowd: 382.
I arrived in Princes Risborough in plenty of time, taking the short walk from the station to the Bird in Hand. On my way, I could hear a distant cacophony amid the affluent avenues. It became louder until I was confronted with a gaggle (choose your own collective noun) of Risborough ultras. Average age 14.
An early feature of the game was the long throws of Cockfosters captain Jay Lovell. Will be interesting to see those at Wembley.
The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes when Tyreece Robertson was released on the right and turned the ball past advancing keeper Ben Bridle-Card.
Rangers had a couple of inaccurate efforts from Manny Williams and Lewis Albert. Wingers Rio Connell (left) and Josh Williams (right) offered menace but, once the ball reached the middle, the door was slammed shut by Cockfosters.
The second half began with a free-kick pumped from the left by Rangers' Oliver Sprague, which was met at the far post by Keano Robinson but his header went wide.
Frank Keita then had a shot on the turn that was straight at keeper Ryan North. Rangers, having made several substitutions, were looking more dangerous now with Cockfosters confined to counter attacks. But from there the game disintegrated.
During a stoppage for an injury there was a confrontation between both sets of players, which resulted in some bookings. A further dispute ended with Sprague being dismissed from the field.
The now disjointed nature of the contest was reflected in 14 minutes of added time. Cockfosters negotiated the period remaining, which enabled their players to taunt the ultras at the final whistle.

[Rhodes]

On 30/04/2026 at 12:05, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 29 April 
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals
Risborough Rangers 0 Cockfosters 1

Groundhopper and blogger 'Mullered Sports' gets everywhere, he was at Horsenden Lane to witness Cockfosters narrow win, also see a match report:

https://www.risboroughrangersfc.co.uk/teams/186028/match-centre/1-11116274/report

Edited May 2 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 30/04/2026 at 12:05, Rhodes said:

Wednesday 29 April 
Premier Division Play-Off Semi Finals
Winslow United 2 Kings Langley 1

Sports Shots photographer Andy Bone was in attendance at Elmfields Gate, see some photographs, also see match reports:

https://www.sportsshots.org.uk/2026/05/01/2025-6-spartan-south-midlands-league-winslow-united-victory-sets-up-huge-play-off-final-clash-with-cockfosters/

https://www.kingslangleyfc.co.uk/news/heathy-reflects-2977057.html

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/26067348.winslow-united-2-kings-langley-1---full-match-report/

Edited May 2 by Rhodes

[Winslow Boy]

Deserved 2-0 win in front of a crowd of over 1000 at Elmfields Gate. Unbelievable season for the club. 

[Rhodes]

On 30/04/2026 at 12:05, Rhodes said:

A mouth watering Winslow United v Cockfosters Final then to take place on Bank Holiday Monday (4 May) at Elmfields Gate

Yes, huge congratulations to Winslow United for deservedly gaining Step 4 status for the first time in the Club's history:

Edited May 4 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

There will obviously be a lot of coverage of the Play-Off Final yesterday afternoon, as 'a starter for ten' a packed to the rafters Elmfields Gate was awash with groundhoppers from another Forum:

Winslow U 2 Cockfosters 0
SSML Prem Playoff Final. Adm £8/£4 Prog £1 Att est 1,000
Planned to arrive early, expecting parking to be difficult near to KO, and duly got there at 13.10 and managed to get a place in the car park opposite ground.
Small stand, small area of cover, clubhouse, hardstanding on 3 sides. Dry throughout.
Fosters were through 1v1 in 30 seconds but the home keeper saved comfortably, and that was about as good as it got for them. Winslow had more play, and carved out a few half chances, with Fosters generally defending well, but not threatening again until on 65 min a low cross led to a miss from close range. 2 mins later Winslow won a corner on their right with the kick powerfully headed in from 12 yards. Fosters didn't really look like equalising, despite committing more men forward, and the hosts added a second on 85 from a breakaway.
No serious traffic homeward & indoors at 18.00.

Also at Winslow, arrived at 1.30pm and managed to get in the car park opposite the ground. I think it helped the bowls club weren't at home today. Saw a long time friend in the ground who had arrived around 2pm and he had managed to park in the road beyond the ground.
As a semi regular at Winslow it will be interesting to see what improvements are done at the ground, there were two portaloos behind the stand today.
Not heard a crowd figure but I estimated around 1,000 as well.
Cockfosters once they conceded were on a road to nowhere as Winslow do break quickly.
Home in 30 minutes via all the diversions and re-routes HS2 and East-West Rail cause on the Vale of Aylesbury.

Also at the Winslow United v Cockfosters play off final for my 7th play off match in the last 16 days. Wanted to really get to the Hednesford v Warrington Rylands play off final, but failed to get anywhere near getting a ticket. Contemplated a double in Sussex with the Peter Bentley cup final at Peacehaven and then the Premier League 2 match between Brighton and West Ham, but the kick off time of 11.0 for the first match certainly put me off of that, as well as the long wait for the 7.0 evening kick off. Also thought about the finals at Redbridge and Downton, but decided on Winslow after plenty of thought.
Official attendance was 1,006, which beats the original record crowd which was set only last Wednesday.
Also arrived extra early and was parked up by the cricket pitch. Programme good value for £1 and, from what I heard, they sold out quite early in the afternoon.
Pleased to say that, unlike several of the other play off matches, there were no problems and the crowd behaved impeccably. The only thing that could have been done was get a steward (didn’t really see any) to clear the masses to the right of the seats, who were clearly standing in the ‘hatched’ area that had several notices on the fence saying ‘no standing’.
As far as the match was concerned, I was very disappointed with Cockfosters, who offered very little in the second half. They will certainly need to perform much better in the FA Vase final, if they want to finish the season with a trophy. As pokal mentioned, they could have taken a very early lead in an opening half that was pretty even, with very few chances being created.
The second half was dominated by Winslow who took the lead on 67 minutes when a Scott Valentine corner was met by the head of Charlie Attwell at the back post. The second came with seven minutes to go from a break initiated by Aaron King who took the ball on before finding Ty Deacon, just onside - King raced through the middle and when Deacon returned the ball back to him, King scuffed his shot, which bobbled, hit the post and eventually ended up in the back of the net.
Game over and despite the visiting keeper coming forward a couple of times for set pieces, it was pretty easy for Winslow to see the match out, before we had the pitch invasion, followed by the medals ceremony.

[Rhodes]

On 30/04/2026 at 12:05, Rhodes said:

Yes, huge congratulations to Winslow United for deservedly gaining Step 4 status for the first time in the Club's history

Sports Shots photographer Luke Stafford was in attendance at Elmfields Gate on Bank Holiday Monday yesterday to witness Winslow United's momentous success, see 233 high quality photographs: 

Edited May 5 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The match programme cover for the Premier Division Play-Off Final at Elmfields Gate on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May:

Edited Monday at 21:21 by Rhodes