TT BLOG
Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc
Tom looks at the last seven NLS Playoffs
2017/2018
Winners: Braintree Town (6th)
17/18: Dartford, Chelmsford City, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hemel Hempstead Town, Braintree Town, Truro City.
The change to the play-off structure in the National League system was debuted in Torquay’s relegation to the NLS for the first time in the 2017/18 season.
The idea behind was to give more clubs the opportunity at a chance of promotion as well as rewarding teams finishing in 2nd/3rd with an immediate home tie in the semi finals and then giving the highest placed team remaining home advantage in the final.
In the first ever NLS eliminator rounds, Braintree overcame Hemel away on penalties, winning 3-2 after playing out a goalless draw whilst the Hampton & Richmond overcame Truro in a 3-1 victory at the Beveree.
Dartford and Chelmsford entered the fray with home advantage for the semi-finals, but both sides failed to make it count as Braintree earnt their way to the final with a 1-0 victory over Dartford and Hampton saw off Chelmsford by the same scoreline.
At a packed Beveree Stadium in what proved to be a tight affair, Braintree secured promotion winning 4-3 on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw and became the first winners of the NLS play-offs under the new structure.
It wouldn’t be the last time the Essex side would find success in the play-offs from the eliminator rounds and proved that home advantage didn’t guarantee success.
2018/2019
Winners: Woking (2nd)
18/19: Woking, Welling United, Chelmsford, Bath City, Concord Rangers*, Wealdstone.
*Concord Rangers disqualified for play-offs due to ground grading regulations.
Ah the 18/19 season. What a season that was for Gulls fans. Torquay under new manager Gary Johnson turned around the Gulls fortunes by winning the NLS title by 10 points from Woking, who the Gulls had battled with for the majority of the season for top honours.
There was early drama as one of the smallest teams in the division in Concord Rangers were denied entry into the play-offs due to ground grading regulations, having too few seats in order to be allowed to compete.
This gave Chelmsford an automatic bye into the semi finals whilst Wealdstone who had finished 7th beat Bath City 3-1 away from home.
Chelmsford’s bye into the semi-finals however proved to work against them as succumb to a 96th minute penalty to send the Wings to the final.
In the other semi-final, Woking had to recover from going 2-0 down against Wealdstone, scoring three goals in the final 15 minutes to book their place in the final.
In front of 4,885 fans at Kingfield, it was soon to be Torquay bound midfielder Armani Little who scored the winning goal just before half time to send the Cardinals back to the 5th tier at the first time of asking. Delight for Alan Dowson and Ben Gerring in leafy Surrey.
2019/2020
Winners: Weymouth (3rd)
19/20*: Havant & Waterlooville, Weymouth, Bath City, Slough Town, Dartford, Dorking Wanderers
*League standings decided on PPG due to Covid 19 pandemic ending season early.
It was a difficult time for the world as the Covid 19 pandemic had shut down the world and left many in lockdown for months at a time. The football season ended in mid-march and left many questions from football fans about how the season would be concluded. The FA and National League decided to end the season early and have the league positions decided on Points Per Game average with play-offs games to be played when deemed safe to do so.
It wouldn’t be until mid-July before the play-offs could start in the NLS and with fans not allowed to attend, the atmosphere at grounds fell quiet as the play-offs commenced.
Home comforts did not help Slough or Bath as they both fell to defeat in the eliminator stages, with the Romans falling to a 2-1 defeat to Dorking at Twerton Park whilst Slough were swept aside by Dartford in a 3-0 win for the Darts.
2nd placed Havant & Waterlooville blew an early goal lead to lose 2-1 to Dartford in the semi finals whilst a 95th minute winner for Weymouth saw off Marc White’s Wanderers at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
In a tight affair in Wessex, Weymouth handled the pressure, seeing off Dartford 3-0 on penalties after playing out a goalless draw in normal time and saw the Terras return to the National League after a three year absence.
2020/2021
20/21: Season Curtailed
There were to be no National League North & South Play-Offs played at the end of the 20/21 season as a vote to null and void the season was approved by more than a 51% majority of step 2 clubs. With no crowds still allowed to attend games for large portions of the season subsequent lockdowns that followed, for many clubs, carrying on would have been a financial nightmare, with promises of government grants soon turned to loans, making it difficult for clubs to continue to run during difficult times.
National League Statement: February 18th 2021
In summary: The National League North and South 2020/21 Playing Season (Step Two) to be declared null and void. A minimum 51% majority was required for Resolution Three to pass.
National League North: 15-7
National League South: 9-12
Result: Passed Resolution is passed and consequently the season at Step Two is null and void.
2021/2022
Winners: Dorking Wanderers (2nd)
21/22: Dorking Wanderers, Ebbsfleet United, Dartford, Oxford City, Eastbourne Borough, Chippenham Town
It was business as normal again for football fans, who returned to stadiums across the country after strict restrictions were lifted during the summer of 2021, just in time for England’s Euro 2021 finals campaign.
In the eliminator round, 7th place Chippenham Town gave Dartford more play-off heartbreak, winning 3-2 on penalties at Prices Park after playing out a goalless draw in Kent.
Oxford City progressed to the semi-finals, seeing off Eastbourne Borough with a 2-0 victory, including a goal from ex Gull, Elliot Benyon.
In the semi-finals, Dorking & Ebbsfleet were able to make home advantage count, with the Wanderers easily seeing off Oxford City in a 3-0 win, whilst Ebbsfleet saw off Chippenham with a 1-0 win in extra time.
The 21/22 NLS play-off final is one that will go down as one of the most spectacular games of football you will see. Our friends at Bunch of Amateurs captured the magic of the final on their YouTube channel which I highly recommend viewing.
A 92nd minute goal for the Fleet looked to have sent them to the National League, but in the 99th minute, Luke Moore tapped home from close range with the last kick of the game to send the game to extra time and keep the Wanderers promotion chances alive.
Top goal scorer Alfie Rutherford scored in the first half of extra time which proved enough to see off Ebbsfleet and earn Marc White promotion to the top tier of non-league football for the first time in Dorking’s history.
2022/2023
Winners: Oxford City (3rd)
22/23: Dartford, Oxford City, Worthing, Chelmsford City, St Albans City, Braintree Town
Ebbsfleet United bounced back from play-off final heartbreak by romping their way to the NLS title, recording 103 points and ended 20 points clear of 2nd placed Dartford.
In the eliminator round, St Albans overcame Chelmsford at the Melbourne Stadium 1-0 after Extra time whilst Worthing, making their first appearance in the NLS play-offs, recorded a 2-1 win at home to Braintree.
It was yet more heartbreak for Dartford, who despite finishing 2nd and home advantage, once again lost out 5-3 on penalties, this time to St Albans City after playing out a 1-1 draw in front of over 3,200 supporters.
It was slightly more comfortable in Oxfordshire as Oxford City saw off Worthing 2-0 and gave them home advantage in the final.
History was made as City blew St Albans away in the first half, going in 4-0 up at half time and seeing out the second half with minimal fuss to record their first ever appearance at National League level.
2023/2024
Winners: Braintree Town (4th)
23/24: Chelmsford City, Worthing, Maidstone United, Braintree Town, Bath City, Aveley
A historic year for Torquay fans everywhere, if for the wrong reasons, administration and a poor start to 2024 quickly saw play-off hopes replaced by survival hopes, both on and off the pitch.
In the play-off picture, the biggest shock was Aveley, who had surpassed everyone’s expectations and had rightfully deserved to be involved in the end of season play-offs, finishing 7th a point ahead of Farnborough.
In a spirited effort which saw the Millers take a first half lead, a last-minute winner by Mo Faal broke Aveley hearts who despite defeat could hold their heads up high after overcoming all the odds in a phenomenal first outing at NLS level.
Braintree joined Maidstone in the semi finals with a 118th minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Bath City and it wouldn’t prove to be the last time Braintree had to go the distance!
In the semi-finals, Braintree went into injury time 2-0 up at local rivals Chelmsford, before two last minute goals brought the Clarets level and an extra 30 minutes to play.
Braintree dug in deep and scored the winning goal 8 minutes into extra time through Jayden Davis to progress to the final.
In the other semi-final, Worthing saw out Maidstone with a double from league top goal scorer Ollie Pearce, scoring with a minute left of normal time to send the Rebels to the final and home advantage against Braintree.
It was another classic final with Worthing & Braintree trading blows in a game that flowed one way then the other. A mad 14 minute second half spell saw both sides score two goals each and saw Braintree play their 3rd consecutive period of extra time.
With advantage looking to favour the home side, Braintree managed to find the winning goal early into the 2nd half of extra time and a dejected Worthing side couldn’t break down the Iron with the remaining time to play.
Braintree had won promotion once again in the play-offs and had done so the hard way. An incredible effort from the “Pub team in Essex”.
Play-Off Wins from finishing position since introduction of new play-off structure.
2nd: 2
3rd : 2
4th : 1
5th : 0
6th: 1
7th: 0
HOW ARE YOUR NERVES GULLS FANS?
The Gulls enter the play-offs in the best possible position, guaranteeing home advantage in the semi-final and hopefully home advantage in the final should we progress.
The new system is one that tries to reward teams who finish in the top 3, whilst giving an extra two places for sides compared to the old system.
As you can see from the table above, home advantage isn’t necessarily an advantage and it will be down to the Gulls who will be backed by a sell out crowd at Plainmoor to dust ourselves down and go again to achieve the promotion we all want after a wonderful first season under new ownership.
With our record over the other play-off contenders relatively decent, Torquay should not go into these play-offs with any fear. Embrace the challenge, lets pack Plainmoor and make it as intimidating as we can for whoever comes to play us. We certainly won’t be outnumbered.
COYY – TOM
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