Southern Division One Central play-offs round-up

Bedford Town 2-1 Ware. AFC Dunstable 3-3 Waltham Abbey (AET – Waltham Abbey win 8-7 on penalties).

The most dramatic play-off game of the evening saw Waltham Abbey earn a Monday trip to Bedford following a six-goal thriller.

Jesse Akubaine gave Waltham the lead in first half added time, but Arnold Matshazi’s swift second half double turned the tie in favour of the hosts. They looked set for a place in the final but in the 10^th minute of stoppage time, Aaron Eyoma made it 2-2 and sent the semi-final into extra time.

Substitute Tami Ogunnowo put the visitors back in front but it was swiftly cancelled out by Rico Greco’s penalty, taking it to 18 goals in three meetings between the sides in the 2023/24 season.

The shoot-out was a tense one – Waltham squandered one chance to win it in sudden death but eventually prevailed with their 10^th kick converted for a place in the Southern Division One Central final.

In comparison, Bedford had a more relaxing night! Goals just before half-time from Alex Collard and Leon Lobjoit, his 10^th in six games, put them in control against fifth placed Ware.

Town had beaten Ware 7-1 at home earlier in the season, but it was a much narrower victory as substitute Kieron Bishop pulled one back for the visitors in added time, but there were no further heroics.

Monday’s Pitching In Southern League Division One Central play-off final sees Bedford looking for an instant return to Step 3 while Waltham Abbey’s only season at that level was in 2009/10.