Stafford Town to face play-off final after nine goal thriller but Brocton fall short

Adam Wall's troops prevailed 5-4 winners over Sandbach United at their Evans Park home - with five goals arriving in the final 20 minutes of an enthralling topsy-turvy contest.

The memorable victory has set up a play-off final clash away at Abbey Hulton United in the North West Counties First Division South play-off final on Saturday.

There was cup final disappointment for Wall's men in Easter Monday's Edward Case Cup showpiece and a 3-0 defeat to Atherton LR in St Hellens.

Three goals in the final 20 minutes settled what had been a tight final earlier in the game. Wall's side will now focus on big games ahead - none more so than Saturday.

It has been a thrilling end to the campaign for Stafford, who as well as the play-off tilt at promotion also have the Macron Cup final on the horizon against Charnock Richard at Accrington Stanley's Wham Stadium on Monday, May 5 (3pm).

Town were 1-0 and 2-1 down to Sandbach but twice levelled through Patryk Mazurkiewicz and Michael Williams.

Sandbach had Ryan Goodwin dismissed after the break and it remained 2-2 until a little over 20 minutes to go when the hosts finally led as Matthew Hearsey raced through to finish well. 

Max Van Der Laan made it 4-2 with seven minutes left and the contest looked over. But Sandbach's Kieran Nolan converted a penalty on 86 minutes.

Stafford finally appeared to settle nerves a minute into stoppage time through Jayden Hunter's cool finish but there was still time for another Sandbach goal through Joseph Bevan, though it did not prove enough.

Stafford, who finished third in the standings, will face second-placed Abbey Hulton away in Stoke for a shot at step six promotion after they thrashed Eccleshall 5-0.

The clash, in front of almost 500 fans, was all-but over by half-time as Hulton raced into a 3-0 lead and put the clash beyond Eccleshall, who had finished fifth.

In other Staffordshire play-off drama, Brocton fell just short in their bid for promotion from step five's Midland Premier.

The Badgers, who had finished fifth, lost dramatically 3-2 at second-placed Shifnal Town. Will Whieldon handed visitors Brocton an early lead but Shifnal levelled with a penalty then went 2-1 up.

Brocton top scorer Reg Smith equalised just shy of half hour with a sublime free-kick and the semi-final was eventually decided midway through the second half as Shifnal's Jack Rowley fired home from a corner.