Dover missed out on a play-off place on goal difference to Fylde, despite winning 1-2 away to Woking on Saturday. Wrexham could only draw at home to Fylde denying Dover a chance of joining Ebbsfleet in the remaining places. Ebbsfleet secured a play-off tie against Aldershot in their next game after gaining the valuable required point away to Torquay. If Fleet had lost this game, Dover would have secured a place with a better goal difference than their fellow Kent club. Although it should be noted the play-offs have changed this season for the National League, and for Ebbsfleet to get promoted to League Two they have the difficult task of having to win three games, let alone any prospect of having to face Tranmere Rovers in the latter games, a team they have not scored against this season, drawing 0-0 at home and getting thrashed 4-0 away. Whereas elsewhere, Bromley missed out by chucking away five points in their last two games, as the early season front runners failed at the final hurdle. And Maidstone, were brought down to earth with a bump, following in the footsteps of the Gills and finishing on 54 points to maintain their league status. Quick mention for Leyton Orient who finally finished mid-table. Anyway, good luck to Keds, Weston and the lads at Stonebridge Road
Ebbsfleet could become the second Kent club in league football, interestingly they have only lost 10 games this season which is less than any other team in the playoffs. recent form over 6 games. Ebbsfleet............13 points. Tranmere...........12 points. Fylde..................11 points. Boreham.............9 points. Sutton.................7 points. Aldershot............7 points.
Darryl McMahon has got them playing well at the right time and managed to sneak into the play-offs on the final day. Dover however should have finished this season feeling pretty disappointed themselves after they did a Gillingham in being the top 2 for most of the season until the last couple of months where they threw it away to not even finish in the play off spots. Bromley still have a Wembley final in a couple of weeks for the FA Trophy and I'm sure Neil Smith (Ex Gill) should be all around pleased with where they've finished with a fairly low budget. Maidstone's season came undone thanks to the January transfer window with them losing their best two strikers in Joe Pigott (another ex Gill) and Zavon Hines to respected football league clubs. Not being able to replace them and then going on a 17 game winless run pulled them into the relegation scrap which they just about got away with 2 wins and a draw in their last 3 games. In other news, Adrian Pennock managed to just about fend off relegation for Barrow on the final day due to other results going his way. Sound familiar?
How do the Conference play-offs work? I notice there is a dotted line under 3rd, and then another under 7th. Looks confusing...
The rules changed this season...2nd and 3rd go straight into the semi-final stage and will play the two winners, of the quarter final stages (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th). So in simple terms it is three games; Quarter Final (2nd & 3rd auto through to next round) Semi-final Final
Last night (Wednesday 2nd May) Ebbsfleet won their eliminator play-off game at Aldershot to proceed to the next stage. The game was won on penalties in front of over 3,300 supporters. The remaining QF of Boreham Wood v AFC Flyde is tonight, the winners of that game will face Sutton. Now the Fleet go into the semi-final stage travelling to Prenton Park to face Tranmere on Saturday. I do not relish Ebbsfleets chances at Tranmere, as i said earlier in the OP, Fleet have conceded 4 goals against them without reply this season. However, I'm sure Gills fans remember Shrewsbury in a similar situation! Maybe if Ebbsfleet can get past Tranmere on Saturday, there fans can start believing, as they will then only be one step away from L2 football and possibly the biggest game in their history. Mr Scally watch this space
I knew Ebbsfleet wouldn't beat Tranmere, however, they made a good go of it. Goes to show how hard it is to get out of that league.
Tranmere promoted to L2 after playing most the game with 10 men. I always felt over the season they were the stronger side and at a second successive attempt, probably the most deserved outcome. Although not forgetting the great achievement of Boreham Wood. Only doubt I have over this game is why Wembley? Surely there must have been a more neutral and easier and suitable location, especially for the travelling Tranmere fans. While on the topic, anyone notice how Barnet missed out on L2 survival by goal difference. Maddog nearly pulling of an amazing houdini trick only to be denied by Morecambe drawing their last game of the season away at Coventry. Maddog had only been in charge for eight weeks, only losing once in his last six games in charge, but their 3-0 win on the last day still saw them pipped at the post.
I remember us relegating Tranmere a couple of years ago. I did think they would bounce back but as you said in an earlier post it is a hard league to climb back out of. When you look at some of the names in that league who have been football league clubs for donkeys years it is quite surprising. Come to think of it there aren't that many clubs who bounce back straight away after a relegation. The EFL is much more competitive than the premier league and has been for years now.
