BIG MACC MARCH ON TO THE FINAL
A BUMPER crowd of just over 3,000 saw Macclesfield move one step closer to a third successive promotion with victory over Worksop Town.
Kane Drummond gave Silkmen the best possible start when he poked home the opener on ten minutes before Alex Curran doubled the lead four minutes before half-time.
The game was as good as over when Tunde Owolabi added a third for Michael Clegg’s men with a fine finish on the hour, deeming Regan Hutchinsons goal back for Worksop as mere consolation.
Macclesfield now lock horns with Marine in tomorrow’s final after they saw off Clegg’s former club Warrington Rylands.
Sol Solomon netted the only goal in a 1-0 success - the Jersey-born forward’s 23rd of the season and his third in three games.
Marine finished third, a point below Macclesfield, and lost both matches against them in the regular season 2-1.
STEP 4
A BUMPER crowd of 2,035 saw Prescot Cables defeat near neighbours Bootle to reach the NPL West final.
Kyle Sambor’s goal in the first half of extra time was enough as the hosts’ third successive clean sheet helped them move one step closer to a return to Step 3 after 15 years away.
City of Liverpool went into Tuesday’s semi-final at Runcorn Linnets with one defeat in 14 since a 4-1 loss at home to Cables in February.
But they progressed after a goal in each half from Elliot Morris ensured a 2-0 away victory in front of 1,600 supporters.
The Purps are aiming to reach Step 3 for the first time in their history.
Anstey Nomads and Harborough Town both came through home ties to reach the NPL Midlands final.
Anstey, eyeing up a second successive promotion, recovered from a goal down to overcome Leicestershire rivals Quorn, who ended up with ten men.
Paddy Webb deservedly fired Quorn in front on 34 minutes before two goals in the space of a minute just before half-time turned the tables. First, Nyle Blake first the Nomads level before Jordan Aimable added a second moments later.
This galvanised the Nomads after the break with Blake scoring his second of the game with a powerful strike on 64 minutes.
Substitute Farren Simon was sent off to compound Quorn’s woe.
Harborough Town, whose six-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player saw them drop from first to third in the latter stages of the season, progressed 4-2 on penalties against Hinckley LR following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Jordon Crawford fired Harborough in front on 34 minutes after Luis Rose’s shot was parried, but Hinckley hit back four minutes into the second half when Dom Brennan was pulled down in the penalty box and Aaron Nuttall rifled home from the spot.
Both sides had chances for the remainder of the second half and in extra time but Harborough progressed on penalties after Nuttal and Spencer Edwards missed from the spot.
Stockton Town and Dunston will fight it out in the NPL West final is a bid to join north-east rivals Hebburn Town in Step 3 next season.
Both won their semi-final ties 2-0 at home on Tuesday night set up the climax to the season.
Stockton lost out on the title to Hebburn by a single point but they recovered from that disappointment to overcome Carlton Town with Glen Butterworth scoring a goal in each half to see his side through in front of a crowd of 1,600 at Bishopton Road West.
Dunston benefitted from Pontefract Collieries being reduced to ten men inside the opening seven minutes after Jack Vann was sent off for a lunge on Jack Maskell.
Dale Pearson put Dunston in front on 25 minutes before Richard Coulson added a second on the hour to seal their final place.