Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One play-off semi-final: Eccleshill United 4 Shirebrook Town 2

(after extra-time, 2-2 after 90 mins)

ECCLESHILL United needed a last-gasp equaliser in normal time but reached the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One play-off final with two unanswered goals in extra-time against a very good Shirebrook Town side.

The Eagles, who finished one place and four points above Shirebrook in the final table, will travel to Grimsby Borough on Saturday for a one-off game, with the prize of a place in the Premier Division next term.

Sean Regan’s men appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win in last night’s semi-final after creating early chances before finally breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute.

The Eagles forced a corner and Antony Brown converted Luke Harrop’s delivery with a firm header.

They took that slender lead into the break, despite the visitors creating chances.

However, the Derbyshire outfit turned the tie with two goals inside three minutes midway through the second half.

Dan Williams netted the equaliser when the Eagles’ defence had failed to clear a ball into their area, and soon after Joe Naylor pounced on a loose ball to fire the visitors into the lead.

That led to even more nerves in an already fraught and tense game.

Eccleshill, who for much of the season had been the only credible challengers to eventual champions Knaresborough Town, looked to be heading for a play-off exit until Chris Lever’s strike in the last of the four minutes of added time.

Shirebrook missed two glorious opportunities to edge back in front in extra-time and lived to regret them as the Eagles netted twice in the second extra period.

They got back in front through a wonderful volley from distance by Tom Rose, and Brown put the gloss on the win when he waltzed past two defenders before slotting in with just two minutes remaining.

Grimsby will have home advantage in the play-off final after snatching third place from Eccleshill on goal difference.

However, the Eagles will be looking forward to travelling after winning the league fixture at Boro 3-2 back in January.