Two promotions have been confirmed following the 2024/25 National League North and South playoff finals played out this afternoon.
In the lunchtime kick off, Boreham Wood secured promotion to the National League with a 1-0 victory over Maidstone United in the National League South promotion final at a sold-out Meadow Park.
Charles Clayden scored the only goal of the game two minutes into the second half, curling a stunning left-footed shot into the top corner after a skillful assist from Abdul Abdulmalik.
Despite chances at both ends in a competitive match, including a missed opportunity by Boreham Wood’s Matt Rush and a strong save by goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, Boreham Wood held on to seal a return to the fifth tier of English football just over a year after relegation.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesanmi, Whelan, Benton (Marsh 83mins), O’Connell, Reynolds, Clayden (Appiah 71mins), Abdulmalik (Payne 81mins), Richardson, Yarney (Bush 64mins), Rush. Subs not used: Coxe, Sagaf, Dixon.
Maidstone: Andre Jr, Fowler, Eweka, Greenidge (Kyprianou 90+2mins), Brookes, Gurung (Willis 68mins), Higgs (Coulthirst 77mins), Berkeley-Agyepong, Court (Krasniqi 68mins), Blair, Leahy (Corne 56mins). Subs not used: Holden, Trusty.
Referee: Gareth Thomas.
Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard said following the final whistle said: “I planted a positive seed when I returned in September and we spoke about promotion.
“What happened last year was very tough. I set a negative scene when I spoke about relegation after a few months.
“The players have responded incredibly and this is a proud moment.”
GOAL! ⚽️
It’s lift off for Boreham Wood! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/1SVdJURYXN
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 18, 2025
BOREHAM WOOD HAVE DONE IT! THEY WILL BE PLAYING VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FOOTBALL! 🙌
National League Play-Offs | Every Game Live | https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5@BOREHAM_WOODFC | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/25NtSWI4ET
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 18, 2025
Your National League South Promotion Final winners, BOREHAM WOOD! 🏆
National League Play-Offs | Every Game Live | https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5@BOREHAM_WOODFC | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/9rOpjt74HX
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 18, 2025
The promotion party is just getting started!
Congratulations, @BOREHAM_WOODFC 🍾 pic.twitter.com/z3oEqODPwk
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 18, 2025
The ending he wanted to write ✍️
A year on from relegation, Luke Garrard has kept his promise and returned Boreham Wood to the National League 👏 pic.twitter.com/R7x9q68o2I
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 18, 2025
20 minutes into the National League North playoff final, Scunthorpe went ahead, Kelly curled an effort towards the far top corner.
It came back off the post and Whitehall pounced first to slide the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Chester levelled in the 62nd minute. A penalty was awarded for a handball. Woods sent Fitzsimons the wrong way, setting up a tense finish.
The game went into extra time, on the 105th minute, Carlton Ubaezuonu put Scunthorpe in front again to send the home fans wild.
It’s a dream start for Scunthorpe who take an early lead in the the National League North Promotion Final! ⚽️
National League Play-Offs | Every Game Live | https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5@SUFCOfficial | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/YHeAuG7Dbx
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 18, 2025
GOAL! @ChesterFC level!
Connor Woods from the spot 💥#TheVanarama pic.twitter.com/JnHDutAAqK
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 18, 2025
Scunthorpe take the lead on the half of extra-time! ⚽️⏱
National League Play-Offs | Every Game Live | https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5@SUFCOfficial | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/elR1Xg3F8f
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 18, 2025
Scunthorpe are officially BACK in the Vanarama National League! 🙌🔴🔵
National League Play-Offs | Every Game Live | https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5@SUFCOfficial | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/kBMO9Ajs5L
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 18, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted with two promotions confirmed following the 2024/25 National League North and South playoff finals…
ON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH PLAYOFF FINAL:
@moxon_will: In what has been a crazy season in the South, Boreham Wood deserve massive amounts of credit to bounce straight back up. Seen it in both divisions that it can be really tough to get out of
@_morgan_bruce: What a story for Boreham wood & Luke garrard. To be sacked as they’re relegated and then rehired to get them back into the NL. Congrats to everyone involved. Commiserations for Maidstone who’ve had a great playoff campaign and done so well to get this far
@tomhwilliams23: Boreham Wood have done it! Welcome back to the National League 👏 Been a weird season for them. Parted ways with Garrard after their relegation. But once he returned, it felt almost written that he would take them back up. Looks like they’ve evolved a bit since last time too!
@djc_86: Boreham Wood certainly played some great stuff this season, for a moment it looked bleak for promotion. But form going into the play offs was massive. Garrard tries his luck again at the National League. Maidstone will be there again, but will be an even tougher league next year
@ScottyLorimer10: All them unbelievable options in the National South play off mix, and fucking Boreham Wood are the ones to come up…
@Diggerthedog1: Boreham Wood look like they’re bouncing straight back, their squad is very good. A hell of a lot of work for a new manager to produce a squad as good as that. They also kept quite a few of their better players, all ours are leaving or have left already.
@MattHuddyHudson: All the best for next season lads . Either George at the wheel you are in the right hands . He was top class after the game and gains alot of respect from us 👏
@barnesy007: We didn’t show up in the 2nd half. Out of ideas and no efforts on target. Too many of our players didn’t do enough. All that hard work over the season thrown away by a poor performance today. Time for a freshen up ahead of next season I think
@carlheather: You finished 7th in the league you never deserved to go up need better quality players in the team
@ollycurtis__: Pretends to be shocked, that’s what happens when your owners give the manager scraps instead of half decent replacements.
ON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH PLAYOFF FINAL:
@Wwfc2429961: Congratulations from a wolves fan. The first game i ever attended was wolves v scunthorpe in division 4, March 1987. Hope you get back to the football league.
@mymessysecret: Good f*cking Lord!!! Absolutely ecstatic of course but I’ve had total darkness for almost ten minutes.
@stevenwbaprince: Congratulations from a Kiddy fan. I said with 3 games to go it was a shame one of us was going to miss out and turns out it was us. 😢🦅
@laticssamuala: Well done Scunthorpe. Had a torrid few years. Along with Chester of course, but good to see them just 1 level back from the football league after that ridiculous back to back relegation.
@CallumHallett6: Congratulations to Scunthorpe United! It’s the least that fanbase deserves. They’ve been through much in recent seasons; back 2 back relegations. A disgraceful ownership. So much disappointment in recent seasons. The #Iron are on their way back! 🏆 #UTI
@tomhwilliams23: Brilliant for Scunthorpe! 👏 A club that have been falling down the leagues for too long. Great to see them take a step back in the right direction
@WonderboyWXM: This result means Chester need to win 5 games in the FA Cup to have a slim chance of playing us again. They have never been past the 2nd round. Congratulations Scunthorpe. Proper club.
