After Late Drama In Both Ties It’s Harrogate & Brackley’s Final

Chorley were the visitors to Harrogate today and in soaring temperatures, a goal in stoppage time caused joy for the Yorkshire side and heartbreak for the Lancastrians.

Matt Jansen`s Magpies had taken the lead through Josh O'Keefe`s goal after 36 minutes.

However, they were stung a minute before half-time when the referee issued a straight red card to Lee Molyneux following a high tackle on Ryan Fallowfield.

Chorley re-grouped at the break but were eventually pegged back just past the hour-mark when Dominic Knowles equalised from the penalty spot after the referee spotted a handball following a goalmouth scramble.

It looked as though Chorley were going to hang on with ten-men to force extra-time, but in the 4th minute of stoppage time, Josh Falkingham's shot fell kindly for Knowles to slot past Matt Urwin and snatch a last-gasp victory for Simon Weaver`s side.

At St James`s Park, Buildbase FA Trophy finalists Brackley Town were given a really tough test by a Bradford Park Avenue side who only scraped into the top seven on goal difference on the final day of the regular season.

However, Avenue had won both league matches between the pair so were confident heading down to Northamptonshire.

The first half ended goalless and the second period, played in really hot conditions, saw Brackley come close to breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute when Gareth Dean`s header from a corner was headed off the line.

But it was Brackley keeper Danny Lewis who stood between Avenue and a place in next week`s final, producing a string of fine saves to deny Wayne Brooksby, Frank Mulhern and Danny Johnson.

So, in soaring temperatures, it was to be an extra 30 minutes.

Eight minutes in, it was Avenue `keeper Steven Drench who came to the fore, making a great save from an Aaron Williams header.

But on 111 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken when Williams` initial effort was blocked, but he got hold of the rebound and steered it past Drench into the bottom corner to seal another final place for Kevin Wilkin`s side.

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