The National League semi finals took place this week, with plenty of drama and action unfolding in both matches! Let’s see what happened, and see what names have been added to the 2025/26 National League season! You can see what happened in the quarter finals here, if you need a catch up!
Participants
| Final Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 1st (Champions) | Barnet |
| 2nd | York City |
| 3rd | Forest Green Rovers |
| 4th | |
| 5th | Oldham Athletic |
| 6th | |
| 7th | Southend United |
Results
The semi final fixtures were between the below teams:
York City vs Oldham Athletic
Forest Green Rovers vs Southend United
We begin in Yorkshire on Tuesday night, where Oldham Athletic booked their spot at Wembley with an emphatic 3-0 win over their hosts York City! The Minstermen had a positive start, registering a couple of half chances, but the visitors fought back with moments of their own. 23 minutes in, Vimal Yoganathan pounced on Alex Hunt as he received a dangerous roll out from ‘keeper Harrison Male. The Oldham midfielder quickly gave it to Joe Garner, who rifled home for the opener and left an uphill battle for the pre-match favourites. Oldham continued to impress throughout the rest of the half, forcing Male into a handful of good saves.
The misery continued for York shortly after half time, as Mike Fondop controlled a ball close to the edge of the box, turned and found Yoganathan in space, who fired into the bottom left corner to send the Oldham fans into raptures. They barely had time to calm down after Yoganathan’s goal before the third hit the net, as Joe Pritchard nodded home from close range completely unmarked to make it 3-0 just six minutes into the second half. York continued to look toothless up front for the rest of the game, as the Latics confirmed their place in the final, while York face a fourth season of National League football.
Wednesday night saw another upset, as Southend United defeated Forest Green Rovers on penalties to create an intriguing playoff final prospect! Both sides were pushing for the opener in the first half, former Yeovil man Joe Quigley nodding wide for Forest Green, while Keenan Appiah-Forson had Southend’s best chance as his chance cannoned off the bar; both sides went to their dressing rooms at half-time with no goals scored.
Into the second half, and it was the Shrimpers who opened the scoring, as Ben Goodliffe rose highest from a free kick, his header looping over another former Glover, Ted Cann, and into the back of the net. Eight minutes later, and it was 1-1, as yet another former Yeovil man was involved, Ryan Inniss powering the ball home from an almost identical set-piece to Southend’s goal. Both sides continued to probe and press, with Southend finishing the second half as the dominant side, but to no avail as the full time whistle blew, and extra-time was in order.
Just four minutes into extra-time, and the hosts had the lead, a ball floated towards the back post from Liam Sercombe found the head of substitute Emmanuel Osadebe, who headed at ‘keeper Nick Hayes, but the ball was fumbled into the net. Southend continued to push on though, defiant in the face of adversity and they were rewarded for their courage, as substitute Jack Bridge tucked home from a wonderful counter-attack on the edge of the box, the number 7 having way more space than perhaps he should have, to equalise for his side.
The final whistle blew, and penalties were in order. Southend began, and Josh Walker’s kick was saved. Former Southend man Harry Cardwell tucked his shot home, before Jack Bridge hammered home his side’s first. Former Yeovil man Tom Knowles stepped up and hammered the bar, and Jack Gubbins fired his side ahead. Charlie McCann scored, as did Macauley Bonne (just); Liam Sercombe sent his spot-kick flying over the bar, allowing Gus Scott-Morriss to send Southend United to Wembley, and condemning Forest Green to a second season of non-league football.
Oldham Athletic vs Southend United will take place on Sunday 1st June at Wembley, and will be televised on DAZN.
Final Scores
York City 0-3 Oldham Athletic
Forest Green Rovers 2-2 Southend United (Southend win 4-2 on pens)