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Blue Square Bet South Final Day round-up

12:44, 28 April 2012

updated: 13:36, 28 April 2012

Jacob Erskine
Jacob Erskine

The prospect of a mammoth all-Kent play-off final in Blue Square Bet South is looming large after a quiet final day of the regular season.

Second-placed Dartford travelled to Cornwall to face Truro City already assured of runners-up spot.

Luke Wilkinson saw a shot saved and Lee Noble curled a free-kick over before Jacob Erskine (pictured) skied a good chance and Danny Harris fired wide after a mazy run.

In a game of few chances Ryan Hayes missed the target after the break before veteran former Premier League striker Barry Hayles looked to have won the points for the hosts three minutes from time.

However Erskine made amends for his earlier misses with a goal in stoppage-time as Darts ended the season on the back of a 15-game unbeaten streak.

Dartford now face Basingstoke in the semi-final with Tony Burman's side travelling to Hampshire for the semi-final first leg before the second-leg at Princes Park next Sunday.

The winner will face the winner of the other semi-final, between Welling United and Sutton United, the following Sunday.

Welling were guaranteed third place before kick-off but found themselves behind on 26 minutes at Park View Road when defender Steven Old headed home a free-kick as the Wings defence went missing.

Jack Parkinson took over penalty taking duties for the hosts and converted from the spot two minutes before half-time, and with Chelmsford City - the only side who could catch Basingstoke - losing at home to champions Woking, the two sides played out a quiet second half.

Rob Edmans
Rob Edmans

Dover Athletic ended a frustrating campaign in season in seventh after drawing 1-1 away to Weston-super-Mare in difficult conditions.

A much-changed line-up took the lead early in the second half through Rob Edmans (pictured) but the home side equalised soon after.

Manager Nicky Forster made four changes, with Lee Hook replacing Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz in goal, and there were also starting places for fit-again full-back Tom Wynter and teenage defender Lloyd Harrington at centre-half.

Ian Simpemba failed to make the most of two early headed chances while Hook made one good save to keep the deadlock intact at the other end.

After the break Billy Bricknell drew a good save from Lloyd Irish from a Wynter cut-back but on 50 minutes Dover went ahead when Barry Cogan surged forward and laid off to Edmans who fired across the keeper left-footed.

The hosts snatched a point when defender Jamie Price flicked a free-kick in off the post with Hook stranded, though the keeper made amends with a good save late-on to ensure a share of the points.

Tonbridge Angels finished their impressive debut season on a low note with a 4-2 defeat at Boreham Wood, although they recorded a ninth-placed finish.

Graeme Montgomery put the hosts ahead on eight minutes but Chris Piper cancelled out the opener after 17 minutes, only for Wood to snatch the half-time lead seconds before the break through Mark Jones.

Frannie Collin ended his season as he began it, with a goal, to make it 2-2 on 66 minutes, however an own-goal from Tim Olorunda put the hosts back ahead 12 minutes from time and they added a clincher from Inih Effiong three minutes later.

Days after being assured of their safety, Bromley finished 17th after a final-day draw at Dorchester Town.

Danny Waldren put the visitors ahead on 24 minutes, only for Sam Malson to level for the hosts two minutes after the break before the Lilywhites' Albert Jarrett saw red for an off the ball incident early in the second half.

Do you think Dartford and Welling can set-up an all-Kent clash in the play-off final? Have your say below.

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