Football Review – A Non-League Football Review

Saturday brings the curtain down on the 2023/24 Isthmian League North season as the final promotion is decided between Bowers & Pitsea and Brentwood Town in the play-off final. Bowers host the final after finishing the regular season in 4th, a place higher than their opponents.

The four teams finishing in the play-off placed finishing the season within 2 points of each other, making it an already exciting prospect for what was to come. But both Bowers and Brentwood beat the teams that finishing above them to set up this final matchup. A 2-2 draw with Felixstowe & Walton United meant penalties decided the tie with Bowers & Pitsea claiming a 4-2 victory whilst Brentwood Town saw off Bury Town with a 3-1 win.

When Bowers were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2018/19, the club had won the Isthmian League North. The club had previously been in the play-offs during the 2017/18 season but a loss to Canvey Island in the semi-final brought their run to an end. They spent three seasons at Step 3 before finishing 19th in the Premier Division, meaning it was a return to the North Division this season.

Brentwood Town, on the other hand, have a chance to return to the Premier Division for the first time since the 2015/16 season. The club had qualifying for the play-offs three times before they won promotion to Step 3. The 2008/09 season saw them finishing third in the table, giving them a shot at promotion, but a defeat to 4-1 defeat to Waltham Abbey at home end that season remaining in the North Division. They qualified for the play-offs again in 2011, after a fifth placed finish but after defeating Needham Market in the semi-final, they lost to Wingate & Finchley in the final. It was third time lucky in 2014/15. After a fourth place finish, and qualifying for the play-offs again, the Blues faced AFC Sudbury in the semi-finals. A win on penalties saw them through to the play-off final. It was a convincing win in the final, beating Thurrock 5-0 and earning a place in the Premier Division. For Brentwood though, an immediate relegation came during the following season after they finished 22nd.

The first meeting between the sides this season saw Brentwood come out on top at the Len Salmon Stadium, winning 2-0 on October 28 before Bowers & Pitsea returned the favour in the reverse fixture, winning 3-1 on the road.

This will certainly be an intriguing tie between two clubs looking to return to the Premier Division. Will it be an immediate return for Bowers or will Brentwood return after almost 10 years?