Southern League play-off: Rugby Town 1 Biggleswade Town 3

They came from behind in Warwickshire to beat Rugby Town 3-1 and emerge victorious in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central play-off.

The hope of promotion and a gloriously sunny day pulled the crowds into Rugby’s impressive Butlin Road ground. The attendance totalled 1,126 as the hosts attempted to make a return to the Southern Premier after a short absence. However, there was a healthy contingent of Waders supporters too who had made the trip up the M1 to cheer on the boys in green and white.

It was the hosts who had the better of tentative early exchanges and they had the first chance when Fazel Koriya nipped in down the left hand side and fired in a shot that Michael McEntegart did well to push around the post.

David Kolodinski was the next to try his luck from further out but his cross shot was safely gathered.

However the best chance of the opening half came on 17 minutes when the ball was only half cleared from a corner and Lewis McBride chested down before unleasing a fierce shot from fully 30 yards that beat McEntegart and smashed against the crossbar.

But then Biggleswade came back into the game. On 25 minutes a defensive header fell to Craig Daniel on the left hand corner of the box and his cracking volley forced a great save from keeper Dave Bevan. From Lee Allinson’s corner Jon Woolf went close, but not close enough.

Lee Allinson found his way into the referee’s notebook after two challenges and although Rugby finished the first half with pressure the score remained goalless.

The second half opened in similarly cagey fashion, with serious chances few and far between.

But on 58 minutes the deadlock was finally broken. The Waders defence was beaten as David Kolodynski was put through and his delightful chip from an angle beat McEntegart and looped into the net.

Waders were almost on level terms inside a minute. Daniel fired through a packed box and it took a goalline clearance from McBride to keep Rugby in front.

However inside just five minutes Biggleswade were level with the game’s big talking point. Paul Barnes ran into the box and went down under a challenge by McBride. The assistant referee on that side of the pitch put his flag across his chest and the referee pointed to the spot.

Rugby’s players were furious but Lee Allinson kept his cool to fire home the spot kick.

The Waders then enjoyed a good spell of pressure. Luke Knight turned and shot from outside the box, his effort just over and Barnes also tried his luck from distance.

Then Allinson met a Craig Daniel cross at the far post but just slid the ball wide.

However Biggleswade finally went ahead on 85 minutes. From a cross from the right Joel Mason knocked the ball back and Paul Barnes was there to rifle home from 18 yards.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Rugby and the Waders fans went crazy when it was 3-1 with two minutes left. This time it was Andrew Iwediuno and substitute Brett Donnelly combining down the left hand side. And once again it was Barnes at the far post to seal a famous win.

Rugby valiantly tried to pull one back but it was job done and at full time the celebrations could begin as Waders committee joined the players on the pitch for the official presentation.

Biggleswade Town: McEntegart, York, Iwediuno, Kilroy, Gentle, Allinson, Daniel, Knight, Barnes, Mason (Reynolds), Woolf (Donnelly).

Pictures: Martin Pulley.