2018 National League play-off final

The 2018 National League play-off final, known as the Vanarama National League Promotion Final for sponsorship reasons, was a football match played at Wembley Stadium in London on 12 May 2018 to decide the second team to be promoted from the National League to EFL League Two for the 2018–19 season. The culmination of the 2018 National League play-offs saw Tranmere Rovers beat Boreham Wood to earn promotion alongside the National League champions Macclesfield Town.[1][2][3]

2018 National League play-off final
Event2017–18 National League
Boreham Wood Tranmere Rovers
1 2
Date12 May 2018 (2018-05-12)
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeNeil Hair
Attendance16,306

Boreham Wood entered the play-offs having finished fourth in the 2017–18 National League while Tranmere Rovers finished two places above in second. The play-off format was changed for this season with second and third place teams receiving a bye to the semi-finals while the fourth to seventh place teams played a qualifying round to determine the other two semi-finalists. Boreham Wood beat seventh-placed AFC Fylde 2–1 in their qualifying round and third-placed Sutton United 3–2 in the semi-final. Tranmere faced sixth-placed Ebbsfleet United in their semi-final, after Ebbsfleet beat Aldershot Town in the other qualifying round via a penalty-shootout, Tranmere won 4–2 to reach the final.

After only 54 seconds, Tranmere's Liam Ridehalgh was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Ricky Shakes.[4] Nonetheless, Andy Cook soon scored to give Tranmere the lead. Rovers quickly sent on substitute Eddie Clarke, a specialist left-back. They then had to make another substitution, Connor Jennings for Josh Ginnelly, after Ginnelly was hit by a glass bottle thrown by a Boreham Wood fan.[5] Just before half-time, Rovers had to make their final substitution because of injury. Bruno Andrade immediately equalised.

After 80 minutes, the substitute Jennings crossed for James Norwood to score the winning goal for Tranmere.

Match

Details
Boreham Wood1–2Tranmere Rovers
Andrade 45+8' Report Cook 6'
Norwood 80'
Attendance: 16,306
Boreham Wood
Tranmere Rovers
GK1Grant Smith
CB6David Stephens
CB3Danny Woodardsdownward-facing red arrow 83'
CB23Scott Doe
RM7Ricky Shakes
CM8Tom Champion
CM4Mark Ricketts
LM11Bruno Andrade
AM19Ángelo BalantaYellow card 40'
FW10Keiran Murtagh
FW20Michael FoliviYellow card 61'downward-facing red arrow 70'
Substitutes:
GK21Fred Burbidge
GK24Alex Davey
DF5Ollie Harfield
MF22Sorba Thomasupward-facing green arrow 83'
FW12Joe Quigleyupward-facing green arrow 70'
Manager:
Luke Garrard
GK1Scott Davies
RB4Ritchie Suttondownward-facing red arrow 45+5'
CB5Steve McNulty
CB33Manny Monthé
LB3Liam RidehalghRed card 1'
RM29Larnell Coledownward-facing red arrow 9'
CM15Oliver Norburn
CM24Jeff Hughes
LM18Josh Ginnellydownward-facing red arrow 34'
CF9Andy Cook
CF10James Norwood
Substitutes:
GK22Rhys Taylor
DF31Eddie Clarkeupward-facing green arrow 9'
MF8Jay Harrisupward-facing green arrow 45+5'
FW11Connor Jenningsupward-facing green arrow 34'Yellow card 88'
FW19Andy Mangan
Manager:
Micky Mellon

References
  1. Freeman, Jay (12 May 2018). "Boreham Wood 1 2 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. Robertson, Gregor (30 April 2018). "Back in the Football League: the club with one player on their books last summer". The Times. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. Pye, Steven (15 May 2018). "Boreham Wood lost at Wembley but their journey has brought a lot of joy". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  4. "Wood's hearts broken at Wembley". Boreham Wood Times. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. "Hearts' Josh Ginnelly: I got bottled when playing for Tranmere at Wembley". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
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