After coming from behind to beat Maine Road away on the final game of the season, then waiting in agony for updates from the Wirral as Ashville hosted Brocton, Ramblers manager Declan Swan and his men were thrilled when it was finally confirmed that they would, improbably, be hosting Staffordshire side Brocton after a tumultuous season ended on a run of 15 wins from 18 games for Sandbach. The local fans were more than up for the fight in Sandbach, as Hind Heath Road was packed out with a club-record 626 in attendance for Sandbach’s playoff semi-final.

A spanner was thrown in the works after only 10 minutes of play, when striker Josh Klein-Davies pulled up with a muscle injury, forcing the striker off. Having scored 13 goals for the Ramblers this season, Klein-Davies was visibly gutted as he was withdrawn, and George West took his place.

Centre back Rory Roberts, in the running for Sandbach’s Player of the Season, proved his worth once more to the hosts in the 15th minute as he positioned himself well to clear a Brocton shot off the line after goalkeeper Eric Merner delayed the shot for as long as he could following a Brocton break.

Only three minutes later, substitute West opened the scoring as he connected first-time with a low Niall Cope corner aimed at the near post, sending the ball through a crowd of bodies into the far side of the net.

Brocton finished a tense opening 45 minutes as the stronger side, forcing the Ramblers into several key defensive clearances and interceptions as they looked to level the tie heading into the break.

Only 4 minutes into the second half, Sandbach midfielder Stanley Tatters had his head in his hands as he missed a glorious chance to double his side’s advantage. A fine cutback from Harry Cain found an unmarked Tatters only 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy, but his first-time shot was put wide of the post as Brocton goalkeeper Jonty Kearns was rooted to the spot.

Brocton capitalised on this in the 56th minute when they equalised through Regan Smith. A ball over the top of the Sandbach defence was brought down spectacularly before the next touch sent a deft lob over the onrushing Merner. A finish oozing of class was no less than Brocton had deserved after a strong start to the second half.

The visitors began to apply pressure on the Sandbach goal, forcing Merner into action on occasion whilst the defence worked tirelessly to keep the ball away from danger.

Kearns was then called into action in the 72nd minute, as he instinctively thrust out an arm to parry behind a Kieran Alley shot for a corner. From the resulting corner, Cope connected with a back post header and sent it back across to the arriving fullback Liam Fitzpatrick, who buried a header of his own into the top right corner.

Brocton began piling men forward as they looked to equalise and send a close tie to penalties, but the commitment to attacking ended up being their undoing. Sandbach hit their visitors on a killer counter in the 90th minute, culminating in a gorgeous pass from captain Robbie Hatton being worked to Alley, who’s deflected pass into the box was smashed into the back of the net by Cain on the half-volley.

The final whistle sent the vocal Sandbach crowd into raptures, exacerbated even further when the news from Manchester came that 5th-placed Cheadle Town upset favourites Stockport Town to confirm the First Division South playoff final would take place in Sandbach.