Non-League Finals day 2026 - this is a day which I attended last year also, seated in the neutral zone. 

Now this year I was going a step further and would be taking in the two finals from the media suits at Wembley Stadium, an amazing experience and one in which I am keen to put into words for a future Parks to Pitches article. 

In the meantime, here are my thoughts on the finals....

AFC Stoneham v Cockfosters FC 

FIRST HALF

Cockfosters definitely started this game the better and saw alot more of the ball in the first 15 minutes, no better highlighted than the AFC Stoneham fans breaking out into song “we’ve got the ball” when in the 16th minute they managed to get hold of the ball and keep possession for a few phases of play.

On the 20th minute - Kendall Gyamfi broke through the defence, after some poor defending, only to then see himself have a bad touch and allow Callum Lee in the AFC Stoneham goal and easy collection.

6 minutes later AFC Stoneham had their first true opening when Duarte Martins broke free on the left, only to see an amazing defensive challenge on him to deny him time to forge out a real chance at goal.

On the 37th minute the big number 9 for Cockfosters scrambled through on goal once more only to see his touch let him down again, losing the chance for a strike at goal.

As the half drew to a close Cockfosters number 3 Junior Moses, already having a number of successful forays forwards continued to trouble the AFC Stoneham backline. However it was in the 40th minute that some incredible defensive work from him denied Duarte Martins a chance through on goal as he tracked back stood up the man and then ran away with the ball. By far the best player of the half.

Just before the half time whistle there was one more chance for, you guessed it - number 9 Kendall Gyamfi, he saw his attempt at goal inside the box missed and will no doubt be grateful that the flag was raised anyhow meaning even had he converted it would not have stood.

SECOND HALF

Two chances in two minutes one for either side and also one for both sides number 9’s, Sampson first for AFC Stoneham cut inside the box on the left hand side and blasted his shot over the bar. Followed by straight up the other end whereby Gyamfi miscued effort hits the bar from a corner and lands gratefully into the goalkeepers arms.

Mubiayi had the next real chance of the game in 52nd minute for Cockfosters, an effort on the volley following a headed clearance, from 18 yards out, heads just over the bar. A few minutes later Cockfosters have yet another chance through Gyamfi, this time an outside of the box attempt which is dragged wide to the right hand side of the goal, following a great advantage played by the referee.

63rd minute led to another strong run down the flank from Junior Moses, drawing another foul and a yellow card for the tackle - nothing however came from the free kick.

Just two minutes later AFC Stoneham nearly take the lead with an effort from Duarte Martins hitting the bar from a nice delivery from a corner kick, the ball was the followed up and somehow ended up being deflected wide by a AFC Stoneham player.

60th-80th minute the momentum clearly shifted to AFC Stoneham and that was nearly rewarded with an opening goal - as AFC Stoneham number 3 Lewis Nagle had an effort terrifically saved by the Cockfosters shot stopper and pushed out for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing, but was an amazing save to keep his side in the game.

In the 92nd minute AFC Stoneham thought that they might have an opening, only to find that thorn named Moses in their side once more, some excellent tracking back and recovery tackle to thwart what could have been a great opening to win the game.

With that the game petered out for the final few minutes, with some subs made clearly with penalties in mind, and it was penalties that we got.

In the shootout Cockfosters substitute Hastings missed their 2nd whilst AFC Stoneham were relentless in their first 4, meaning that stepping up to take Cockfosters 4th penalty, a must score penalty, was my man of the match Junior Moses. He went for power and unfortunately his effort sailed over the ball to end the game with a AFC Stoneham win on penalties, 4-2.

Cue the celebrations from the purple corner of the stadium!

MOM - Junior Moses (Cockfosters) - the best player on the pitch, he was absolutely everywhere and did not deserve to be on the losing team, let alone miss his penalty. A bright future ahead.

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Southend Utd v Wealdstone FC

FIRST HALF

An electric atmosphere was in full force straight away in this one and the teams matched that energy with a frenetic start to the game, end to end football in the opening 5 minutes of the game.

In the 6th minute Southends Cardwell saw his shot cannon back off the post from range with the rebound nearly being covered also, Southend were looking dangerous in the final third and an opener was nearly given to the boisterous seaside fan base.

The next 10 minutes flys by with no real clear cut openings for either side, that is until Wealdstone find some joy down the right hand side with Hutchinson whose clever footwork allows him to feed the ball inside the box to Obiero, he feels contact from the defender and goes to the ground, his protests and cries for a penalty are waved away from the referee, a decision I agreed with.

On the 25th minute a corner from Southend Utd resulted in the ball ending up in the back of the net, only for the referees whistle to quickly rule out the goal for a foul on the Wealdstone keeper. Up the other end a few minutes later Tshikuna dances back and forth on the edge of the box before releasing a tame shot which ended up off target.

10 minutes later on the 35th minute Hutchinson works the ball well down the right flank before playing a nice inside pass into Obiero, who cut inside and curled an effort just over the top of the bar.

The game goes into a bit of stasis until the 41st minute when Leon Parillon picks up the ball and has a long range effort, from around 30 yards, that flys well over the bar to the cheers of the Wealdstone fans behind the goal.

Just before the half time break the ball falls to Wealdstone fullback Georgiou on the left hand side inside the box, he pulls the trigger and sees the ball fly high towards the top right hand corner at some speed. With the ball destined for the back of the net Andeng Ndi in the Southend goal makes an excellent save and his strong hands push the ball behind for a corner. The resulting corner is also nearly scrambled over the line before the ball is eventually scrambled clear by the Southend defence.

SECOND HALF

The second half started very quickly and Southend were very much on the front foot, especially for the opening 5 minutes of the half, all the while with no clear chances on goal.

Wealdstone had joy with a counter attack down the right hand side through their main threat of the game Hutchinson, carrying the ball into the final third he whipped an excellent ball across into the box which was very well dealt with by the Southend defence away for a corner kick, which was subsequently cleared.

The next sight on goal came again for Wealdstone in the 57th minute, their striker Obiero struck the ball inside the area which resulted in a well held save by the Southend stopper.

The pendulum then swings back to Southend who start to see more of the ball and push forward in phases, ultimately they have opportunities to pull the trigger from range but elect not to and see the opportunities pass them by. On the 70th minute Southends Bridge drives with the ball through onto goal with promise, only to see a heavy touch allow Baptiste in the Wealdstone goal the opportunity to rush out and gather the ball from underneath him.

15mins left to go and Southend sub Appiah-Forson, a real handful since being introduced, delivers a cross into the box which hits the top of the bar, it then falls to their number 9 Dallas who before being able to strike is beat to the ball by Wealdstone defender Georgiou, an exceptional clearance and likely stops a goal for the Seasiders.

5 mins later sees Obiero with some very clever footwork inside the 6 yard box turn his defender before he sees a defender block his shot out for a corner. The resulting corner is punched out by Andeng Ndi in the Southend goal and falls to Georgiou who blasts over the bar.

The game was now scrappy and space opening up at both ends - the next chance then is presented to Wealdstone who see a long range effort well parried away from danger once again, a good but ultimately comfortable save.

Now a flash point occurs in the 89th minute where Southend favourite Scott-Morriss is taken to the floor by a Wealdstone challenge. It then looks like he takes exception to this and kicks out with his studs to the Wealdstone man, this goes unseen and unpunished and ultimately the game continues. 

The game has one more chance and that chance is in the 96th minute.

Southend Utd on the attack are crowded out which results in them losing the ball and being countered, Wealdstone break with three charging forward against just two Southend defenders. The substitute Mussa drivers forward down the middle with the ball, another substitute Olomola pulls out to the left hand side and is in acres of space. Now for some reason Mussa decides to hold on to the ball, this indecision is the death of the counter attack and he ends up trying to play in Olomola too late and is ultimately flagged for offside.

It is the last meaningful attack of the game and for the second final on the day, we headed to penalties to determine a winner.

Southend United win the toss and get to have the penalties in front of their sea of fans.

Southend bury their first two penalties with aplomb, unlike Wealdstone who do the opposite and see both of their efforts saved by the formidable Andeng Ndi in the Southend goal. Southend miss their 3rd and Wealdstone score theirs, meaning the score is 2-1 to Southend after 3 penalties apiece. Harry Boyes stepped up for Southends fourth and buries it to make it 3-1, leaving no wiggle room for Wealdstone to miss. Obiero finishes excellently with my pick of the bunch. That left the score 3-2 with one penalty left each - and so it was left to Southends poster boy Scott-Morriss who did not disappoint his adoring fans by calmly stroking the ball into the net and secure the FA Trophy for the Essex club.

Not a thriller but certainly not the worst final I have ever seen - Wealdstone will feel aggrieved to let the trophy slip through their fingers as they had the better of the chances during the 90.

MOM - Andeng Ndi (Southend) - penalty shootout aside, his save in the first half was worthy of the award in itself.

Was it a thriller in terms of the football on show? No. 

But it was still an incredible day and there was some good football on show in short bursts. The pressure on these clubs on a day like this is monumental, for some of these players it is their only chance of playing at Wembley and that for sure plays a big part. 

I congratulate both AFC Stoneham and Southend Utd on their wins...I am already looking forward to next years already!