Lower Breck win the Premier Division Play-Off Final!
Tue 6th May 2025 | Lower Breck | By Jay Cooper
Lower Breck joined Bury in promotion from the NWCFL Premier Division on Saturday as they hosted and defeated Padiham 2-0 to win the play-offs.
Breck had more than proven themselves worth of promotion, earning 106 points during the regulation season to finish second to Bury, on 109. They were the top seed in the play-offs and had already beaten West Didsbury and Chorlton to set up their final clash with the Storks.
Padiham were entering the play-offs for the second time in as many seasons. In 2023/24, they’d lost at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Wythenshawe Town, but they had earned their spot in this final by defeating Ramsbottom United 2-1 away from home.
The first half started as it meant to go on, with both teams keen to avoid any early mistakes. It was a cagey first half, with concrete chances for either side few and far between.
Padiham’s best chance of the first half came on 18 minutes when Breck goalkeeper Theo Roberts was forced into a smart save to push a header over his crossbar.
Similarly, Breck’s best opportunity before the break arguably came on 28 minutes, when Jesse Dowling headed wide from a Dan Lowey cross. Neither team had peppered the other with shots at goal by the time the referee’s half-time whistle was blown.
Things finally started to change gears in the second period when Breck were awarded a penalty on 52 minutes. This incident also saw the Storks’ captain Dan Morton dismissed outright by the ref – a decision that led to a small delay as players from both sides plead their cases.
It would be the 57th minute when Dowling would actually have the chance to take the spot kick, and he made no mistake from 12 yards, firing into the bottom left corner of the goal.
With the deadlock broken, Padiham resolved to try and find a way back into the match. Attacking opportunities weren’t exactly flowing like water, but most of them were going Padiham’s way when they came, and Breck had to stay strong in defence.
On 88 minutes, Padiham’s Bradley Knox went to ground on the left side of the box after a coming together with his opposite number for Breck. The referee neglected to award a penalty this time, much to the bemusement of those in Storks colours.
That moment seemed to give Breck the fire to go and put themselves out of sight. Deep into stoppage time, winger Elliott Hughes traded passes Lewis Buckley to get into the penalty area, before twisting this way and that to beat the goalkeeper and seal the 2-0 victory for Gary Moore’s men.
Following the game, the Breck gaffer called the match “an unbelievable ending to a pretty remarkable league campaign.
“These lads just haven’t let up for the last six months. Week by week, they’ve been rolling their sleeves up and putting in performances that have helped to put the club back on the map.
“I must congratulate Padiham for their excellent season, and they pushed us all the way on Saturday. After the match, the respect shown was first class and speaks volumes of them as a club.
“For us, we climb another step of the pyramid, which is now our 8th promotion in 15 years, coming up from youth football.
“To say I am immensely proud would be an understatement. We now have the opportunity to end the season with a historic Liverpool Senior Cup Final win, as we face Everton on Tuesday night.
“Don’t wake me up just yet please!”
Congratulations to everyone involved at Lower Breck, and we wish the club all the best in Step 4 of the non-league system!
Lower Breck win the Premier Division Play-Off Final!
Tue 6th May 2025 | Lower Breck
By Jay Cooper
Lower Breck joined Bury in promotion from the NWCFL Premier Division on Saturday as they hosted and defeated Padiham 2-0 to win the play-offs.
Breck had more than proven themselves worth of promotion, earning 106 points during the regulation season to finish second to Bury, on 109. They were the top seed in the play-offs and had already beaten West Didsbury and Chorlton to set up their final clash with the Storks.
Padiham were entering the play-offs for the second time in as many seasons. In 2023/24, they’d lost at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Wythenshawe Town, but they had earned their spot in this final by defeating Ramsbottom United 2-1 away from home.
The first half started as it meant to go on, with both teams keen to avoid any early mistakes. It was a cagey first half, with concrete chances for either side few and far between.
Padiham’s best chance of the first half came on 18 minutes when Breck goalkeeper Theo Roberts was forced into a smart save to push a header over his crossbar.
Similarly, Breck’s best opportunity before the break arguably came on 28 minutes, when Jesse Dowling headed wide from a Dan Lowey cross. Neither team had peppered the other with shots at goal by the time the referee’s half-time whistle was blown.
Things finally started to change gears in the second period when Breck were awarded a penalty on 52 minutes. This incident also saw the Storks’ captain Dan Morton dismissed outright by the ref – a decision that led to a small delay as players from both sides plead their cases.
It would be the 57th minute when Dowling would actually have the chance to take the spot kick, and he made no mistake from 12 yards, firing into the bottom left corner of the goal.
With the deadlock broken, Padiham resolved to try and find a way back into the match. Attacking opportunities weren’t exactly flowing like water, but most of them were going Padiham’s way when they came, and Breck had to stay strong in defence.
On 88 minutes, Padiham’s Bradley Knox went to ground on the left side of the box after a coming together with his opposite number for Breck. The referee neglected to award a penalty this time, much to the bemusement of those in Storks colours.
That moment seemed to give Breck the fire to go and put themselves out of sight. Deep into stoppage time, winger Elliott Hughes traded passes Lewis Buckley to get into the penalty area, before twisting this way and that to beat the goalkeeper and seal the 2-0 victory for Gary Moore’s men.
Following the game, the Breck gaffer called the match “an unbelievable ending to a pretty remarkable league campaign.
“These lads just haven’t let up for the last six months. Week by week, they’ve been rolling their sleeves up and putting in performances that have helped to put the club back on the map.
“I must congratulate Padiham for their excellent season, and they pushed us all the way on Saturday. After the match, the respect shown was first class and speaks volumes of them as a club.
“For us, we climb another step of the pyramid, which is now our 8th promotion in 15 years, coming up from youth football.
“To say I am immensely proud would be an understatement. We now have the opportunity to end the season with a historic Liverpool Senior Cup Final win, as we face Everton on Tuesday night.
“Don’t wake me up just yet please!”
Congratulations to everyone involved at Lower Breck, and we wish the club all the best in Step 4 of the non-league system!
