Abbey hold their nerve from the spot to make step up...

ABBEY HULTON UNITED rounded off the most successful season in their history by gaining promotion to the North West Counties Premier Division after defeating STAFFORD TOWN in the play-off final.

- Phil Sherwin

Abbey opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Jack Gumbley played a through-ball to Kieran Brown and he beat a defender before firing the ball into the bottom corner for his 34th goal of the season.

Stafford levelled in the 27th minute from the penalty spot. Matty Bell fouled Patryk Mazurkiewicz and Jayden Hunter netted his 16th goal of the season and his fourth in the last five games.

Five minutes later Abbey were back in front when Bell played a through-ball for Lewis Holdham to take his total to 16 for the season.

Stafford equalised for a second time six minutes into the second half when Hunter laid the ball off for Mazurkiewicz to slot home his 32nd of the season.

Mitch Glover has a shot well saved late on by Abbey keeper Dan Roberts and at the other end Lewis Bergin had a shot cleared off the line.

And so to penalties. Abbey scored their first three, Stafford missed their first three with Roberts saving two to send his side through 3-0.

A fitting reward after they won 13 and drew two of their last 16 league games.

A late goal condemned LEEK TOWN to a 2-1 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity in their final game of the season, but it was an excellent campaign for the club in their first season in the top division of the Northern Premier League for 17 years.

The home side took a 13th-minute lead when Declan Rowe timed his run perfectly to steer the ball past Xander Parke.