Bishop’s Cleeve has earned a spot in the Southern League Division One South play-off semi-finals for the second consecutive season, thanks to an unexpected twist involving Portishead’s expulsion from the league. Paul Collicutt’s team finished just outside the top five, trailing by one point and position, and had initially seemed set to miss out on the play-offs.
However, with Portishead—the league runners-up—being relegated to Step Five, Bishop’s Cleeve has been promoted into the play-off contention. The Mitres now face a quick turnaround, with only two days to prepare for their semi-final match against Malvern Town. This is a familiar opponent, as Malvern defeated Bishop’s Cleeve 3–2 after extra time at Kayte Lane in last season’s semi-final.
Bishop’s Cleeve, who rejoined the Southern League in 2022 after clinching the Hellenic League title, will be vying for a spot in Step Three. The winner of this semi-final will advance to face either Winchester City or Shaftesbury in the final.
READ MORE: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Winner Credits Jeremy Clarkson’s Advice for £1 Million Victory
READ MORE: Concerns Rise as Nearly Two-Thirds of The Forum’s Office Space Remains Empty
This season, the teams have traded victories. Bishop’s Cleeve secured a 2-1 away win at Malvern in September, with second-half goals from Mat Liddiard and Jay Malshanskyj overcoming an early goal by Malvern’s Sam Clark. At Kayte Lane in January, Malvern returned the favor with a 3-1 victory in the rematch. As the play-offs approach, both teams will be eager to claim victory and progress toward promotion.