Lower league playoff round-up: Dagenham & Redbridge fall short, Bradford City go to Wembley

Dagenham & Redbridge’s efforts to bounce right back to the Football League fell short today as the Daggers were defeated 2-0 at Forest Green Rovers. The Daggers had drew 1-1 at home against Forest Green thanks to a goal from Jordan Maguire-Drew after Liam Noble had put the visitors ahead from the spot.

Forest Green Rovers now have a chance to go up to the Football League for the first time in their history. The club lost the final at Wembley last year to Grimsby Town, and look to make the second time a charm.

Tranmere Rovers are the other team in the finals against Forest Green, and while Forest Green has never been in the football league, Tranmere Rovers are looking to get back into the League after spending over 90 years in the Football League before being relegated two years ago after the 2014-15 season. One of those teams will be joining Lincoln City as new members of League Two next season. They will be replacing Leyton Orient and Hartlepool United, two teams that have had many years of League football on their resume before finally dropping out this season. Orient fans have expressed their anger and frustration during the last two home games, and had faced a possible travel ban to Blackpool yesterday. Hartlepool won its final game of the season, but was unable to overcome Newport County, as the Exiles won against Notts County to preserve their league status for another year. At least Leyton Orient fans have an East London derby against the Daggers to look forward to next year.

Bradford City travel to London to face off against Millwall in the League One playoff final at Wembley. The Bantams are looking to get back into the Championship after being relegated to the 3rd level of the English league pyramid after the 2003-04 season. Besides the tragedy in 1985, in which a fire destroyed a stand at their ground and caused 56 people to lose their life, Bradford City is best known for making the League Cup final as a 4th division team in 2012-13, losing to Swansea City. The Bantams also spent 77 years outside of the top division of English Football before being promoted to the Premier League for the 1999-2000 season. They lasted two years before being relegated, and various financial shenanigans occurred over the years as the team fell further down the table and spent six years in the bottom division of the Football League before being promoted to League One in 2012-13.

They now face West Ham United’s arch-rival Millwall at Wembley. Besides wanting Millwall to lose another big match, West Ham fans will want to pay attention to the playoff final as Hammers prospect Josh Cullen plays for Bradford City. He has been a star this season for the Bantams, and West Ham will wish him well in the final.