Alex Kirk enjoyed Wembley glory over the weekend as he helped Bromley clinch a place in the Football League for the first time in their 132-year history.
The Ravens beat Solihull Moors on penalties in the National League play-off final at the national stadium, and despite not being named in the starting line-up, Alex came off the bench to make a real impact.
He twice hit the woodwork following his introduction on the hour mark, and with the score at 2-2 at the end of extra-time, Bromley ran out 4-3 winners on penalties to reach League Two, under the watchful eye of former Gunners goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman.
Alex ends his time at Hayes Lane with 22 appearances and one goal to his name, while Kido Taylor-Hart, who didn’t feature in the final, played nine times and also netted once.
Another player who recently tasted cup glory is Mika Biereth, who after helping Sturm Graz retain the Austrian Cup last Wednesday - following in the footsteps of fellow Gunner Arthur Okonkwo last term - is now on course to complete a domestic double.
Kurz nach Abpfiff brechen in Klagenfurt alle Dämme! 🤯🏆 #sturmgraz #GlaubeWilleMut pic.twitter.com/S1bmLcmsbX
— SK Sturm Graz (@SKSturm) May 2, 2024
On Saturday he played 64 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Hartberg, but the point gained proved crucial as their nearest rivals RB Salsburg lost to Rapid Vienna, giving Graz a four-point lead with two games to go, as they look to claim their first league title since 2011.
In the Premier League, Sambi Lokonga produced an assist for Luton Town to grab a point against Everton at Kenilworth Road, however the Hatters are now three points from safety with two games to go, meaning Nuno Tavares’ Nottingham Forest look likely to survive. Our man missed their 3-1 success at Sheffield United on Saturday.
On the final day of the Championship season, Charlie Patino made his 35th appearance for Swansea City as they lost 1-0 to Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s Millwall. Charlie played 61 minutes, coming off just after Brooke was introduced in the 58th. Charles Sagoe Jr wasn’t involved for the Swans, who were overhauled by the Lions in the league table, dropping to 14th.
Looking further afield, in the Netherlands, Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand played 71 minutes as Den Bosch lost 2-1 to Emmen, leaving them 18th in the table with one game to go, while Catalin Cirjan played the last 10 minutes as Rapid Bucharest were beaten 3-2 to CFR Cluj.
Marquinhos produced an assist for Fluminense in their 2-2 draw with Atletico Mineiro - his fourth goal involvement in 12 appearances since arriving back in his native Brazil in January. That was Fluminese’s fifth point from five games in Serie A, leaving them just above the relegation zone.
In the women’s game, Kathrine Kuhl played 86 minutes of Everton’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, after the Toffees saw an early two-goal lead slip. The point leaves them eighth in the WSL table.
Ruby Doe ended her time with Ipswich Town by playing 88 minutes of their 1-0 win over Billericay Town, rounding off their FA Women's Premier League South campaign in fourth place, while Giovana Queiroz came off the bench in the 69th minute but couldn’t prevent Madrid CFF falling to a 1-0 defeat to city rivals Real Madrid.
Players who weren’t included in matchday squads
Kieran Tierney - Real Sociedad
Nuno Tavares - Nottingham Forest
Charles Sagoe Jr - Swansea City
Omar Rekik - Servette
Kido Taylor-Hart - Bromley
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