It seems with every matchday of late that something at stake is gained or lost and the latest of those jubilant successes rather than most disappointing of losses has been a momentous one for little old Blidworth Welfare who last night won promotion from the Black Dragon Badges Central Midlands League Premier Division South at Step 7 of the National League System to ensure that they’ll be playing in either the Northern Counties East or United Counties League next season.
Blidworth’s success against Nottingham FC last night, a 7-2 victory with hat-tricks a piece for Harris and Townsend and one from Francis, ensured that Richard Hannigan’s side will finish in the top two this season with just two games to play. Should they win just one of those games they’ll be champions with a trip to Long Eaton Community next up on Saturday before ending the campaign at Holbrook St Michaels.
Another of the Central Midlanders eyeing up championship success are Premier Division North rivals Newark Town and Retford United who not only play each other tonight in a huge game at the top of the division in the race for their own promotion chances, but will also take on each other in the final of the Notts FA Trophy before the seasons end for the chance of more silverware.
As the CML hots up, the NPL (Northern Premier League) is almost done.
Notts representatives Basford United are safe from relegation in the Premier Division, Worksop Town in the East Division will play out their final league game at home to champions pending Liversedge on Saturday, the visitors need not to lose anything too heavily at worst to win the league, whilst Worksop who also feature in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Cup Final against Maltby Main on April 30th, could high the season end at sixth should they win and results go their way.
In the Midlands Division of the NPL, Carlton Town have given themselves a slim chance of a playoff spot as they take to the road to Stamford on Saturday, themselves with a slim chance of winning the title.
Should Carlton win and stop the Daniels in their automatic promotion pursuit, they could creep in above Belper Town for a fifth placed league finish, Belper at home to fifteenth place Corby will be hoping for no slip ups in their final match.
In the United Counties League Premier Division North on Tuesday night, a huge result for Selston over Newark FC ensured that with one game to go, they’ll be safe from relegation this season.
Selston eventually winning 3-1 with goals from Wilkinson, Perry Marriott-Lane and a late one for Ben Moore.
In a difficult year for Newark who’ve been playing their home matches at Basford United’s Greenwich Avenue after being kicked off their Hawton Lane ground by developers last summer, the side are not yet out of the woods themselves, needing to equal or better the last result of the season for Pinchbeck United to survive relegation. Newark do also have the small matter of a County Cup semi final against Mansfield Town next Wednesday.
Finally, in UCL First Division action on Tuesday night, Radford beat Dunkirk 3-0 with late goals from substitutes Kevin Hermagou and two for Uri-Olaye whilst Gedling Miners Welfare beat West Bridgford 2-0 thanks to a Josh Thornton brace.
*Main image @BlidworthFC celebrations for promoted Blidworth Welfare of the CML.
