Eastwood’s Final Chance For Title

And so it comes down to the final game of the season.

The United Counties League Premier North championship will be won by either Lincoln United, Eastwood CFC, or Bourne Town, with the leaders in pole position after all three sides won again on Saturday.

For second place Eastwood, they came close to letting it all slip when away to fourth bottom Gresley Rovers having led by three at three at break; Aaron O’Connor, Tyler Blake and Oliver Robinson having the title hopefuls cruising.

However, a red for Phillip Watt, within ten minutes of the restart, gave the hosts hope which they took advantage of, pulling back two in the final fifteen to make for a nervy finale; the Red Badgers though held on for a valuable three points, winning 3-2.

Elsewhere at the top, the leaders were made to fight for their win at home to Heanor Town, they notching twice in the final twenty minutes to seal a 3-1 win; and third place Bourne also 3-2, they doing so at home to mid-table Hucknall Town, the Yellows netting through Joseph Ashurst and Niall Towle in the second half, whilst Paul Malone scored twice for the victors.

On the final day, this coming Monday (21 April), Lincoln are at Skegness, Eastwood host Belper United, and Bourne, who’ve an outside chance, travel to Harrowby United, on what promises to be an exciting afternoon of Bank Holiday football.

Elsewhere in the Premier North, AFC Mansfield sneaked back into the play-offs thanks to Ryan Ingram’s stoppage time winner at home to Skegness; Newark & Sherwood United were held to a goalless draw at home to Sleaford Town, Kimberley lost home to Ashby Ivanhoe, and there were away defeats for both Shirebrook Town and Newark Town.

Clay Cross have won the Division One title, which means it’s the play-offs for both Retford sides, they facing each other in a season-ending finale on Monday; Retford finished as runners-up and won 4-2 on Saturday when away to Gedling Miners Welfare.

A game which saw six, different scorers, the visitors took a two-goal lead through Steven Wankiewicz and Silas Valladolid-Collins, with Gianfranco Ciaurro pulling one back just before the break.

The Choughs increased their advantage with second half goals from Scott Boden, and a late fourth from Aaron Sennett-Neilson, with Joshua Thornton grabbing a stoppage time second for the hosts.

Clipstone can snatch the final play-off spot if they defeat hosts Rainworth Miners Welfare on Monday, they winning 1-0 at home to Stapleford Town at the weekend, Jack Conroy with the only goal of the game.

Radford won 6-1 away to Selston, the hosts having led at the break before being torn apart during the second period; Arthur Pashley netted for Selston after just twelve minutes, but once that second had kicked in, it was, very much, one-way traffic.

A trio of quick-fire goals around the hour floored the hosts when Louie Dunwell, Harry Goddard, and Charles Opoku all netted; Kuwsi Ofushine then added a fourth before an own-goal from a Janaydan Hare header, and a late sixth from Jarrod Westcarr, wrapped up the points.

There were also successes for bottom four pairing, Clifton All Whites and Sandiacre Town, on the road at Staveley Miners Welfare and Southwell City respectively; Freddie Trueman and Kenneth Tafireyi netted early as the former won 2-1, and Darnell Smith netted the only goal in their victory, whilst on Thursday night the game between West Bridgford and Rainworth Miners Welfare finished goalless.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY FIXTURES (Notts-based only, check clubs for kick-off times)

UCL PREMIER NORTH Eastwood CFC VS. Belper United, Hucknall Town vs. Kimberley Miners Welfare, Newark Town vs. Newark & Sherwood United; Shirebrook Town vs. AFC Mansfield

UCL DIVISION ONE Coalville Town vs. Sandiacre Town, Dunkirk vs. Radford, Rainworth Miners Welfare vs. Clipstone, Retford vs. Retford United, Stapleford Town vs. Southwell City, West Bridgford vs. Clifton All Whites