The United Counties League reached its conclusion on Easter Bank Holiday Monday afternoon and, over the Premier North and Division One, four Notts-based clubs have made the play-offs, and another three have been relegated.

In the Premier North, Eastwood’s season will continue into the play-offs, where they’ll host fourth place Boston Town, following their 3-0 loss against visitors Belper Town, the title going to Lincoln United, who won the league following a goalless draw at Skegness Town.

Eastwood are joined in the play-offs, by their opponents Boston, as well as runners-up Bourne Town (who won 3-2 at Sleaford Town) and by another Notts club in AFC Mansfield, the Bulls, having finished fifth, travelling to Bourne.

Mansfield, they picked up a victory on the final day to seal their play-off berth, winning 2-1 at relegated Shirebrook Town; Callum Laytham netted for the hosts whilst the victors saw goals from Ryan Ingram and Kaylum Mitchell.

Newark Town finished seventh after they eased to a 4-0 win when home to mid-table Newark & Sherwood United, the hosts falling seven short of the play-offs.

The hosts romped into a three-goal interval lead courtesy of Brad McGregor’s lob from distance after just four minutes, and Luke Anderson’s header from an Alex Hales long throw-in just five minutes later.

Surprisingly, a third was added on eleven minutes as the Highwaymen’s defence suffered an early collapse, Matteo Perkins tapping home from a Ryan Rushen burst into the box; the visitors somehow rallied to stem the tide and the hosts went in 3-0 at the break.

The visitors were restricted to free-kicks from range during the first period, their best effort coming from Javanne Smith, who fired over on the half hour, and Kieran Cummings’s shot which was well-held by Haydon McCarthy in the home goal.

A fourth goal for Newark was added on the hour mark when Louis Czerwak fired home an unstoppable shot as the hosts put the stamp on a comfortable, end-of-season, derby success.

A free-kick from Luke White was headed over for a corner by the visitors, and Cummings saw his one-on-one thwarted by McCarthy ahead of the hosts’ fourth; second half substitute, Benni Wilson, came close to a consolation for the Highwaymen with thirteen remaining, but his low effort was saved to McCarthy’s left, and Kameron Campbell saw his late effort also saved.

Newark Town – Haydon McCarthy, Sam Bartle, Brad McGregor (George Robbins, 51), Joe Braithwaite, Luke Andersen, Matty Clarke (Ryan Smith, 66), Harvey Grice (Sean Woolley, 61), Alex Hales, Ryan Rushen, Matteo Perkins (Sam Wright, 61), Louis Czerwak (Ritchie Ingham, 66)

Newark & Sherwood United – Beau Watson, Luke Williamson (Jamie Goddard, 56), Ryley Thompson, Toby White (Marley Fearon, 59), Keiran Walker, Kameron Campbell, Kieran Cummings, Coden Duncan, Wayde Hines (Kane Auld, 78), Luke White, Javanne Smith (Benni Wilson, 62)

Kimberley Miners Welfare also saw off relegation on the final day, a 3-0 win away to Hucknall Town pushing them up to fourth bottom, and a point off the drop.

Although for the victors eventually finished with ten men, they were already three to the good after Ryan Wheatley had opened the scoring in the second minutes; the visitors then notched twice in the opening throes of the second half to wrap up the points through Oliver Seeby and Aaron Coyle.

Both Retford clubs, and Clipstone, along with Blackstones, are in the Division Oner play-offs, the Choughs, finishing the season as runners-up, will host Clipstone after both sides won on Monday.

The firmer, they beat their neighbours, Retford United, 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Ainsley Finney and Jacob Priestnall, whilst the Cobras won 3-1 away to Rainworth Miners Welfare to book their spot; Thomas Bedford netted for the hosts but the visitors finished their season on a high with goals from Joshua Pickering, Gareth Curtis, and Devon Smith.

The Badgers, they welcome Blackstones in the other play-off semi-final; elsewhere in the division West Bridgford saw off visiting Clifton All Whites 2-1, Stapleford United and Southwell City shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, and Sandiacre Town lost 2-0 at Coalville Town.

Oh, and there was a nine-goal thriller at Dunkirk as well, they being edged 5-4 by visitors Radford in a game which saw three players bag braces; Isaac Morledge doing so for Dunkirk alongside goals from Lewis Wilcox and Kieran Driver, whilst the Pheasants, who led 3-0 at the break, had Kye Wade and Abdul Bakare at the double, and Jarrod Westcarr the other.

The brace from Bakare arrived in the final ten minutes, the last of which, in the last minute, proved to be the winner, after Morledge had equalised just minutes earlier – it was one of those games; as for the relegated sides, Notts-based duo Sandiacre Town and Selston find themselves going down after tough seasons.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NewarkTownFC action from the Newark Derby which went the way of Town.