The football season is now over for all but one of the Notts clubs across the United Counties League, following defeats for AFC Mansfield and Eastwood CFC in the Premier North Play-Offs, and for Clipstone and Retford United in Division One; the only side to progress, Division One runners-up, Retford.

Chris Woodhead’s Choughs have been hovering around top spot for most of the season, eventually being overhauled by eventual champions, Clay Cross Town; their reward for finishing as runners-up, hosting fourth-place Clipstone, at the Rail Ground.

Liam Bennett would fire a hat-trick for the Choughs, opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark when heading home a corner; Bennett added the second within minutes of the restart, again heading home, Woodhead’s charges asserting their dominance.

The Cobras missed a penalty midway through the second half after substitute, Smith, was fouled, Bennett punished them with a little over ten minutes remaining, with his third headed goal of the game.

The hosts added a fourth, again with a header, six minutes from time, this coming via Nicolantonio Degirolamo, as the Choughs moved within ninety minutes of a much sought-after promotion, and will face Blackstones in the final.

Retford – Jon Kennedy, Liam Marsden, Liam Bennett, Richard Patterson, Steve Wankiewicz, Nicolantonio Degirolamo, Aaron Sennett-Neilson, Brandon Bradbury, Scott Boden, Jacob Priestnall, Sam Tingle (subs – Silas Valladolid-Collins, Danny Patterson, Gav Allott, Ainsley Finney, Jack McKay)

Clipstone – Charlie Dando, Jordan Roberts, Bradley Hextall, Jamie Bonsor, Charlie Taylor, Brandon Shaw, Timothy Gregory, Gareth Curtis, Jack Warner, Charlie Hardwick, Tomas Fleet (subs – Devon Smith, Jack Conroy, Cole Jarvis, Prestyn Moore, Alfie Clarke)

Elsewhere in the play-offs, in the Premier North semi-finals, both third place Eastwood CFC, and fifth place AFC Mansfield, were sent packing in their respective ties.

The Red Badgers finished with ten men, following the dismissal of Oliver Robinson, and were beaten 2-1 at home by Boston Town, Aaron Opoku with the hosts’ goal midway through the second half.

The Bulls meanwhile, they were heavily beaten, 4-0 away to runners-up Bourne Town, who netted twice in each half, Thomas Siddons with a first half brace to put his side on their way.

As for the remaining Division One contest, Ryan Hindley’s Badgers were brushed aside when hosting Blackstones, they visitors two goals up the break before wrapping up a 3-0 win.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Retford_FC a 4-0 win for Retford ensured they still have a shot at promotion.