Premier Division
New Swan FC 5-3 Rustons United
New Swan ended the Season, and their involvement with the League, in style after goals from Schofield, Halton, Mallinson, Davies, and Chamberlain saw them defeat Rustons United with an impressive display at Skellingthorpe Road. Rustons’ title challenge faded somewhat after Christmas but they will finish in third place, having now completed their fixtures, unless Anglers can overturn a goal difference of 13 goals in their last game of the Season away at Metheringham next week.
Division Two
AFC Rustons 0-2 Nettleham FC
I have been reporting, for some weeks, that this Division was always likely to go to the last game of the Season with the top two teams playing each other twice in the last two weekends of the Season. This was never planned, it is simply the way that the rescheduling of matches has worked out with the respective availability of both Clubs being the major factor in the available dates.
The first of those two games were played today at Ruston Marconi where a win for the home side would have put the matter beyond all doubt and would have seen the title going to them. Taylor and Kerrigan, for their opposition, had other ideas and their goals, together with the visitors also recoding a clean sheet, means that both sides go head to head in their final game next week at Mulsanne Park with both sides having amassed 43 points each. With AFC Rustons having the superior goal difference the maths are now simple. A win for AFC Rustons or a draw next week will see them clinch the title and a must win for Nettleham will see them snatch it from them. Next week promises to be quite a game and an occasion out at Mulsanne Park and one which I am certain will be well worth watching.
Plough Sturton 4-0 Witham FC
2 goals from Patching and a goal each from Light and Lansdall saw Plough through to a comfortable victory against the side that have finished in the last place in the Division. If Plough were to win their final game of the Season next weekend at home to Old Boys United and if AFC Rustons were to win their game against Nettleham then Plough would take the runners up spot in the table but there are too many “ifs” in those possible outcomes to have any idea on the final outcome. For now Plough Sturton sit in third place with one game remaining in their fixtures.
Division Three
Nosey FC 1-1 Morning Star FC
It was top against bottom in this fixture with Nosey entertaining the Division’s Champions. After a goal-less first 45 minutes a goal apiece for each side after the break saw the points shared. Cook was the scorer for Nosey and Keeble was the man on target for the Champions.
Stacey West FC 2-4 Ruston Sports FC
Ross netted a brace for the home side but another brace by Stephenson plus goals by Buttery and Mann saw the visitors take the maximum points that moved them up into third position in the League table. Sports now have just one game remaining, at home to Morning Star on Wednesday evening, and a point would see them finish in second place, a position now occupied by Ruskington Lions who themselves have finished all of their fixtures.
Division Four
Railway Inn United 3-2 M.H.Blue Lion
The home side became the Divisions Champions during the week and their impressive Season saw them recod yet another win today after first half goals from Lilley and Clark sent them into the break leading 2-0. The Lion came out roaring in the second half and squared the contest through Titchmarsh and Wood, the latter converting from the penalty spot before the evergreen Rowe notched the winner for the home side.
Swanpool FC 5-0 Green Dragon
Liam Bentley recorded yet another hat-trick today and further goals from Stokes and Heath saw Swanpool tighten their grip on second place with a convincing win against the side sitting just second from bottom in this Division. There has been real competition in this Division for much of the Season for a top 2 place with 4 Clubs still able to finish in that position when the final games are played out during this coming week.
Ferryboat FC 6-0 Metheringham Reserves
Mearns scored a hat-trick, Sharples hit 2 goals, and Flintham scored a single goal to give the Branston based home side a comfortable victory against the side who currently sit in last spot in the League but who could yet climb off the bottom position if they can find 2 points from their remaining 2 League games in the last week of the Season.
Ian Stephenson