Bridgford needing only a draw to clinch promotion

LEADERS West Bridgford recorded their 17th victory in the Midland Premier Division of the ENER-G Midland League when they beat Sutton Coldfield 4-3 at West Bridgford School.

However, the league title and promotion to the England Hockey League will be decided on Saturday in the final round of matches.

The Black and Golds visit Harborne with a three-point advantage and a superior goal difference over their determined pursuers Rugby and East Warwicks, who will host Sutton Coldfield.

Saturday's encounter saw Sutton open the scoring in the fifth minute but Ben Farrar's penalty-stroke conversion and a Todd Mills open-play goal had Bridgford 2-1 ahead at the interval.

Mark Richardson increased the home side's lead as a red card reduced the Warwickshire visitors to ten men.

Bridgford appeared to have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as the depleted visitors levelled the scoreline with two open-play goals.

In a tense end to the match, Sam Curtis scored Bridgford's winner when the Sutton Coldfield goalkeeper failed to clear a Chris Collison penalty corner – leaving the Notts club needing a draw at Harborne to be sure of the title.

An under-strength South Nottingham started badly at Midland Division One strugglers Melton, conceding two goals in the opening minutes.

Dharminder Hundal and Alex Crabtree with goals before and after the interval put South on terms but the home side converted a late penalty corner to win 3-2.

Nottingham University, already champions of Midland Division One, won for the 16th time in an unbeaten run of 20 matches with a 4-3 home win over Wolverhampton.

Boots charged into a four-goal lead at home to East Midland Premier Division leaders Barton.

David Cameron-Williams, Richard MacLennan, Danny Freeman and a James O'Flaherty penalty stroke conversion had the already-promoted visitors on the back foot, but Barton came back with two first- half and three second-half goals.

A free-flowing move in the last two minutes ended with Manny Soar setting up Lukasz Urbaniak to score the equaliser and earn Boots a point from a 5-5 draw.

Sikh Union (Nottingham) led 1-0 at Derwent through Ajitpal Singh's penalty corner goal but the mid-Derbyshire club recovered to win 2-1, a result that leaves Nottingham, beaten 7-1 at Wellingborough, in the relegation places.

North Notts could take the second promotion place behind Barton if they can get a better result at home to Leicester Thursday than Wellingborough can achieve at Chesterfield on Saturday.

The Blues put themselves in the driving seat with a resounding 8-0 win at bottom club Corby, William Butler, Mark Johnson, Adam Moss and Allan Butler in the first half and Nathan Smith, Allan Butler and two own goals after the interval gave the Mansfield Woodhouse club victory.

Nottingham Players lost 3-2 in East Midland Division One at Leicester University. Joe Green gave them a 15th-minute lead but the Students, with goals each side of the interval, recovered to lead 2-1.

Players' hopes were revived by long-serving winger Tony Dennis, who slotted home from close range when the home side failed to clear a Jordan O'Brian penalty corner Then with five minutes remaining, the University won and scored from a penalty corner.

Mansfield moved off the bottom, winning a sporting match 3-1 at Ramgarhia where their scorers were Martin Gardener, Joe Seals and Ellis Butler.

Newark's Division Two season ended with a 3-1 defeat against promoted champions Coalville Town at the Magnus School. Danny Hendrie scored for Newark who finish their season in fourth place.

Results

ENER-G Second Team League: Midland Premier Division: Barford Tigers 1 Beeston 2, Harborne 1 West Bridgford 3. Midland Division 1: Sutton Coldfield 2 Nottingham University 0. East Mid Prem Div: North Notts 1 Leicester 1, South Nottingham 0 Boots 2. East Mid Div 1: Mansfield 12 Derby Asterdale 1, Nottingham Players 2 Wellingborough 3.

ENER-G Third Team League: Midland Premier Division: Beeston 1 Cannock 4, Edgbaston 1 West Bridgford 1, Nottm Uni 2 Leek 4. East Mid Prem Div: Burton 6 Nottm 2, Rugby and East Warwick 3s North Notts 2.

ENER-G Central League: Midland Premier Division: Beeston IV 0 West Bridgford IV 3, Cannock IV 11 Nottm University IV 2, West Bridgford V 2 Edgbaston IV 2. East Mid Prem Div: Beeston V 3 Lichfield IV 3, Boots IV 3 Northampton Saints IV 1, Warwick University IV 6 Boots V 1. North East Div 1: Belper VI 3 South Nottm IV 0, Burton V 0 Nottm IV 4, Nottm V 3 Barton IV 2. South East Div 1: Rugby and East Warwicks VI 2 Beeston VI 2, West Bridgford VII 5 Loughborough Town V 1. East Mid Div 2: Boots VI 1 Nottm Players 0, IV Leicester Westleigh IV 2 West Bridgford IX 1, Nottm VI 3 Derby Asterdale IV 0, West Bridgford X 3 North Notts V 3.

Saturday Fixtures

ENER-G Midland League

Midland Prem: Harborne v West Bridgford

Midland Division 1: Bridgnorth v Nottm University, South Nottingham v Burton

East Mid Prem Div: North Notts v Leicester Thursday, Nottingham v Corby, Sikh Union (Nottm) v Boots

East Mid Div 1: Mansfield v Leicester, Nottingham Players v Ramgarhia (Derby)