Toolstation NCEL Match Review 2015/16 #73
29th April, 2016
Tadcaster Albion were crowned Premier Division champions, Liversedge have all but completed the Great Escape and it's Bottesford Town versus AFC Emley in the Division One Play-Off final after a dramatic midweek of Toolstation NCEL football.
Tadcaster put themselves on the verge of lifting the title with Tuesday night's 1-0 win at Garforth Town, Tom Corner with the goal.
Then, with second-placed Handsworth Parramore's game at Pontefract Collieries called off on Wednesday due to vandalism at the Harratts Nissan Stadium, they knew a victory on Thursday at home to Armthorpe Welfare would guarantee them the trophy.
Josh Greening put the Brewers ahead on 32 minutes before Adam Baker doubled their advantage early in the second period so that a late consolation from Josh Schofield could not dampen their celebrations at the final whistle in front of a crowd of 845.
Congratulations to Tadcaster on their title triumph and the NCEL wishes them all the best in their promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.
At the other end of the table, Liversedge copied Tadcaster's achievements by winning two midweek matches to move out of the drop zone where they had been for most of the season and they are now five points clear of danger.
Ray Fogarty's hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 home win over Armthorpe on Tuesday whilst Benny Igiehon also found the net which he added to two nights later with a brace as they beat visitors Clipstone, 4-1, Tom Brook and Tinotenda Chibaro also scoring whilst Nicky Walker got a goal for the visitors.
There were 1-0 wins for Pickering Town at Staveley Miners Welfare, Ged Dalton getting on the scoresheet whilst Declan Brewin netted for Rainworth Miners Welfare as they prevailed by the same scoreline at home to Thackley.
The final matches of the regular Division One season were played on Monday night with Bottesford Town ensuring they went into the play-offs in fine form with a 3-1 home victory over Dronfield Town whilst Hall Road Rangers finish 17th after their 3-2 win at Westella VIP.
Focus then turned to the Play-Off semi-finals which both ended up being tight affairs.
Kieran Ryan grabbed a dramatic winner for AFC Emley in the 87th minute as they beat visitors Penistone Church by a single goal on Tuesday whilst, on the following night, Wayne Graves got both of Bottesford's goals in the last twenty minutes as they won 2-0 at home to Hallam.
Bottesford and Emley, who finished third and fourth, respectively, will now face each other in the final on Saturday to determine who will join Hemsworth Miners Welfare and AFC Mansfield in moving up to the Premier Division.
And, the League Cup semi-final line-up is complete as Joel Sutton's brace helped Bridlington Town to a 3-2 victory at Thackley and that means they host Cleethorpes Town in the last four next week.