RAINWORTH'S hopes of runners-up place received another boost on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-0 rout of Nostell on their first visit to the Crofton Centre.
At the same time, Bridlington Town were making sure of the title by beating Hall Road Rangers 1-0, while Thackley were beating current second placed side Armthorpe 3-0 to open up the race for second place behind the Seasiders, the Bradford side havin
g gone third and pushed Rainworth down to fourth two days earlier with an emphatic win at Selby.
But with games in hand, Rainworth know that if they win their remaining four matches they will be confirmed as runners-up, and then it will be down to whether Bridlington accept or refuse promotion, for there is only one place available to the UniBond League.
Town's misgivings have been well documented—their 'local derby' would be 80 miles away and having been once bitten, finance-wise, in the UniBond League, they can be forgiven for being twice shy, but they are yet to make a decision.
However, until they decide whether or not to accept the place which is now rightfully theirs, the chasing pack do not know whether they are still battling for promotion or just second place.
It did take the Wrens some time to get going, with the opening goal not coming until the 28th minute, a real peach by Craig Mitchell with the sweetest of shots from the narrowest of angles inside the far post.
Three minutes later Nostell's Josh Hope was foolishly red-carded for foul and abusive language, only seconds after being warned by excellent referee Jason Price. Matt Draper headed away a Nostell free kick at the near post in the 54th minute, but two minutes later Rainworth were two up.
Matt Dawson probably thought he was playing the same game as his more famous namesake and received a caution for handling Brendan Sweeney's free kick in the penalty area. Lynam went for power from the spot, and was deadly.
It might have been 3-0 a minute later when Sweeney's wickedly curling corner struck the far post unaided.
Fearon headed a Sweeney cross onto the roof of the net and Mitchell twice guided headers wide, first from a Sweeney free kick and then from good work by substitute Jermain Hollis on the right.
But it was 3-0 in the 72nd minute. Dobbs raced out of his goal to clear ahead of the lively McDonald, and then dived to his left to turn Naylor's effort for a corner, taken by Sweeney. Charlesworth headed on, and Lynam was on hand to turn the ball home.
Four minutes later came the best piece of individual skill of the match, leading to the fourth goal. McDonald beating two defenders, at the same time keeping the ball in play first on the touchline and then on the by-line, before laying off for Bainbridge to drive home from outside the area.
NOSTELL: Dobbs, Dawson, Ball, J. Hope, Watts, M. Wilkinson, Samardizj (Minns 58), Robson, Nicholas, Jagger, Horn. Subs not used: Denton, T. Hope.
RAINWORTH: Hales, Fearon (Hollis 63), Bainbridge, Whitehead (L. Wilkinson 60), Charlesworth, Draper (Wright 67), McDonald, Naylor, Mitchell, Lynam, Sweeney.
REFEREE: Jason Price of Bradford.
ATTENDANCE: 62.
GOALS: Rainworth—Mitchell 28; Lynam 56 pen, 72; Bainbridge 76.
WRENS' MAN OF THE MATCH: Brendan Sweeney.
A floodlight fire brought the 42nd minute abandonment of Rainworth's home midweek clash with Scarborough Athletic last week with the Wrens leading 2-1 at the time.
