CML title battle heading for the wire

Once more the two leaders picked up maximum points on Bank Holiday Monday, Westella maintaining their one point advantage, with Bilsthorpe having a game in hand.

The East Yorkshire outfit took their winning run to 10 matches as they beat Sherwood Colliery 3-0 at Marsh Lane.

After a goalless first half, Tom Dent, Lewis Andrew and an own goal extended Westella’s series of victories. The match was marred by a serious injury to Sherwood’s Brad Middlekoop who suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage.

Bilsthorpe took their own undefeated run to eight, as they had a 5-0 victory over a severely depleted Clay Cross line up, who finish the season in third place.

A Ryan Meehan penalty gave the home side an interval lead, which was extended by goals for Mark Carter, Gav King, Keenan Leeds and Jammy Meehan, as the visitors, who contest the Floodlit Cup final on Wednesday night at Hucknall, faded.

On Saturday Bilsthorpe dropped two points at Askern, who held them to a 1-1 draw.

Joe Byron put Askern in front in after a quarter of an hour as they had the better of the first half, Bilsthorpe coming back after the interval as they equalised through Keenan Leeds with 20 minutes left.

Thorne Colliery’s remarkable late season revival continued at Glapwell where a Darren Fell goal on the hour gave them their seventh win in eight outings and Fell’s personal tally to nine in the last three games.

There was no respite for Welbeck Welfare, who have battled gamely through another season where others would (and have) given up the ghost. Phoenix extended the pain as they returned home on the back of an 8-0 win at Elkesley Road. Adam Booth let the way with four goals, Rob Gorman got two, with one each for Kieron Gallagher and Haydn Marklew.