Week ending 13th April by Mason Norton

With Allexton looking set to move up to Step 6, it seems as though last season's champions Asfordby will be making the return journey, after their defeat yesterday in UCL Division 1 means that they will finish in the bottom three. Asfordby currently sit bottom of UCL Div1, two points behind fellow promotees Sandiacre Town, and look as though they need to win at least one of their two remaining games to stand a chance of getting a reprieve at season's end. 


That may have an impact upon promotion from Everards Brewery Division One. Champions Anstey Town will be coming up, and the advantage for the other automatic promotion spot swings to Leicester Atletico, who cruised to a 4-1 win away to Birstall United Reserves, Ouakari Diawara (2), Jowa Mbome and Ali Ashkir the scorers, Kai Henderson replying for Birstall in the first half.


Promotion rivals Hinckley LR Reserves dropped points late on away at Anstey Town, in a game played less than 48 hours after their Holmes Park heroics, both teams having cup hangovers from midweek. Brogan Greenwood gave the visitors the lead in the first half, and they looked set to inflict the first League defeat of the season on Anstey Town, until three minutes from the end, when referee Mr Lacis awarded Anstey a penalty, much to the displeasure of the visitors. Joe Harris converted the spot-kick, the game finished 1-1. Anstey finish their season on Wednesday night at home to Sutton Bonington in a game that has been moved to Anstey Nomads, but will finish the League campaign unbeaten if they avoid defeat then. Atletico will be promoted if they beat Ingles Development on May 4, or even sooner if Hinckley LR Reserves drop points either on Wednesday night at home to Holwell Sports Reserves, or in their other League game at home to Dunton & Broughton United on Wednesday week.


As may be guessed from the above, the wet weather after Christmas, combined with the Chairman's Trophy, means that the season for Division One has had to be extended beyond the finishing date of the last Saturday in April, and there have been some changes to some fixtures- clubs are reminded to check their fixture lists. 


Finishing our look at Div1, and bottom side Barrow Town Reserves recorded their first points of the season with a 3-3 draw at home to a Dunton & Broughton United side who haven't won since December. Tom Antill, Liam Stafford and an OG were the goals for Barrow, Corey Nelson (2) and Callum Briers scored for DBU, who had been 2-0 up at half-time. That came after Barrow missed out narrowly on points on Tuesday night at home to Sutton Bonington. Joe Brown scored an early brace, but a bolstered Barrow side pulled it back to 2-2 thanks to goals from Mo Faicel and Shay Howard, before SB were awarded a late penalty which Jordan Crosland held his nerve to step up and score, Sutton winning 3-2. Barrow have two more chances to record their first win of the campaign.  


Everards Brewery Division Two came to its conclusion this weekend, ending where it began eight months ago at Sileby's Southfield Avenue home. That opening day was a defeat for Sileby Town Reserves, and that was how it was this Saturday as well, as Nathan Williams (2), Oliver Borland and Regis John gave visitors Melton Town Academy a 4-0 win. Melton finish the season fourth out of the eight teams, Sileby in fifth. The other game scheduled was called off, as although Mountsorrel Amateurs passed a pitch inspection, visitors Loughborough FC were unable to raise a side. That game will be referred to the League's Management Committee, but regardless of the outcome, Mountsorrel finish the season third, and Loughborough last out of the eight teams, seven points behind Rothley Imperial and Desford & Caterpillar.
At the other end of the table, Loughborough Students Development finish as champions and St Patricks as runners-up, with both of those sides being promoted next season. The only competition where the Students came up short was the Div2 scorers charts, where St Patricks' Jamie Bottomley finished four goals clear of his team-mate Jack Hickey. The shape of Div2 for next season is still unknown, as discussions take place between the LSL and the County League and the County FA over future promotion arrangements- an announcement will be made by the League in due course, if not at the AGM in June.  


That rounds up this week's action. We'll be back towards the end of the week to look at the midweek action, namely Ellistown against Burbage & Huncote in the Prem on Tuesday, and the Div1 games from Wednesday, and then we'll be back on Sunday to cover the final weekend of the Premier Division, which looks set to finish a week ahead of schedule, and the weekend action in Div1, as well as next Saturday's Chairman's Trophy semi-final between Ingles Development and Hinckley LR Reserves. See you then.