Tamworth Take The Title

Tamworth claimed the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central title today after winning 3-0 at the Trico Stadium against Redditch United, pipping Coalville Town, who also won, by scoring 3 goals, after both sides finished on 89 points.

In front of a terrific crowd of 1,942, boosted by a good following of Tamworth fans, the visitors took a 17th minute lead when a header from a corner came back off a post and was tapped home by Ty Deacon.

And Andy Peaks` side doubled their advantage 3 minutes before half-time when Luke Fairlamb showed good pace and skill before whipping in a cross for Kyle Finn to poke home past Reds` keeper Adam Harrison.

The early period of the second half saw the Lambs go close to adding a third through Finn and then Dan Creaney before they did score that crucial next goal on 52 minutes when Jamie Jellis fired a powerful drive past Harrison.

Creaney struck a post late on and it wasn’t long before the celebrations could begin once word had filtered through of Coalville’s result.

So, Tamworth will return to the Vanarama National League North after suffering relegation in 2017/18.

There was another big crowd of 1,710 at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium for Coalville’s game against Stourbridge.

And the hosts could hardly have got off to a better start as Tim Berridge got onto a loose clearance and netted past Charlie Price after just 15 seconds!

And on 27 minutes, it was 2-0 to the Ravens when George Wilson’s 25-yard effort beat Price and nestled inside the far post.

But Price came to the Glassboys rescue when he denied Berridge in a one-on-one.

However, the home side did manage to take a 3-0 lead into the break when Billy Kee headed home from close range after Lee McGlinchey’s initial effort had come back off the crossbar.

Stourbridge did manage to `win` the second half when they were awarded a penalty which Stan Anaebonam duly converted 8 minutes into the half.

But Coalville managed the game well and will now host Rushall Olympic at home in the play-off semi-finals on Wednesday evening.

The Pics will go into the tie on a bit of a down, however, as they were beaten 4-1 at Dales Lane by Alvechurch.

Already assured of a play-off place, Pics` boss Liam McDonald made a few changes to his starting line-up.

They trailed at the break to an 8th minute Danny Waldron effort.

Jamie Soule doubled Alvechurch’s lead 8 minutes after the interval and a second for Waldron, this time from the penalty spot, took the visitors three ahead.

Leon Clarke reduced the deficit 7 minutes later, only for Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton to make it 4-1 to Ian Long’s side 9 minutes from time and give them an 11th place finish.

Leiston will host Nuneaton Borough in the other play-off semi-final on Wednesday and both achieved final day home wins.

The Suffolk side, who have only suffered one defeat at the appropriately-named Victory Road all season, eventually managed to see off relegated Hednesford Town thanks to a 57th minute Finlay Barnes solo effort.

A crowd of 683 at Liberty Way saw Nuneaton beat St Ives Town 3-0.

Two goals in a minute just before half-time from Ricardo Dinanga gave Boro a massive boost.

And although often a two-goal lead at half-time can be dangerous, they saw this one out after Matt Stenson added a third 12 minutes from time.

At the other end of the table, although all four relegation places had already been sorted before today, it was a case of trying to avoid finishing bottom.

And unfortunately for Bedford Town, it is they who return to Step 4 as bottom-markers after losing 3-0 at The Eyrie against sixth-placed Mickleover.

A decent final day crowd of 479 saw Ollie Greaves give Sports a 33rd minute lead that Elliott Reeves added to 9 minutes into the second half.

And then 2 minutes into stoppage time, Reeves added the visitors third.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds finished second-bottom, a point in front of the Eagles, after winning 2-1 at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium against fourth-bottom Kings Langley.

Jenson Cooper gave the Diamonds a 12th minute lead that Leon Chambers-Parillon cancelled out in the 23rd minute.

Will Glennon restored the visitors` advantage 2 minutes before half-time and they held firm to take the points, thanks mainly to goalkeeper Dean Snedker’s second half display.

Elsewhere today, Ilkeston Town finished seventh after being switched from the Northern Premier League by the FA last summer, but ended with a 3-1 defeat at Top Field against Hitchin Town, who ended in 12th spot.

A crowd of 812 saw Josh Coldicott-Stevens give the Canaries a 34th minute lead.

Diogo Freitas Gouveia added a second for the hosts just past the hour-mark and then Ashley Hay made it 3-0 in the 76th minute, with the Robins` consolation coming from Leroy Lita’s stoppage time penalty.

Barwell’s excellent second half of the season as seen them finish a very creditable eighth after beating Needham Market, who have ended up in 17th spot, 2-0 at the UK FLOORING DIRECT Stadium.

It was goalless at the break, and then the Canaries broke the deadlock on the hour-mark through Beck-Ray Enoru.

And 8 minutes later, Layton Ndukwu made the points safe for the Leicestershire side with the second.

Bromsgrove Sporting ended up in 18th place, although 9 points clear of the drop zone, after losing 4-0 at Garden Walk by 13th-placed Royston Town.

A crowd of 417 saw the Crows take an early 6th minute lead, courtesy of Matt Bateman’s successful penalty conversion after he had been fouled in the box.

Ky Marsh-Brown doubled the home side’s lead 20 minutes later and it was 3-0 at half-time, thanks to the experienced Ronnie Henry.

Royston wrapped things up on 65 minutes when Kian Harness headed home a corner.