Thursday's South Division action review

By David Watters

It`s congratulations to Alvechurch, who achieved back-to-back promotions after securing second spot in the EVO-STIK League South on Thursday night, writes Pithero's Steve Whitney.

In front of a good crowd of 475 at Lye Meadow, Church got the point they needed in a 0-0 draw with Bedworth United, who are in the play-offs.

To take the second automatic spot to the final day, Frickley Athletic needed win at Bracken Moor against Stocksbridge Park Steels and Alvechurch to lose but the Blues could only manage a 1-1 draw in which Joe Lumsden`s 68th minute opener for Steels was cancelled out by Ishmael Dawson in stoppage time.

Runaway champions Basford United achieved the double of 100 points and 100 goals for the season with a 3-2 victory in an entertaining game at Cleethorpes Town.

Cleethorpes welcomed Basford to the field with a guard off honour and the visitors raced into a 3-0 half-time lead through a Liam Hearn brace and one from Fernando Bell-Toxtle. They then had to withstand a spirited fightback by the home side, whose Tim Lowe and Jon Oglesby replied.

Market Drayton Town gave themselves a big chance of staying up after beating Kidsgrove Athletic 4-3 at the Greenfields Sports Ground to move two points above now bottom side Romulus.

A first minute David Howarth goal for the Shropshire side was followed by a 37th minute Glynn Coney effort. Anthony Malbon replied two minutes after the break, only for Chris Howarth to make it 3-1 to the hosts just three minutes later.

Malbon reduced the deficit to one 20 minutes from time, but a second for Coney made it 4-2, with Malbon completing his hat-trick in time added on.

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Where next?

Thursday's Premier Division action review It's going to be 'squeaky bum' time for Grantham Town, Farsley Celtic and Shaw Lane AFC on Saturday after the latter edged a 3-2 win at Sheerien Park on Thursday night in the EVO-STIK League Premier, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.
Hoole earns the chance to carry on Dave Hoole has been named as Matlock Town's new manager after overseeing their EVO-STIK League revival.

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