Title hopes end, despite beating new champions

Brave Clay Cross Town's faint hopes of lifting the Central Midlands League North Division title finally ended in their last match of another successful campaign.
Ant LynamAnt Lynam
Ant Lynam

Town stretched their end-of-season winning run to seven matches.

But the 3-2 victory over top-of-the-table Harworth Colliery was not enough for the Millers to win the championship.

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They had needed a seven-goal victory to deny Harworth the title because of the new champions’ superior goal difference.

Instead, Clay Cross had to settle for runners-up spot for a second successive season.

It was tough on the home side, who were beaten just once since November and had battled well through a fixture backlog to stay in contention.

But ultimately that 3-1 loss at AFC Bentley in April proved decisive.

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Instead it was Harworth who took the crown to win promotion and end a 32-year association with the league — the longest continuous membership at first-team level by any club — as they look to step up to the Northern Counties East League.

The title-decider was watched by more than 200 supporters.

Clay Cross led 1-0 at half-time, but never looked like gaining the seven-goal victory required.

Ant Lynam, Callum Lytham and an own goal gave them the consolation of another victory.

Josh Davies and Kenzie Tomlinson replied for Harworth.

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