Having already clinched promotion to Division 1 of the Nottinghamshire Senior League, Elston now have the possibility of becoming the Division 2 champions. After Saturday’s draw with Reindeer FC, The Clams need three more points from their final two games to be sure of claiming the league trophy.

Saturday’s game was a close, physical encounter. With a strong breeze blowing across a hard, dry, bouncy pitch, high-quality football was difficult to come by. While Elston restricted their visitors to relatively few chances, they also found it equally hard to break down Reindeer’s well-organised and obdurate defence. After a drab first half, Elston did raise their game in the second period, and Elston’s midfield of Tom Hazelwood, Barney Repper and Harry Johnson started to build more attacks, shifting the ball wide to Will Veys and Archie Dillon on the wings.

Elston’s pressure finally told in the 85th minute when a cross into the box from Curtis French was controlled and volleyed home by James Scott from 8 yards. The Reindeer team responded positively to this setback, however, forcing a last-minute corner. The resulting well-struck corner, driven by the wind, eluded everybody before landing in the far corner of the Elston goal, giving Reindeer a deserved equalizer. There was just time for the Reindeer captain to be sent off following a reckless challenge on Tom Hazelwood, before the game finished 1-1, but both teams will be looking to go one better when they play the return fixture next Saturday, particularly as Elston will have the chance to claim the Division 2 championship.

Elston United: Brad Musgrove, Archie Dillon (Jake Leadbetter 71), James Smith, Toby Craven, Will Veys, Barney Repper, Sam Lloyd (Tom Hazelwood 46), Harry Johnson (Sam Adcock 71), James Scott, Joe Wroughton (Curtis French 60), Rui Thacker (James Clarke 60).