After recent defeats to FC Cavaliers and Wollaton Reserves, Elston Untied made no mistake in securing promotion to Division 1 of the Nottinghamshire Senior League with a 2-0 victory against Arnold Town. Having been promoted to Division 2 last year, Elston have deservedly repeated the achievement at the first time of asking and now face the challenge of Division 1 football next season.

The first half of the game saw Arnold Town sitting back and soaking up Elston pressure. The visitors worked hard to restrict Elston to a handful of half-chances and comfortably held on to a 0-0 half-time score line.

The second half, however, was a different story. Straight from the re-start James Scott won the ball and passed through to Harry Johnson who was unlucky not to put Elston ahead. Fortunately, Johnson didn’t need to wait long to make amends, and on 55 minutes he pounced on a Barney Repper pass before lobbing the advancing goalkeeper with the outside of his right foot to make it 1-0 to Elston.

That goal seemed to give Elston greater confidence and belief, and ten minutes later Sam Lloyd doubled Elston’s advantage. Receiving the ball on the corner of the box, Lloyd stepped inside a defender before curling an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the Arnold Town goal.

By this time Arnold Town were struggling to get the ball out of their own half and Elston were unlucky not to add to their two-goal lead. Good chances for Rui Thacker, Tom Hazelwood, Joe Wroughton and James Scott all came and went, but the Elston players didn’t seem to mind too much as they comfortably saw out the remainder of the game before enjoying the final whistle celebrations.

Elston United: Brad Musgrove, Archie Dillon (Jake Leadbetter 65), James Smith, Toby Craven, Will Veys, Barney Repper (Tom Hazelwood 65), Sam Lloyd, Harry Johnson (Tom Newbould 75), James Scott, Joe Wroughton, Rui Thacker (Curtis French 75).