Arriving on the back of a five-game winning run and firmly in the hunt for promotion, the visitors were forced onto the back foot for much of the first half as Elston set the tempo. With full-backs Xander Millar and Barney Repper finding space and driving forward at every opportunity, the Clams created a steady stream of attacks and half-chances.

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute—and owed much to alertness and determination. Pressing high, James Scott capitalised on hesitation from the Calverton goalkeeper, who struggled to deal with a back-pass. Scott reacted quickest, winning possession and calmly finishing into an empty net.

Calverton responded five minutes later with a goal of their own, somewhat against the run of play. A long clearance caused uncertainty in the Elston defence, and the visiting centre-forward took full advantage to fire into the bottom corner.

Undeterred, Elston continued to play with confidence, building patiently from the back and through midfield. Their pressure paid off just before the interval when Millar’s corner found Toby Craven unmarked at the far post, and he made no mistake with a firm header to restore the lead.

The second half brought a different challenge. With the wind at their backs, Calverton looked to apply pressure with a series of direct balls over the top. Elston stood firm. Craven and Louis Cross dealt well with the aerial threat, while goalkeeper Cristian Costoiu produced two excellent saves to preserve the advantage.

At the other end, Elston remained a threat on the counter. Rui Thacker, Repper and Scott all went close as the Clams looked to put the game beyond doubt. That decisive moment finally arrived in the closing seconds, when Scott showed his quality once more—beating two defenders in the box before driving a low finish across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

A fully deserved win, built on control, resilience and attacking quality.

With one game remaining, Elston sit comfortably in mid-table, and Scott’s brace takes him to 26 goals for the season—leaving him second in the race for the division’s golden boot.

Elston United: Cristian Costoiu, Barney Repper (Tom Newbould 80), Louis Cross, Toby Craven, Xander Millar, Tom Hazelwood, Toby Cullen (Harry Johnson 75), Sam Lloyd, James Clarke (Teddy Furman 70), James Scott, Rui Thacker (Adam Fear 80).