The NSL Division 2 championship will go down to the wire. Having earned another point on Saturday Elston United must now win their final game of the season at home to Notts Olympic next week to clinch the trophy. With Gedling Southbank having a superior goal difference and sitting just two points behind The Clams, only three points is likely to be enough for Elston.

As with the week’s previous counter, Saturday’s game against Reindeer FC was a tight, physical encounter. While Elston nearly scored straight from the kick off, when James Scott charged down a defensive clearance, it was Reindeer who had the majority of the early chances. The home side’s direct playing style was causing a few early problems for Elston, and those problems were brought into sharp relief in the 13th minute when a long ball from defence was flicked on to the Reindeer centre forward who gave Brad Musgrove no chance with a chip from 18 yards to open the scoring.

Despite the set back, and further dangerous crosses from Reindeer, Elston’s defenders began to compete more effectively to limit the Reindeer threat. At the other end of the pitch, both Scott and James Clarke were denied by excellent last-minute challenges when it looked like they may score, and Elston were only denied an equaliser by a goal-line clearance following a scramble from an Archie Dillon corner.

Just before half-time Dillon, Elston’s right back, was injured in a clash of heads with his fellow defender, James Smith, and he was replaced at half-time by Louis Cross. Elston began the second half on the front foot and started to look increasingly threatening. An attack down the right wing led to a fine cross from Barney Repper that only just eluded Clarke’s head and Scott’s boot. The visitors didn’t need to wait too long to get back on terms, however. After being fouled just outside the box, Scott got up and scored with a precise low shot into the corner from 20 yards for his 26th goal of the season.

By now the tide seemed to be turning in Elston’s favour, but a combination of good defending and the rub of green kept the score at 1-1. Kieran Adams, in particular, was unlucky when he broke through on goal only to see the ball bobble horribly as he attempted to chip the Reindeer keeper. Even so, Reindeer dug in and had a couple chances of their own before a final flurry when both teams nearly scored from corners - Sam Lloyd going close with a fine last-minute volley at the far post that ricocheted off an unsuspecting Reindeer defender - before the referee blew the final whistle.

Whatever happens in next week’s fixtures, this has been a fantastic season for Elston United. The team’s ability and desire to compete against tough, robust sides like Reindeer, as well as their footballing displays throughout the league campaign, demonstrate just how much they deserve their second successive Nottinghamshire Senior League promotion. But the entire team will be doing everything they can to cap things off with the league trophy.

Elston United: Brad Musgrove, Archie Dillon (Louis Cross 46), James Smith, Toby Craven, Will Veys, Barney Repper, Sam Lloyd, Harry Johnson, James Scott, Curtis French (Rui Thacker 70), James Clarke (Kieran Adams 70). Sub not used: Tom Hazelwood