The top three sides in the United Counties League Premier North are still in with a shout of the title, with two games left to play, thanks to substitute Finnley Commons’ 95th minute equaliser on Saturday afternoon.

As third place Bourne Town were coming from a goal down to win 2-1 at home to Belper United to keep themselves in the hunt, Eastwood, found themselves doing similar in a battle of the top two, snatching a point from the jaws of defeat.

Lincoln United were, and still lead the division, by a couple of points, but they could have all but wrapped up the title but for a late collapse against their ‘main’ rivals, a brace from Jaime Ture putting one hand on the title with a little less than twenty minutes remaining.

Hope though, it springs eternal, and it did just that at Coronation Park when, within minutes of the leaders going two-up, that deficit was halved when Oliver Robinson netted off a corner.

And still it looked like the Red Badgers would come up short, until stoppage time, deep into stoppage time; Finnley Commons, who was brought on with ten minutes of normal time for Jermain Hollis, decided to scamper past not one, but two Lincoln defenders, before unleashing into the opposite corner of the goal.

Delirium ensued for the hosts, late heartbreak for the visitors, and, with two games to play, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will lift the title – Lincoln host Heanor Town before finishing at Skegness Town, but may also have an eye on the KO Cup final (can finish on 85pts), Eastwood are at Gresley Rovers then home to Belper United (can finish on 83pts), and Bourne are home to Hucknall Town, then at Harrowby United (can finish on 82pts).

Eastwood CFC – Samuel Wilson, Lynden Joyce, Declan Dunn, Daniel Elliott, Phil Watt, Oliver Robinson, Terry Hawkridge, Jermain Hollis, Tyler Blake, Aaron O’Connor, Callum Chettle (subs – Lavell White, Craig Westcarr, Ryan Tait, Toby Woodward, Finnley Commons)

The two derbies played in the Premier North would see AFC Mansfield come from behind at the interval, to win by the odd-goal-in-five at Newark Town, and in a mid-table scrap, Hucknall Town brushed aside visiting Newark and Sherwood United to move within touching distance of the top ten.

Mansfield found themselves 2-1 down at the break when at Newark, the hosts having netted through Sean Woolley’s early penalty, and a goal from Harvey Grice, Kaylum Mitchell netting between.

The second period though belonged to the visitors, who bolstered their hopes of making the play-offs courtesy of a late brace from Ryan Ingram, levelling just after the hour mark, then bagging the winner with a couple of minutes remaining.

Hucknall meanwhile leapfrogged their visitors, and moved into eleventh place, following a comfortable, 3-0 win over Newark & Sherwood, Solace Uyi-Olaye affording the Yellows a very early lead.

It would take until late in the second half for that advantage to be extended, but Omreiki Myles headed home number two on the hour, and Niall Towle wrapped up the points with his customary goal as the game moved into stoppage time.

At the other end of the table, Kimberley Miners Welfare collected three, valuable points, when they won 3-1 at mid-table Skegness Town, and moved within touching distance of four sides directly above them.

Following a goalless first half, Dan Tuck netted the games’ opening goal with fifteen minutes remaining, then things went crazy; Aaron Coyle double the visitors’ advantage with ten to go, and Lewis Weaver notched a late third, before Gary King grabbed a stoppage time consolation for the hosts.

Clay Cross Town are still in the driving seat in Division One after their 2-0 win at Holwell Sports kept them two clear of second place Retford, who won 3-1 at Radford, goals for the Choughs coming from Richard Patterson, Aaron Sennett-Neilson, and Silas Valladolid-Collins; the Pheasants claimed a consolation through Louie Dunwell.

Third place Retford United were held to a 1-1 draw with fellow play-off side, Staveley Miners Welfare, Kieran Knight notching for the Badgers, whilst Gedling Miners Welfare and Clipstone both still harbour hopes of breaking into the end-of-season lottery.

Gedling eased won a nine-goal thriller away to Clifton All Whites, Gianfranco Ciaurro with a hat-trick in their 6-3 win, whilst Clipstone slipped up under the Friday Night Lights, losing 3-2 at home to Southwell City, Ryan Hlabangara’s brace giving the visitors the points.

There was also plenty of goals elsewhere in the division as, in the bottom half as West Bridgford beat visitors Dunkirk 3-2, Rainworth Miners Welfare won by the same when at Selston, and Sandiacre Town, thanks to goals from Labrada Domini, Keldon Gordon, and Tyler Smith, won 3-1 at home to Pinxton.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @EastwoodCFCV2 celebrations after Finnley Commons netted a late leveller for Eastwood.