Harworth Colliery set for NCEL switch after clinching Central Midlands League North Division title

And following a record-breaking 32-year association with the league they now look set to play in the Northern Counties East League next season - pending approval by the Football Association.

Colliery lost their final game of the season 3-2 at second-placed Clay Cross Town which drew the two teams level on points.

However, Harworth’s superior goal difference saw them crowned champions.

Proud chairman Jonathan Wilson said: “This has been 30 years in the making. We last won this league in 1988 and were a founder member of it.

“It’s an incredible achievement from all of us given that we also had to appoint a new manager at Christmas.

“It has been a true team effort and the club has shown what we’re all about. It’s been done through hard work and togetherness.

“We await confirmation from the FA if we will gain promotion to the NCEL but we have done everything possible in the last three to four years to make sure the ground is ready.

“I’m proud of every single person associated with the club from the sponsors to the supporters through to the committee and volunteers and obviously the players and the management team.”

Harworth went into their final game knowing that Town, who have had to battle their way through a massive fixture back log, would need to beat them by seven goals to deny them the title – a task which always looked beyond them.

Josh Davies and Kenzie Tomlinson shared the Harworth consolation goals.

Thorne Colliery ended what will probably go down as a disappointing campaign on a winning note when beating sixth-placed Retford 3-0 at Moorends Welfare.

Long-serving Kirk Frost bagged a brace for the Doncaster side with Paul Bradley also getting in on the act.

Colliery had also picked up a 4-1 win in midweek on the same ground against bottom club Welbeck Lions.

AFC Bentley, who dropped down to fourth at the weekend as a result of Collingham’s win, kept their hopes of a second successive top-three finish alive with a 2-1 midweek win away at Tideswell United.

Christian Hand and Alex Irwin claimed the goals for Bentley, who have a game in hand over Collingham.

Brodsworth Welfare ended the season in the bottom three after Clay Cross Town were awarded a walkover in their last scheduled game of the 2017-18 campaign in midweek.