It’s a tough one for York to take...

So just as we expected, it was edge-of-the-seat stuff until the final whistle. After 46 games, the league table does not tell lies and while matters at the top were more or less sorted last week with Lincoln bagging the title and promotion, and Aldershot edging into the play-offs, the relegation mire was the story of yesterday. I offer huge congratulations to Torquay (who I had pretty much written off two weeks ago) and Guiseley, but heartfelt sympathies to Braintree and York – the latter being sunk when the Lions bagged an injury-time equaliser at Solihull.

York fought valiantly yesterday, but couldn’t see off a Forest Green Rovers side who are looking to keep their form in good shape for the play-offs. The statistics from the match (see page 14) indicate the Minstermen had the better of the game but that rarely tells the whole story; when you are fighting for your lives you simply have to take your chances and the nerves would have surely played a part.

Elsewhere, Maidenhead blazed over the line to win National South with a 3-0 win at Margate. In truth, we were not expecting anything less; the Magpies have been a class above this season and with Dave Tarpey in full flow it always seemed a forgone conclusion, especially with The Gate long since condemned to the clutches of relegation. They are worthy champions. It’s just a shame we can’t recognise that with a nice picture of them holding the trophy on our front page because Maidenhead requested the silverware not be sent down to the Kent coast as they wanted to be presented with it in front of their own fans at York Road. A nice touch maybe, but surely they could have had two celebrations?

Lastly, a big shout out to Spennymoor, Witton Albion and Farsley Celtic – the three teams who claimed promotion from the Northern Premier, South & North, and Dorking Wanderers, who edged out Corinthian-Casuals on penalties to win the Ryman South play-off.