Agony/Ecstacy ...

...where do you start today ???

Best place is obviously Ewen Fields - and many congrats to Hyde FC for securing the Conf North Championship by beating Boston United 4-1 (aided somewhat by Guiseley losing 1-0 at home to Bishop's Stortford - but hey ...).  If only I'd finished work 30 minutes earlier ... I'd have been at Hyde today - but such is life - and I'm sure Paul P has "done the business" vis-a-vis pix.

The agony - for me - has to be Belper Town.  Having done so well (15 games 14 wins 1 draw to get into the play-off zone - they were 18th @ Christmas !) - they draw 1-1 today and just fail to get into the play-offs (same points - same goal diff - lose out on goals scored - 3 bloody goals). My mates (+ more) must be sick as chips tonight down Amber Valley way.

Next - Stalybridge Celtic ... a 2-1 win at Gloucester City still keeps them in with a shout at the play-offs - the three teams above are all away next Saturday - and admittedly two of them DO have far better goal diffs - but the season carries on - and we'll see what happens next Saturday ...

Curzon Ashton ?  Already guaranteed 2nd in the Evo 1 North ... apparently capitulated 1-3 @ Prescot Cables today (even had an update on that at my game today !) - I reckon they must have rested a few in preparation for the Play-Off Semi-Final on Monday night - and we now know they will be playing Garforth Town, who beat Skelmersdale United 2-1 for that "final" Play-Off place ... despite Lancaster City doing their bit by overturning the four-goal goal diff in their attempt to sneak in - bad luck Dollys - you did your bit !)

Mossley ... away at Harrogate Railway with nowt to play for ... used to enjoy the rail trip to Starbeck in the past ... but we're back to Saturday working (AAAARRRGH !) - so what do they do ??? Win 6-1 ... six bloody one - which sneaks them above Radcliffe Boro to finish 14th.  You can say with all the to-ing and fro-ing this season at Seel Park - a respectable finish ...

Droylsden .. lost 2-1 at FC Halifax who were looking to cement their Play-Off ambitions- not much to say here - but they're 9th in the table - and they can finish no higher (which is no disgrace at all !).

And finally ... Ashton United - where I ended up today  - against Mickleover Sports who were fighting for their lives ... in the end a 3-0 win for Mickleover was no more than they deserved - but they're still down (if it wasn't for the 3 point deduction back in February - ineligible player - they'd have been safe ... but that's life unfortunately in the hard-nosed world of football/paperwork and all that stuff !).  I'll try to get some pix up from that game later tonight (it'll have to be tonight for a number of reasons ... tomorrow is Sunday - and the day after is Monday - i.e. 23rd April i.e. my Wedding Anniversary.  However with the anniv being on Monday Mrs Smiffy is not too bothered about doing anything on that night - workday etc etc.  So tomorrow is the anniv celebration day - need to sort out what to do for that ... and that means Monday is "off limits/up for grabs" - so I'll be down at Curzon Ashton for their game against Garforth !).

More later ...

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