Doughboys’ play-off dream is over, Steelmen pegged back and Diamonds beaten
Wellingborough Town's Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division play-off hopes are finally over after they suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday.
A win would have kept the Doughboys in the hunt for a fifth-place finish on the final day of the season, and things were going to plan as Jake Stone's side led 2-1 at half-time at the Dog & Duck.
Joey Evans got them off to a flyer with a long-range strike after just two minutes, only for Shepshed to level things on the 18-minute mark.
The Dougboys regained the lead five minutes before the break when Evans netted his second, and that was how things stayed until the interval.
A fired-up Shepshed got a second equaliser just before the hour, and then won it with a strike three minutes from time.
The win keeps alive Shepshed's own outside hopes of finishing in the play-offs, but Borough, who have now dropped to ninth, can now finish no higher than seventh.
The Doughboys wrap up their season on Saturday with a tough looking trip to leaders Anstey Nomads, who need just a point to secure the title and promotion.
Corby Town did their bit for their county neighbours as they drew 2-2 at fifth-placed Coleshill Town.
The Steelmen enjoyed a brilliant first half and were 2-0 up at the interval thanks to a double from on-loan striker Fletcher Toll.
But Coleshill responded in the second half, and after Mason Rees had pulled one back on 52 minutes, Tristan Dunkley secured a precious point with an 86th-minute equaliser.
The draw leaves Corby in 11th place in the table ahead of their final game of the season at home to Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday (ko 3pm).
AFC Rushden & Diamonds will also wrap up their season on home soil on Saturday when they entertain play-off chasing Coleshill Town at Hayden Road (ko 3pm).
Diamonds will go into that game in 13th place after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at eighth-placed Lichfield City.
Ollie Evans fired Elliot Sandy's side into a seventh minute lead, and they remained ahead at half-time.
The home side were awarded a penalty eight minutes into the second half and levelled from the spot, before netting what proved to be the winner with a sweet strike from the edge of the box seven minutes from time.