Goal differences saves Moatmen after defeat on a dramatic last day

CHAIRMAN Gary Norton says he never wants to see Gresley Rovers go through the same again after the Moatmen avoided relegation on goal difference alone on the last day of the season.

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Gresley were beaten 3-1 away by Ashby Ivanhoe on Monday and although they had started the day two points above the drop zone, an hour into the last match they were heading out of the UCL Premier Division North.

Kimberley Miners Welfare were beating Hucknall Town away and Sleaford Town were 2-0 up at home to Boston Town, both of them therefore overtaking Rovers.

But while Kimberley went on to win 3-0, Sleaford fell apart and were beaten 3-2, meaning they occupy the second relegation slot on the same number of points as Gresley.

Norton, in the dugout as interim manager, was aware of the scores elsewhere and said: "Somebody said this was my 690th game as a manager and, without doubt, it was the most stressful 90 minutes.

"I had never been in a relegation battle before and I don't want any Gresley fans to have to go through that again.

"Someone is looking down us and we're not celebrating, it's only relief."

The Moatmen had given themselves the chance of staying up with a four-match unbeaten run, winning three of them, since Norton took the reins.

But a narrow defeat at home to title-chasing Eastwood Town on Good Friday kept them in danger.

And they turned in a poor performance to lose to Ashby.