Six-way title tilts and angry Bulls: non-league football stories you may have missed
The final day dawns for National League South with fully 25% of its teams capable of winning it. Truro City go into it above Torquay at the top because their goal difference is better by two (they have scored one more goal), Eastbourne Borough and Worthing are a further point back, and Boreham Wood and Dorking Wanderers are two behind them (with the division's best and second-best goal difference respectively). Disappointingly none of the teams play any of the others on the last day, with the pick of the fixtures Truro's against St Albans City, who need to do better than Salisbury (the two are level on points but Salisbury's goal difference is better by one) to stay up. A few weeks ago it looked as if the title was Worthing's to win: on 15 March they had won their past five, led the league by four and had a game in hand on every other side in the top 10. 'We're very hard to play against at the moment and I think we're improving, we're getting better,' their manager, Chris Agutter, said after they beat Hemel Hempstead Town that day. 'We're becoming more ruthless as well. We just need to keep working hard, and the results touch wood should keep going in the right direction.' Since then: two wins, two draws, three defeats. They end their season at Enfield, who could go down if Salisbury and St Albans win.
Also quite exciting: the Isthmian Premier, where the top three sides have the same number of points (wafer-thin margins here: Billericay Town lead Horsham by a single goal of goal difference, and have scored two more, with Dartford needing both to slip up; if Billericay and Horsham were to end up level on points, goal difference and goals scored Horsham would go up on games won). While in fifth and sixth Dover Athletic and unexpected promotion contenders Chichester City, also level on points, have a playoff playoff at Oaklands.
The race for the Combined Counties Premier Division South title could hardly have been more exciting going into the final round of fixtures last weekend: Jersey Bulls led Redhill on goal difference, with Whyteleafe one point behind. The Bulls, the only one of those three playing at home, had sold out Springfield Stadium for the visit of Sandhurst. But on the Friday night they were informed that they were being deducted three points and fined £120 for fielding an illegible player in last month's 4-0 win over Tooting & Mitcham. 'We understand the frustration, the anger, and the disbelief from supporters. We feel it too,' the club said in a statement. 'When we started this club, we had nothing but the dream of giving our island a football team it deserves, one that we hoped our wonderful island community would take to its hearts, and one that we knew could be successful in the English leagues. That dream is not over. We have achieved so much in such a short space of time that we must not let an error, a technicality, and a decision that is out of our hands divide us.' For most of the final afternoon Whyteleafe, who led Fleet Town from the 12th minute, were going up, only for Redhill to score a 93rd-minute winner and pip them, but still the identity of the champions is unknown. The Bulls, who also won on the final day, have submitted an appeal, saying there is 'significant mitigation' concerning a 'lack of clarity on the number of yellow cards' (the situation does, to be fair, sound a bit confusing: after the player picked up his 10th booking of the season he was left out for two games before returning to the team. But it turned out that one of those 10 bookings didn't count because it came in the FA Vase, which meant he was not officially suspended until after his next one, his first after the club thought he had been suspended). The league is investigating and the playoffs – due to get under way on Saturday – have been postponed.
Real Bedford's march towards inevitable Premier League glory continues, the club having long since wrapped up the Southern League Division One Central. It is the club's third league title in as many years since they were bought by Bedfordian, podcaster and crypto enthusiast Peter McCormack, who declared at the time that the purchase was 'part of a childhood dream to own a local Bedford club' and that 'I've always wanted to bring league football to the town … I am a Bitcoiner, we aim big'. A £3.5m investment from the Olympic rowers and crypto traders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, announced last year, was finalised in February, and in the first match the now co-owners' attended the team beat Kings Langley 1-0 to seal promotion (on the same day Real Bedford Women beat London Seaward 11-1 to win their own second successive league title). The empire is still growing: last month McCormack gave the club a sibling town centre cafe, Real Coffee.
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Spare a thought for Welton Rovers of the Western League Premier Division (but not for long), who ended with four points from 38 matches, one win and a goal difference of -152. That win was a riproaring 7-4 victory over St Blazey in February which ended their worst period of the season, four games which they lost by an aggregate score of 32-1. If you think you could do better, they advertised for a new first-team manager on Monday. Also spare a thought for Sittingbourne, who became only the second Isthmian South East team since 2018 (when there were two more of them, so four extra games) to reach 100 points but still won't be rewarded with automatic promotion. That's because the first, Ramsgate, also did it this year, and are on 108. They play each other on Saturday.
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The Sweden striker has accused Newcastle of 'broken promises' (Picture: Getty) Liverpool are reportedly considering a second bid for Isak (Picture: Getty) How to watch 215 Premier League matches this season (Picture: Metro/Sky Sports) Sky Sports is going full throttle this Premier League season, airing a record-breaking 215 live matches - that's nearly double the usual dose of drama, goals, and post-match meltdowns. From Friday night clashes to Super Sundays and even all ten final-day fixtures, Sky's new deal means fans won't miss a single nutmeg or last-minute screamer. Whether you're team Sky Q, Sky Glass, or prefer streaming via NOW, you're covered. And with pundits like Jamie Carragher probably already rehearsing their 'I told you so' lines, expect top-tier commentary alongside top-tier football. As Pep might say, 'More games, more problems - for the other teams.' Check out the latest deals from Sky here, starting from £15 a month. Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more. However, it's understood Newcastle are refusing to waver from their £150m asking price and would only consider selling if they are confident they can bring in a viable replacement. Yoane Wissa remains Newcastle's top target up front, but Brentford turned down their initial proposal for the attacker and are believed to be holding out for a fee in excess of £50m. It's fair to say Isak's conduct has left many Newcastle fans furious, with loud chants of, 'There's only one greedy b******', heard in the away end at Villa Park last weekend. And it seems Isak's behaviour has begun to seriously frustrate and anger members of the Newcastle dressing room – that's if Joelinton's social media antics are anything to go by. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page With the situation threatening to descend into a farce, several eagle-eyed Newcastle fans spotted that Joelinton had 'liked' an Instagram post from fan page, Wor Flags, condemning Isak's actions in recent weeks. 'Idolised and adored. No promises broken by the fans that make this club,' the post read. 'We deserve better than the destructive path you've chosen. 'Newcastle United will never be defeated.' Joelinton 'liked' a post hitting out at Isak's 'destructive' behaviour (Picture: Instagram/@worflags) Despite Isak's hardline position, Eddie Howe has repeatedly stressed that he would be prepared to welcome the attacker back into the fold as soon as he is ready to rejoin his team-mates. 'Nothing has changed. The door is well and truly open,' the Newcastle head coach said. 'He has to decide what he wants to do. We would like a resolution. We need that clarity. You don't need any kind of distraction. 'I am not in control of that. There is one person who can control that. Let's wait and see. I have made my stance clear. I am concentrating on the team.' Howe is ready to reintegrate Isak back into the squad (Picture: Getty) Asked about the chants directed at Isak from Newcastle fans, Howe replied: 'The supporters acted really well today. 'If afterwards, they want to say something, they are free to do that.' Speaking after Newcastle's goalless draw with Aston Villa, Anthony Gordon admitted the uncertainty surrounding Isak's future had contributed to a 'difficult' start to the season. More Trending 'It has been difficult because we're a tight-knit group,' the Newcastle winger said. 'But you see today, we've still got that spirit and togetherness. 'That will never go, regardless of individuals. We're still together. Things like this can make you better in the end.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Arrow MORE: Eberechi Eze makes decision over Arsenal transfer as Gunners hijack Tottenham move Arrow MORE: Alan Shearer tells Alexander Isak to take drastic action amid Liverpool transfer 'mess'
