Six games took place during #MatchweekTwentyThree with only two having an impact on final placings.
On Monday there was a dead rubber game in the West Midlands group of the ESPFA Cup with ESPFA West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Amber) having already secured their passage to the semi-finals.
Five goals from Ewan Sutherill, Leighton Thomas, Jack Heath and a brace from Ephraim Yombo were enough to seal the Nailer's first points of the group stage with goals from Kaylem Stacey, Josh Langley and Lucas James in reply for the visitors.
In the East Midlands group there was everything to play for with ESPFA Nottinghamshire (Carlton Town) hosting ESPFA Derbyshire (Mickleover FC Black).
Sancho Ayodeji-Ansell gave the hosts a first half lead with a strike in the 30th minute. Two further early second half goals from Ethan Ruth and Khai Smith looked to put the game beyond doubt but three goals in the final 13 minutes of the game, two from Haiba Souyeh and a last minute strike from Chris Bitshuangu keeps the visitors hopes of qualifying alive and will now need the help of their inter-club fellow students to do them a favour in their final two games against the Millers.
On Thursday, the Red team of ESPFA Derbyshire (Mickleover FC) hosted the Millers and secured a two goal win thanks to Conor Power and an own goal. That result means that anything less than a four goal victory in the return game next Tuesday 2nd May will see ESPFA Derbyshire (Mickleover FC Black) advance to the semi-finals to take on ESPFA West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Amber)
ESPFA Greater Manchester (Mossley AFC) travelled to West Yorkshire for the second consecutive time after their tight defeat to the same opponents in the ESPFA Cup last week.
In another close affair, ESPFA West Yorkshire (Ossett United) gained the final three points of the season with goals from Keel Del-Grande and Bobby Isbell and a penalty for the visitors from Preston Ashton were the key details in a 2-1 victory for the Sheepicorns'.
Student's from Rushall travelled to ESPFA Derbyshire (Belper Town) for the second time in four days, this time the Black team in the final game of the West Midlands group.
A brace from Cemeyo Smithen and a Lee Mayne strike were enough for the Pics' to leapfrog their hosts into second position with Dylan Tomlinson responding for Nailers.
In the final game of the day, the goals were flying in at Evans Park as ESPFA Staffordshire (Stafford Town) hosted ESPFA Cheshire (Witton Albion) in their final game of their debut season and it was a tough set of circumstances to end what has been a very positive year.
Without their regular goalkeeper unavailable to play due to injury, the hosts conceded 15 goals and could only respond with four in a game to forget for the first year students.
League Tables after Matchweek Twenty Three
Cup Tables after Matchweek Twenty Three
Post Match Interviews
TEAM OF THE WEEK - #MatchweekTwentyThree
Congratulations to all students who have been nominated by their coaches for their performances during #MatchweekTwentyThree
Special mention to #ESPFANottinghamshire student Harvir Singh Basra who was named as the #PlayerOfTheWeek for his 'TWO' player of the match performances in Carlton Town's fixtures last week.
The Highlights Show
Team lineups (scroll left)
