NETTLEHAM 2nds have kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation to the Lincolnshire League Division Two with a sensational victory over Division One leaders Cherry Willingham.

The Mulsanne Park side left the promotion contenders shocked when they beat them by seven wickets.

But Hykeham are left looking anxiously over their shoulders, having lost by eight wickets to Scothern.

With a game to go, second-placed Alford could yet pip Cherry for the championship after an emphatic nine-wicket triumph against Louth 2nds, but Willingham have a decent lead.

Although already out of the promotion picture, Broughton moved into third spot with a 38-run win over Holton-le-Clay.

Four teams are still battling to avoid the second relegation spot in the Premier Division, following Saturday's nail-biting programme.

But Scunthorpe Town are not among them, having ensured they will be playing top-flight cricket again next season by clawing six points from a 37-run defeat against champions Messingham.

Cleethorpes 2nds, Horncastle, South Kelsey and Bracebridge Heath 2nds remain in trouble, with the fate of bottom side Appleby-Frodingham 2nds have been decided some time ago.

Cleethorpes 2nds turned in a fine performance in their final match of the season to win by five wickets at Caistor.

Horncastle won handsomely by 85 runs in a very important clash with Bracebridge Heath 2nds.

But South Kelsey's bowlers failed to defend an impressive batting total of 236 and they lost at home to Alkborough.

Division Two promotion-chasers Market Rasen suffered a disastrous defeat at Owmby, failing to take a single point from their game in hand on second-placed Grimsby Town 2nds. However, Town have not quite clinched second place with one match remaining.

Bottom side Outcasts 2nds won emphatically by nine wickets in the Isle of Axholme derby against Haxey 2nds, while Alkborough 2nds defeated Hartsholme 2nds by the same margin in a mid-table clash.

The Division Three championship pennant goes to Keelby and they could celebrate after a maximum 20-point win at Cherry Willingham 2nds, who remain just above the relegation zone.

Stamford Homes drop to third after losing disappointingly by 58 runs to Washingborough.

Division Four's second-placed side, Old Lincolnians, took only two points from an eight-wicket reverse at Keelby 2nds.

With a game to go, Caistor 3rds still have a chance of promotion after a 167-run win against Market Rasen 2nds.