Sleaford Town played their final UCL Division One match for the 2025/26 season on Saturday, beating Radford 2-1 at the PSZ Direct Stadium to survive relegation.

First half goals from Dion Tansey-Potter and Kyle Onyon gave the Greens a comfortable advantage, only for a late goal from Abdul Bakare to frighten the home fans.

In contrast to recent weeks, it was Sleaford who were on top from the off. Two early chances from Onyon and Taylor Gray threatened the Radford defence, but Khawer Dantas Abbas in the Pheasants' goal was equal to it.

It felt like momentum would swing the visitors way after just six minutes, when Gray saw red for Sleaford. When trying to take a throw in, a Radford defender frustrated him by slowing him down, which led to Gray throwing a ball at the defender. The referee blew his whistle, sending Sleaford's number nine for an early shower due to violent conduct.

Going down to ten only seemed to make Sleaford step up a gear, taking the lead in under 15 minutes. Tansey-Potter received the ball on the wing, beat his man and cut inside, before hitting a shot at Abbas' near post. He beat the goalkeeper, giving Sleaford an important advantage.

They found a second minutes later too, doubling their advantage. A long ball from Kyle Reek met Benji Zalewski on the wing. His cross met Onyon, who hit a volley on the spin acrobatically, wheeling away in celebration as he netted his fifth goal in four games.

Sleaford's high tempo seemed to cool down after this, giving Radford the opportunity to get into the match. The first half brought no success for the visitors, having to wait until the second 45 to create anything.

As the hour mark passed, Radford hit the post. A corner was swung in and knocked on, beating Phil McGann but smacking the post before eventually being cleared. Another chance came minutes later, with a ball flashing across the Sleaford box, with no attackers getting on the end of it, as the ball fell away for a throw in.

Eventually, the Pheasants managed to get one back. A ball in was knocked on by Bakare, beating McGann and this time hitting the back of the net, giving Radford hope on a day they wished for survival, too.

They came close to an equalier as the match ticked into added time, a header from close range wildly flying over the bar, reminding Sleaford how solid they needed to defend for the remaining minutes to secure survival.

The header was the last chance of the match, with Sleaford playing wisely to run down the clock, and defending in groups to ensure they weren't at threat of conceding another.

As the full time whistle blew, celebrations drew from around the ground, with fans and players alike cheering on the security of United Counties Division One football for the 2026/27 season.