Gainsborough threw away easy win, says Brian Little

Luke Beckett's goal against Stafford was his 17th of the season

Gainsborough Trinity boss Brian Little was unhappy at his side's 2-1 defeat by Stafford Rangers in Blue Square North after they dominated much of the game.

Trinity led through Luke Beckett's 11th-minute header and were in control until Nick Wellecome's 83rd-minute shot was ruled to have crossed the line.

Four minutes later Gavin Cowan turned Levi Reid's shot into his own net.

Little told BBC Lincolnshire: "Until the last 10 minutes it looked like being an easy 1-0 win for us."

He added: "It was one of those stupid things. I felt 'we've been in control for 85 minutes, something stupid is going to happen,' and it did.

"We all wanted to finish the season well, but I think we're so relieved that we're safe that we were a little bit off the pace as well."

Gainsborough's final match of the season is at home to Blyth Spartans on 24 April.

Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, Boston United won 4-1 at home to FC United of Manchester as their Unibond Premier Division title rivals Guiseley and Bradford Park Avenue again stumbled.

The Pilgrims went behind to Jerome Wright's early free-kick, but goals in the last 20 minutes from Lee Canoville, Anthony Church, Spencer Weir-Daley and Danny Davidson secured victory.

With Guiseley losing 2-0 to Marine and Bradford Park Avenue drawing 2-2 with Frickley Athletic, the Pilgrims' vastly superior goal difference means a win at Marine on the final day of the season will see them promoted as champions.

In the Unibond First Division South Spalding United, who previously had taken only two points on their travels, grabbed their first away win of the season in their final away match as Luke Forbes struck two minutes from time to give the Tulips a 1-0 victory at Cammell Laird.

Gio Carchedi's first-half goal was enough to give Grantham Town a 1-0 win at home to Shepshed Dynamo and extend the Gingerbreads' unbeaten run to 12 games.

Lincoln United lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield FC while Stamford beat Witton Albion 4-1 with Paul Malone, Dan Cotton, Liam Hook and Ricky Miller on target for the Daniels.

Non-league results for Saturday, 17 April:

Blue Square North

Stafford Rangers 2-1 Gainsborough Trinity

Unibond Premier Division

Boston United 4-1 FC United of Manchester

Unibond First Division South

Grantham Town 1-0 Shepshed Dynamo

Lincoln United 0-1 Sheffield FC

Stamford 4-1 Witton Albion

Cammell Laird 0-1 Spalding United

United Counties League

Blackstones 3-1 Rothwell Corinthians