Van Dijk puts Hampstead on a high

Hampstead and Westminster became the first Regional League team to claim their place in the National League play-offs following a resounding 6-1 victory against their nearest challengers, Anchorians.

The Dutch striker Jan-Job van Dijk scored four times with Mark Crowley's two taking his season's total to 26. Anchorians' consolation came from Neil Gordon. The Kent side, still eight points ahead of thirdplaced Tunbridge Wells, must be favourites to take the second play-off slot from the Nastro Azzurro South League.

In the North, Norton, 3-1 winners at Ben Rhydding, have all but reached the play-offs. In the other regions there is much to play for. In the East, Adnam League Chelmsford edged nearer Cambridge City as City were held to a 2-2 draw by Ipswich. Chelmsford, with Rob Hawkins and Pat Oxley both scoring twice, thrashed Sudbury 6-2 to keep their hopes alive. They play City in their final game.

In the DTZ Midland Premier, Loughborough Students had a narrow 1-0 win against Olton and West Warwick while Harborne kept up the pressure with a resounding 12-1 win at Bloxwich and trail by three points. The teams meet on Saturday in their penultimate game.