MARCH II have escaped relegation from East Men s League Division Three despite suffering a 5-2 home defeat to Cambridge City IV, on Saturday. Sunday s 1-1 draw between the bottom two sides, St Neots II and Spalding II, means they are both relegated and Ma

MARCH II have escaped relegation from East Men's League Division Three despite suffering a 5-2 home defeat to Cambridge City IV, on Saturday.

Sunday's 1-1 draw between the bottom two sides, St Neots II and Spalding II, means they are both relegated and March are five points clear with one league game remaining.

The March team put in a gritty performance against a good Cambridge team, and goals from player of the match Rob Mitchell and Josh Birt put March on level terms at half-time.

The home side continued to hold on but City forced a series of penalty corners and scored two late goals to take the points.

March Ladies II's fate in the Cambs Ladies Premier Division is undecided following last week's dramatic 4-3 defeat to fellow strugglers Ely I.

A heart-breaking Ely goal in the final minute appeared to have consigned March to relegation but this week, the team have been handed a possible reprieve.

The 6-0 defeat to Cambridge University on February 17 has been overturned after it was found that University had infringed league rules.

March have been awarded a 3-0 victory, thus giving them an identical league record to Ely I. With the two teams level on points and goal difference, it is still unclear who will be relegated.

March manager Rachel Wright said: "We won't know until the summer when it is decided how many teams will be promoted and relegated from the leagues."

March I lost 3-2 at Norwich Union II, on Saturday, but they are still guaranteed at least an eighth place finish in East Men's League Division Two

March's final league game at home to University of East Anglia tomorrow (Saturday) has been called off by the visitors, who are unable to raise a team, and March have been awarded a 3-0 win.

Saturday's match proved to be frustrating for March. The visitors trailed 1-0 at the break but goals for Jack Davies and player of the match Ashley Welland gave them the lead early in the second half.

Jody Betts had a goal controversially ruled out and the home side rubbed salt into the wound when they levelled the scores in equally controversial circumstances just two minutes later.

March pushed forward but they were caught on the break and the home side scored a late winner.

March III continued their push for promotion from Division Five with a sweet 9-1 victory at local rivals Wisbech IV.

March's seventh consecutive victory came courtesy of an impressive performance, in which Gary Howsam scored four.

Charlie Boughton and Lewis Hilliard put the visitors on the road to three points when they scored a brace apiece and gave March a 4-1 lead at half-time.

The second half proved to be even more emphatic and Howsam's four goals, together with another from Tom Nickalls, ended the rout.

The race for promotion is still in the balance with only four points separating the top five teams. Tomorrow (Saturday), March face a crucial encounter when they entertain league leaders Cambridge City V.

March IV's five-game unbeaten run in Division Six came to an end with a poor performance and a 3-0 defeat at St Neots IV.

The March team failed to score for the first time since December 9 and poor finishing cost them the points.

Saints put in a solid defensive display that frustrated the visitors and they built on a 1-0 half-time lead to record a surprise win.

March V were unable to repeat the heroics of last week when they beat Peterborough VIII 7-3 and, on Saturday, they lost 7-1 at home to Peterborough VII.

Peterborough are pushing for promotion from Division Seven and their hunger for victory resulted in a 5-0 half-time lead.

Duncan Seaton scored to give March a good start to the second half but the visitors struck two late goals to seal the win.