Ian McLoughlin helped his loan club Newport County secure their Sky Bet League 2 status over the Easter weekend.
The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international made a number of important saves as the Exiles held AFC Wimbledon to a 2-2 draw on Good Friday, a result which would later prove to be enough to confirm League 2 football for the Welsh outfit next season.
With their status secured and one eye on the 2014/15 season, County boss Justin Edinburgh replaced McLoughlin with the experienced Lenny Pidgeley for the Easter Monday draw with Burton Albion.
Elsewhere, midfielder Luke Chadwick put in a man of the match display for Cambridge United on Monday but couldn’t prevent them suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Chester City.
Chadwick, rested for the Good Friday clash at Lincoln City, missed a couple of first-half chances for the U’s who, with second-place secured, appear to have already turned their attention to their play-off semi final with either Gateshead or Braintree Town.
Another Dons loanee who tasted defeat on Monday was defender Tom Flanagan, who watched from the substitutes bench as Stevenage were beaten 3-1 by Bristol City.
The 22-year-old was an unused substitute for the Boro, who were relegated to Sky Bet League 2 following the defeat.
Finally, defender Harry Hickford missed Chelsmford City’s 7-1 victory over Tornbridge Angels on Monday through an illness.
Hickford, who made his sixth straight appearance for the Clarets’ in their defeat to Staines Town the previous Saturday, could return this evening when Mark Hawkes’ side host Gosport Borough, knowing if they equal or better Maidenhead United’s result they will secure their Skrill South status for another year.
This week’s fixtures:
Wednesday
Harry Hickford – CHELMSFORD CITY v Gosport Borough (Skrill Conference South)
Saturday
Tom Flanagan – Stevenage v WALSALL (Sky Bet League 1)
Ian McLoughlin – York City v NEWPORT COUNTY (Sky Bet League 2)
Luke Chadwick – Gateshead v CAMBRIDGE UNITED (Skrill Conference Premier)
Harry Hickford – Weston-Super-Mare v CHELMSFORD CITY (Skrill Conference South)
