The 1-1 draw against Coalville secured promotion from East Midlands Premier Division at the first time of asking having suffered the agony of relegation from the Midlands level last season.

They will be just two steps from the National Leagues and as such can lay claim to performing at the highest level of all the Melton sports clubs.

The team were in the doldrums last season with three different captains summing up how unsettled the club was on and off the pitch.

But this season, inspired by player coach Danny Willcock and captain Richard Randall, the Firsts found renewed stability and appetite.

Victory in the final league game at Barton on Saturday will see them crowned champions and complete all of their aims.

Willcock explained: "The club has had a bad couple of years both on and off the pitch so it was important for us to get back on our feet. Not just in terms of promotion, but also be bringing stability into the side.

"At the start of the season we had three main goals, to get everyone enjoying hockey again, to earn promotion and to win the league.

"We are back in a division where we really should be."

Randall stepped in at the tail end of a difficult season last year, but is now relishing life at the other end of the scale: "It will be a tough challenge, but a couple more additions to the squad and I think we will be capable of at least staying up and maybe a top half finish.

"Last year was very disappointing. We had three captains and there was a lot of upset in the camp.

"But this year we all wanted the same things and that made life a lot easier."