PETERBOROUGH Sports have passed their ground grading, so will remain in National League North next season.

Four teams went down from the division, Kettering Town, Leamington, Bradford (Park Avenue) and AFC Telford United.

But as Avenue director Paul Armitage mentioned in an address on the club's website, the side who were fourth-bottom had a chance of staying up.

That was because Sports' ground was not of the capacity required to stage sixth-tier football.

They had been given until the end of March to bring it up to scratch and within the league's regulations but perhaps fortunately had that deadline extended.

At the season's end, it was Kettering who were waiting for news on Sports' fate, as they finished fourth-bottom on 49 points.

That would have been Avenue's position if they had beaten AFC Fylde on the final day, but a 2-0 defeat condemned them to finish second-bottom.

So while the Horsfall outfit have known for nearly three weeks that they would be playing Northern Premier League Premier Division football next season, Kettering were still hopeful of surviving the drop into the seventh tier.

But that reprieve has now gone, with Sports chairman Tim Woodward confirming the club had passed the FA's ground upgrade inspection.

They will continue to work on their stadium next season, in order to be eligible for a play-off place and a possible promotion to the National League going forward.

Speaking of promotion to the National League, champions Fylde have been joined in the fifth-tier next year by Kidderminster Harriers.

Kiddy only finished sixth in the regular season, making their play-off route tricky.

But after winning 1-0 at Alfreton Town in the quarter-finals, they travelled to  second-placed King's Lynn Town and thumped them 4-1.

That put them into the final at fourth-placed Brackley Town.

But the hosts came up short in the showpiece, Kidderminster winning 2-0 to secure promotion.

Ashley Hemmings was the hero of the hour, netting both goals in the final.