The Doncaster Mustangs won the Division 1A North Conference with a 28-19 victory over the Staffordshire Surge at Castle Park.

Running back Scott Goddard scored three touchdowns to ensure that the Stangs secured back-to-back promotions and will now play in the top flight of British American Football, the elite eight team Division One in 2006.

After stopping the visitors on their opening drive, the Stangs made good progress before a fumble deep inside the Staffs half.

But Donny soon took the lead when Goddard scampered nearly 80 yards to the end zone with Dave Oakley adding the extras for a 7-0 home lead

Staffs have won four in a row and took advantage of having the wind in their favour early in the second quarter as veteran quarterback Richard Large found a receiver in the end zone to reduce the deficit to 7-6 after the extra point was missed.

But the Stangs hit back as Goddard raced for his second long touchdown and then cornerback Mike Jenkins picked off Large and raced 79 yards to give the Mustangs a 20-6 lead at half-time.

However Staffordshire, again aided by the wind in the third quarter, hit back with Lee Tretheway scoring with a close-range run and then Large hitting a receiver on a slant pattern to reduce the arrears to 20-19.

The visitors successfully made the two-point conversion but it was called back on a penalty and their second attempt failed, leaving the home side with the most slender of advantages entering the final quarter.

It was a nervy final period and after the Surge's Steve Ward had missed a field goal that would have taken the visitors ahead, Goddard wrapped up proceedings with his third long range scamper of the afternoon.

Doncaster will now meet the winner of the game between the southern runner-up and the northern third place team which at this stage looks likely to be a Bristol-Nottingham match-up on September 11 for the right to play in the Division 1A final scheduled for a 7pm kick-off on Saturday September 24 at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield.

Before that the Mustangs visit the team they will replace in Division One next season, local rivals the Yorkshire Rams at the Tetley's Stadium in Dewsbury on August 28.