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Loughborough Sport staged a dramatic comeback on match-night 5 of the AJ Bell National BadmintonLeague to seal a 3-2 win against Birmingham Lions and become the first team tobook their place in the play-offs.

The University of Nottingham Badminton also secured their spot in the play-offs in front of the Sky Sports cameras following a comprehensive 4-1 win over Surrey Smashers to heap more pressure last season's table-toppers.

But the result of the night arguably went to MK Badminton who overcame defending champions away at Team Derby 3-2, the highlight of which was a memorable last-gasp victory for Sophie Sankey and Caroline Westley over the previously unbeaten Gail Emms and Kate Robertshaw.

Loughborough Sport 3-2 Birmingham Lions

LoughboroughSport went into Monday night's fixture just two points ahead of BirminghamLions as both sides looked to move a step closer to securing a top-four finishand with it a spot in the AJ Bell NBL Championship Finals Day at the Barclaycard Arena on May 8.

The Lions raced to a 2-0 lead with wins in the men's doubles and singles but their march was halted by Lauren Smith and Jenny Wallwork, before Chloe Birch won a thriller, coming from 2-0 down against Fontaine Chapman to win 3-2 on the final point in front of the ecstatic purple army in the Sir David Wallace Arena at Loughborough University.

And Loughborough Sport's unbeaten record was maintained by Greg Mairs and Jenny Moore in the mixed who ensured they became the first team to book their place in the 2016 finals.

And the come back from the dead. Fought till the very end. 3-2 win!! 👊🏻👌🏻💪🏻👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/CdFflJ1Y28

“Weare really pleased with the win, especially as we are now through to the FinalsDay,” said Moore. “Welost to Team Derby in the final last year and all of our team are determined togo and take the title this year.

“Towin the match in the last event meant the result meant even more to us. Wehave been dominant throughout the season so far and have won all of our gamesso it has been a really good season.

“Nowwe hope to continue that form all the way into the final.”

BirminghamLions remain in a strong position to finish in the top four though with 11points after captain Toby Penty extended his winning run this season, and Gary Fox and Koen Ridder won the men's doubles. 

Video reaction! A delighted on her dramatic last point victory against pic.twitter.com/oVgEh3GIVP

— AJBELL NBL BADMlNTON (@NBL_official)

University of Nottingham Badminton 4-1 Surrey Smashers

ChrisAdcock's University of Nottingham Badminton side have also secured their play-off place thanks to a 4-1 victory over Surrey Smashers, and the 26-year-oldskipper admitted that when the chips were down, his side had delivered.

Tightvictories for Eric Pang, Yao Jie, and Adcock and Adam Cwalbina sent the hostsinto an unassailable 3-0 lead, and after the Smashers clawed back a pointin the mixed doubles, Jess Pugh and Cheryl Seinen competed the rout in style.

A great performance by the team to take the night 4-1! pic.twitter.com/tSW9PqhzkK

“That'san amazing result for us,” said Adcock. “In every game we really played with ourheart and we fought through some really tough battles.

“To getthe 4-1 victory is huge for us and I am really happy with the team performance,as every point counts in the AJ Bell NBL.

“Wealways knew the doubles was going to be quite pivotal in the fixture. I thinkit gave us momentum going into the last two events but it was a tough one tocome through. Adam andI took a little while to gel with it being our first game together, but afterthat we played really well and got the job done.”

Lots of impressive performances from stars tonight and here's the reaction of pic.twitter.com/xRrhgQiLdN

— AJBELL NBL BADMlNTON (@NBL_official)

GabbyAdcock and Rob Blair got Surrey Smashers a point on the board for the evening as theyused all their experience to oust Adam Hall and Ellen Mahenthiralingam, but skipper Chris Langridge could not hide his frustration with the team's performance as his side is left with an uphill task to qualify for AJ Bell NBL finalsday.

He said: "It's been a disappointing night all round for Surrey, it didn't quite go ourway.“It's thefirst time that we've been able to get the full team out and Nottingham alwaysseem to be our bogey team.

“It'sgoing to be tough to qualify now but we've got Birmingham in the last game andlast year we beat them 4-1 so we'll need another big game then.”

Team Derby 2-3 MK Badminton

Previously winless MK Badminton travelled to the University ofDerby's Sports Centre knowing that they had to score at least two points on thenight to stay in with a chance of making the top four.

Their task was made harder when last minute injuries and illness meant they were unable tofulfill their men's doubles selection and had to forfeit a point – captainAnders Kristiansen stepping up to play two matches to complete the fixture.

And while newly crowned eight-time English National champion RajivOuseph got Team Derby, the University of Derby's AJ Bell NBL franchise, off toa winning start against Scott Sankey, MK Badminton hit back with victories inthe mixed doubles, women's doubles and women's singles to effectively go 3-2ahead on the night, with the point for the final men's doubles match alreadypre-determined.

The latter two wins in the women's doubles and women's singlescame via not only a tie-break but a lucky net cord on both occasions withWestley and Sophie Sankey beating experienced duo Kate Robertshaw and Gail Emmsand Clara Nistad triumphing over AJ Bell NBL debutant Eleanor O'Donnell.

“I think we've shown tonight that even if we're the underdogs, wecan get a few points on the board when it's against us,” said Westley, who alsocelebrated her first ever win in the AJ Bell NBL.

“We got off to a great start winning the first game. It's alwaysgood, especially with everyone keeping making a big thing about how I haven'twon a game yet.

“From then it was right down to the wire. To go to 5-4 isexciting. I love playing when it gets like that, I love a bit of pressure."

One for the stat fans amongst you. Here's all the extra detail that makes up league table pic.twitter.com/4UkfLr4ux1

— AJBELL NBL BADMlNTON (@NBL_official)

Full results: 

University of Nottingham Badminton 4-1 Surrey Smashers

MSEric Pang 3-1 Carl Baxter (4-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-4)

WS YaoJie 3-1 Georgina Bland (9-8, 8-9, 9-8, 9-7)

MD ChrisAdcock/Adam Cwalbina 3-1 Chris Langridge/Tom Wolfenden (8-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-3)

XD AdamHall/Ellen Mahenthiralingam 1-3 Rob Blair/Gabby Adcock (9-8, 5-9, 1-9, 3-9)

WD JessPugh/Cheryl Seinen 3-0 Sophie Brown/Emily Westwood (9-5 9-6 9-3)

Team Derby 2-3 MK Badminton

MS Rajiv Ouseph 3-0 Scott Sankey (9-2, 9-3, 9-3)

XD Ben Stawski/Amanda Hogsrom 1-3 Marie Roepke/ AndersKristiansen (6-9, 9-3, 4-9, 5-9)

WD Kate Robertshaw/Gail Emms 2-3 Sophie Sankey/Caroline Westley(9-5, 5-9, 7-9, 9-4, 4-5)

WS Eleanor O'Donnell 2-3 Clara Nistad (9-8, 5-9, 5-9, 9-5, 2-5)

MD Andy Ellis/Chris Coles 3-0 Sean Vendy/Anders Kristiansen (9-0,9-0, 9-0) *

* Due to MK Badminton being unable to fulfill their selection forthe men's doubles, they automatically forfeited the point before the matchstarted. 

Loughborough Sport 3-2 Birmingham Lions

MDPeter Briggs/Harley Towler 0-3 Gary Fox/Koen Ridder (6-9, 8-9, 8-9)

MSHenri Hurskainen 0-3 Toby Penty (5-9, 5-9, 6-9)

WDLauren Smith/Jenny Wallwork 3-0 Heather Olver & SarahWalker (9-8, 9-5, 9-4)

WSChloe Birch 3-2 Fontaine Chapman (5-9, 2-9, 9-5, 9-3, 5-4)

MDGreg Mairs/Jenny Moore v Nico Ruponen/Alida Chen (9-5, 9-6, 9-6)

Match-night 6 - 21 March :

MK Badminton v Loughborough Sport

University of Nottingham Badminton v Team Derby

Birmingham Lions Surrey Smashers

Tickets for match night 6 are available to purchase here .