Jonté Smith and his Kemi Kings team-mates won the Kakkonen North League title with a game to spare in Finland at the weekend.

Kings recorded a 1-0 home victory against third-placed Kajaani that was enough to retain their status as league champions and secure a place in the promotion play-offs.

A 67th minute strike from midfielder Tuomas Tyystala handed Kings the win.

“It feels fantastic, this is my first league title as a professional footballer,” said Smith.

“But our hard work doesn’t end yet because the play-offs are starting soon.”

Smith said that the scoreline flattered Kajaani.

“We dominated the game against Kajaani,” he said. “We created a lot more chances and the scoreline didn’t do us justice. But the most important thing was that we won the game and won the league.”

Smith and his team-mates now await their opponents for the two-legged promotion play-offs that will be determined by a draw including the winners of the Kakkonen South, West and East Leagues.

Kings came up short in their push for promotion last season after losing 2-0 to HIFK in the play-offs.

But Smith is optimistic that the Kings can clear the final hurdle this time around.

“We are confident of getting promoted,” Smith said. “But I’m sure if you asked the other three teams that have won their respective leagues they’d say the same thing.

“Everything we’ve done this season comes down to these two games.”

Kings, who are unbeaten in their past eleven outings, finish their regular season away to YPA on Saturday.

Smith is the league’s leading scorer with 22 goals, including hat-tricks against Gamlakarleby Bollklubb, Jakobstads Bollklubb and PK-37.

He initially joined Kings on loan from Crawley Town, of Sky Bet League One, before signing a deal that will keep him in Finland until the end of the season.