Kimberley Take UCL Division One Title

Congratulations this weekend are afforded to United Counties Division One duo (interviews to come in due course), Kimberley Miners Welfare, and Radford, the former wrapping up the title following a tough, 2-1 home win, over mid-table Harrowby United, the latter confirming a play-off spot after a hard-fought, 2-2 draw, away to Aylestone Park.

At Kimberley, the centurions (106 points and counting) needed just the one point to claim a first championship success in over two decades, taking all three, and avenging one of the few defeats they’d suffered this season, claiming their 34^th victory in doing so.

Aaron Coyle afforded ‘Kimbo’ an interval lead, netting after just seven minutes, with Ryan Wheatley affording some home comfort when heading home the second just after the hour mark; Jack Gurney made for a nervy close, he pulling a goal back for the visitors with eight minutes remaining, but the party was, pretty much, already in full swing.

The starting line-up of Kimberley’s victory parade would be – Danny Rigley, Lewis Partridge, Tom Eccleshall, Jordan Wheatley, Sam Brown. Ryan Wheatley, Sacha Markelic, Michael Pearson, Luis Rose, Aarron Coyle, Nathan Banton.

Kimbo’s fellow Notts side, ‘The Pheasants’ of Radford, were also celebrating, they gaining the point they needed to claim the third play-off spot, doing so away to fellow play-off hopefuls, Aylestone Park.

A battling performance would see Aylestone go a goal up after just five minutes, before adding a second with just twenty minutes on the clock, Beckray Besong with an early brace; Radford though, they regrouped at the break and, on the hour, a handball in the box afforded a way back into the contest, Solace Uyi-Olaye pulling one back from the spot.

The drama didn’t stop, and Radford levelled soon after when Jevin Seaton equalised in what was an end-to-end game; Seaton, he then gave the hosts hope, and the visitors’ palpations into the final ten when seeing red for a second bookable offence, but his side held on to seal their spot in the play-offs.

Radford’s starting eleven would be – Yinka Adebowale, David Adegbola, Conor Moore, David Boafo, Joe McLaughlin, Craig Meakin, Michael Fitzhugh, Gino Kelleher, Kevin Hemagou, Solace Uyi-Olaye, Jevin Seaton

There was successes for both Basford United, 1-0 away to Stafford Rangers, and Worksop Town, winning 2-1 at home to Stockton Town, in the Northern Premier League, the latter would see both sides finish with ten men.

Liam Hearn would net the only goal of the game as Basford claimed three points in the NPL Premier, victory which would boost their survival hopes, whilst in the NPL East, Worksop would see Steve McDonnell and Liam Hardy (penalty) register for the hosts, Dale Mulligan pulling a goal back for Stockton; the two red card, they’d be shown to substitute Nathan Valentine (Worksop) and visiting ‘keeper, Callum Roberts (Stockton).

There would also be success for Carlton Town, in the NPL Midlands Division, edging a five-goal thriller when away to Cambridge City; Tyler Blake would score twice for Carlton, Aaron O’Connor also registering as they kept themselves within touching distance of the play-offs.

Back to the United Counties League, and in the Premier Division, Eastwood CFC were well-beaten, 4-1, when away to Anstey Nomads, Joe Harrison with the consolation, Newark fell to a 3-0 defeat at home to Pinchbeck United, whilst Selston were heavily beaten, 6-0, at Melton Town.

Eastwood, Newark, and Selston make up three of the divisions’ bottom five sides, Pinchbeck, and Holbeach United the bottom two, the latter of whom are very much adrift.

In Division One there would be mixed fortunes for the remaining, Nottinghamshire sides, the other play-off hopeful, Hucknall Town, enjoying a comfortable, 5-0 home win, over Birstall United as Jamie Crawford scored twice alongside efforts from Craig Westcarr, Matt Brian and Joe Butler.

Hucknall’s starting eleven for the win over Birstall was – Keaton Sharpe, Courtney Bartley, Ollie Brown, Sam Sims, Aaron Short, Lenford Jenkins, Jamie Crawford, Michael Bannister, Craig Westcarr, Grant Ryan, Joe Ashurst

Courtney Hastings scored the only goal of the game as Gedling Miners Welfare defeated visitors Blackstones 1-0, and West Bridgford earned a point away to Graham Street Prims, Jack Havron and Lee Stevenson netting in a 2-2 draw.

The two, remaining sides in the UCL Division One, both suffered defeat, Dunkirk crashing to a 5-0 defeat away to second place Hinckley, for whom Charlie Evans scored a hat-trick, and Clifton All Whites fell 3-1 at home to Saffron Dynamo.

Ollerton Town welcomed Hall Road Rangers in the Northern Counties Eastern League Division One, a see-saw game which saw Jacques Etia net twice for the hosts, Joe Turner and Sam Geeves also scoring, whilst further, mixed fortunes, was witnessed in the Central Midlands League.

Newark Town regained top spot with a 3-1 win away to Dearne & District, captain and striker, Lewis Chambers, netting a brace (to move onto 44 for the season), including one from the spot, Chanju Mphande with the other.

Meanwhile, Retford United dropped points when away to Sutton Rovers, they coming back twice to earn a point; leading through an early, own-goal, Retford’s top scorer Mark West (his 43^rd of the season) would also find the net as they look to keep pace at the top in the closing games of the season.

That title race, in the CML Premier North, sees Newark top the table, two points ahead of the joint-second placed trio of Retford United, Clay Cross Town, and Club Thorne Colliery, Clay Cross having beaten Club Thorne 1-0 to keep the tightness in the run-in.