The first midweek action of the 2025/26 season has taken place this week, in the GCE Hire Fleet United Counties League, with plenty of action involving all Notts-based clubs, with Newark Town taking the early leadership in the Premier North, and Gedling Miners Welfare heading up Division One.

Newark, who won 5-3 away to Skegness Town on Sunday lunchtime, followed up with another, resounding victory, this time a 4-0 home defeat of AFC Mansfield, on Wednesday night.

Two goals in each half gave them the three points, Matteo Perkins taking his early season tally to three, with a brace inside the opening, twenty minutes; that was added to shortly after the hour mark when Louis Czerwak added their third, and, with a little over fifteen remaining, David Kolodynski wrapped up the win with his third in two games.

NEWARK TOWN – Scott Loach, Martin Tudosa, George Robbins, Joe Braithwaite, Alex Hales (capt), Matty Clarke, Charles Opoku, Brad McGregor, David Kolodynski, Matteo Perkins, Louis Czerwak (subs – Sam Bartle, Sam Greenwood, Josh Randall, Louis Nesbitt, Harvey Grice)

On Tuesday night both Hucknall Town and Eastwood CFC picked up big wins on the road, the former winning 4-1 at Belper United, and the latter 3-1 at Ashby Ivanhoe, both with different scorers.

Hucknall led 3-1 at the break in their tie, Joseph Ashurst and Bradley Wells with early goals, Niall Towle on the stroke of half-time, with Louis Parkes adding a late fourth, meanwhile Eastwood saw Terry Hawkridge net in the first half before second half efforts from Phillip Watt and Jermain Hollis wrapped up the points.

In the other, Tuesday night game, Sherwood Colliery and Clay Cross Town cancelled each other out in a goalless draw, whilst on Wednesday, alongside Newark’s table-topping win, Newark & Sherwood edged hosts Heanor Town 2-1, Luke White with a brace, and Kimberley Miners Welfare were held toa 2-2 draw by visiting Grantham Town, Finn Ryder with a second, successive brace, the visitors equalising at the death to steal a point.

Division One leaders, Gedling MW, followed up their opening day win with a second clean sheet, a 2-0 win away to Clipstone on Wednesday, Joel Stevens netting late in the first, and a Courtney Hastings penalty early in the second, proving decisive.

Both Retford sides picked up wins, the Choughs edging a seven-goal thriller at home to Dronfield Town (Tuesday) and the Badgers 4-1 at Swallownest (Wednesday), along with plenty of goals elsewhere in the division.

Clifton All Whites saw off visitors Holwell Sports 3-2, Radford won 2-0 at home to Sandiacre Town, and Stapleford Town won 2-1 at Coalville Town on Tuesday, whilst Dunkirk won 2-1 at Southwell City on Wednesday in a game which saw all three goals come inside the final thirty minutes.

Remaining games would see Rainworth Miners Welfare beaten 2-1 at home off Sleaford Town, and Shirebrook Town were beaten 3-1 at home off South Normanton Athletic.

This coming Saturday (2 August) will see the following fixtures (Notts-based clubs)

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Blackstones vs. AFC Mansfield; Boston Town vs. Kimberley Miners Welfare; Eastwood CFC vs. Gresley Rovers; GNG Oadby Town vs. Newark & Sherwood United; Grantham Town vs. Newark Town; Hucknall Town vs. Yaxley; Sherwood Colliery vs. Bugbrooke St. Michaels

Division One

Clifton All Whites vs. Shirebrook Town; Coalville Town vs. Retford United; Dunkirk vs. Clipstone; Pinchbeck United vs. Radford; Rainworth Miners Welfare vs. Stapleford Town; Retford vs. FCV Grace Dieu; Sandiacre Town vs. Sleaford Town; South Normanton Athletic vs. West Bridgford; Staveley Miners Welfare vs. Gedling Miners Welfare; Swallownest vs. Southwell City

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @EastwoodCFCV2 action during a 3-1 win for Eastwood at Ashby Ivanhoe.