A handful of games into the new season and Carlton Town are the early pace-setters of the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, with maximum points from their three outings; fellow Notts club, Basford United are sitting joint-third and are unbeaten in their three games.

Travelling to local rivals, Leicestershire-based Loughborough Students, on Tuesday night, Tommy Brookbanks’ Millers eased to a comfortable, 3-0 win, and in doing so inflicted a third defeat in four on their hosts.

Dean Freeman opened the scoring fifteen minutes into the contest, the scoreline staying that way until after the hour mark when Ashley Chambers doubled the hosts’ advantage; the killer third came from captain Niall Davie with one of those cross-cum-shot efforts, from out on the touchline, and ending up in the net.

Carlton Town – Felix Annan, Shea Thompson-Harris, Niall Davie (capt), Daniel Brown, Dean Freeman, Ewan Robson, Liam Moran, Khyle Sargent, Ashley Chambers, Oliver Clark, Niall Hylton (Greg Tempest, Alex Howes, Kieren Watson, Lewis Durow, Alexander Troke)

Sitting in joint-third, level with Coventry Sphinx on seven points (two behind leaders Carlton) is Basford United, Willis Francis’ Ambers picking up a hard-fought, 2-1 win at home to Anstey Nomads.

The hosts even finished with ten-men on the field following the dismissal of defender Cormac Maher on the stroke of half-time, whilst coach Mark Clarke also saw red, the Ambers though were two goals to the good by this point.

Jordan Hallam opened the scoring on 37 minutes when curling home a lovely effort and, just three minutes later, that lead was doubled, Kieran Cummings getting on the scoresheet with Hallam turning provider and Cummings, having cut inside, fired home the decisive second.

Maher saw red in first-half stoppage time for a late tackle, and home coach, Mark Clarke, also saw red as the half finished with late drama.

A quieter second half was punctuated late on when visiting substitute, Josh Burniston, pulled one back in the sixth minute of added time, however, it was a case of too little, too late, the Ambers keeping the points in Nottinghamshire.

Basford United – Matthew Yates, Cormac Maher, David Chapman, Connor Dimaio, Ethan Stewart, Henri Wilder (capt), Eli Christie, Callum Cocks, Jack Goodman, Jordan Hallam, Kieran Cummings (Lynden Joyce, Louis Nicholson, Finlay Armond, Wayde Hines, Saul Deeney)

Worksop Town meanwhile have had a stuttering start to life in the National League North following a second defeat in three on Tuesday night.

Away to Radcliffe Borough, Craig Parry’s Tigers fell to a 2-1 defeat despite an interval lead following a penalty from Liam Hughes just before the half hour mark, sending the home ‘keeper the wrong way after he was fouled in the box.

The hosts levelled proceedings with thirteen remaining when David Ball netted, and the winner arrived at the death when Olly Thornley prodded the ball past Tommy Taylor in the Tigers goal.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Basfordutdfc action from Basford’s win over Anstey Nomads.