There were mixed fortunes for Basford United and Carlton Town on the road on Saturday afternoon, the former falling to a 4-1 reverse at Racing Club Warwick, the latter winning 3-1 at Boldmere St Michaels, in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands.

Both sides are still in the mix in the top ten, with the win for the Millers seeing them close to within a place and a point of the Ambers, and with two games in hand as their hosts, Boldmere, netted via Freddie Cockerell in the twentieth minute, the Millers scoring either side.

Niall Davie had already opened the scoring for Tommy Brookbanks’ side, he netting after sixteen minutes, and, following the equaliser in the twentieth, the visitors restored their advantage nine minutes later when Kieren Watson scored.

Victory was sealed for the Millers just after the hour mark when Niall Hylton found the back of Jonathan Brown’s goal to bring the three points back to Nottinghamshire, and keep them within touching distance of the top three – six points off with games in hand there also.

Meanwhile Basford boss, Willie Francis, saw his side miss out on the chance to move into top five when they feel to a heavy defeat at lowly Racing Club Warwick, who netted through Kyle Barnett, James Hancocks, Callum Coyle, and Cameron Ebbutt, Jack Goodman’s consolation arriving when four goals down.

Boston Town are ahead of Kimberley Miners Welfare, on goal difference, atop of the United Counties League Premier North following Saturday’s round of matches, Boston winning 3-1 at home to Melton Town, and Kimberley seeing off visitors Newark Town, 2-0, whilst Sherwood Colliery leapfrogged Newark into third place after they won 1-0 at home to Wisbech Town as just three points separate the top five sides.

Finn Ryder moved into double figures for the season alongside Raphael Garnett’s goal, both in the second half, as Kimbo claimed another three points, whilst at Sherwood, they snatched the points with a 92-minute penalty from Craig Westcarr.

As for the other Notts-based clubs in the Premier North, Hucknall Town are just outside the playoff places following their 2-0 win away to local rivals Eastwood CFC, Solace Uyi-Olaye and Jospeh Ashurst both netting in the second half, whilst there were defeats for both AFC Mansfield (2-1 away to Blackstones) and Newark & Sherwood United (1-0 at home to Gresley Rovers).

Retford boast a five-point advantage atop of Division One, but have played two games more than their rivals, and neighbours, Retford United, following a 1-2 win at Clifton All Whites on Saturday (United were inactive).

Last season’s Notts Senior League champions, FCV Grace Dieu, are up to third place when they won 3-0 away to Southwell City, with the next best Notts clubs being Sandiacre Town (6) and Stapleford Town (8), the former having been held to a goalless draw at home to Staveley Miners Welfare, the latter edging visiting Clipstone 1-0.

In the bottom half of the table Gedling Miners Welfare lost 2-1 at home to Dronfield Town, and Radford were held to a 1-1 draw away to Shirebrook Town, whilst Dunkirk and West Bridgford both registered four apiece in their respective victories.

Dunkirk won 4-0 away to Rainworth Miners Welfare to move into fourteenth place, and West Bridgford beat visitors Swallownest 4-2 to move into eighteenth place; Stern Irvine, William Gillies and Isaac Morledge netted first half goals as the former eased to victory, Darragh Walsh netting a late fourth, whilst David Kolodynski netted in each half for the latter, he being joined on the scoresheet by Lamin Jassey and Ulus Hussein.

The Central Midlands Alliance was about the League Challenge Cup with just the two local sides progressing; Ollerton Town won 1-0 at home to Glapwell on Friday, Elliott Nunn’s penalty proving sufficient, and RHP Sports edged fellow Notts club, Teversal, 3-2 on Saturday, Sebastian Headley’s brace helping them over the line.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills were thrashed 6-1 at home to Bakewell Town, and Blidworth Welfare were edged 3-2 at Borrowash Victoria, the remaining three sides all losing 2-1 as Worksop Town Reserves lost at AFC Bentley, Selston were beaten at Cromford & Wirksworth, and Woodhouse Colts were edged courtesy of a stoppage time goal at home to Dinnington Town.

Meanwhile, in the Nottinghamshire Senior League, a handful of Premier Division games alongside Senior Cup ties, were played, Collingham winning 5-0 at Notts Olympic and the game between Kimberley MW Reserves and Southwell Reserves finishing 2-2 in the league, whilst in the cup there was progression for Awsworth, 2-0 at West Bridgford Reserves on Friday, and for Ruddington Village, on penalties at home on the Saturday following a goalless draw with Arnold Town.

The other cup ties all saw away wins as Keyworth United won 3-1 at Bingham Town, Cotgrave won 6-1 at FC Cavaliers, and Woodthorpe Park Rangers edged a 1-0 win at Wollaton.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @j3ffyb action from Carlton Town’s win at Boldmere.