Kimberley Shoot Newark Out Of Vase

It was Isuzu FA Vase day in Nottinghamshire on Saturday afternoon as six of the counties side progressed into the Second Round Proper of this season’s competition, amongst them, a barnstormer of a game between Newark Town and Kimberley Miners Welfare.

Two of the top four sides in the United Counties Premier Division North collided at the YMCA Activity Village, the fourth place Blues, welcoming third place Kimbo, for a game that saw ten goals, a red card, and a penalty shoot-out.

The visitors took the lead inside the opening five minutes after a penalty was awarded, and subsequently netted by Kole Lambert, before the hosts spun the game on its head with a quick-fire double ten minutes later.

First Matteo Perkins equalised, the, two minutes later, Joe Braithwaite heads home a corner from Brad McGregor; five minutes after taking the lead and the hosts found themselves 3-1 ahead when another corner is met by Braithwaite to fire home his second of the game.

With the hosts now in dreamland, their hopes of progression increased ten minutes before the break, stretching their advantage to three following Ryan Rushen’s goal; Lambert though notched his, and Kimbo’s second of the game, shortly before the break after a mis-kicked clearance put him through.

Half-time, 4-2 to the hosts, Newark Town.

The contest quickly turned on its head early in the second half when Lambert completed his hat-trick within minutes of the restart, then, with 55mins gone, home shot-stopper, Scott Loach is red-carder for a handball outside the box after a poor back pass – the hosts down to ten men, leading 4-3.

As the game headed towards for the final ten minutes the visitors found an equaliser, Josh Timson netting with thirteen remaining, before Rushen gave the hosts the lead again pretty much straight from kick-off, then, in the sixth minute of added time, Sacha Markelic was on-hand to equalise again for Kimbo; 5-5 and the game goes to penalties.

Both sides netted their first five spot-kicks apiece, making the shoot-out the same as the game itself finished, 5-5, and so to sudden death; Luke Anderson nets a second from the spot for the hosts, Jordan Wheatley buries his for Kibo, before substitute Adrian Bilicz misses, Wheatley stepping up and doing the captains job, sending his side into the next round, 7-6 on penalties.

NEWARK TOWN – Scott Loach, Martin Tudosa, Brad McGregor, Joe Braithwaite (capt), Luke Anderson, Matty Clarke, Charles Opoku, Harvey Grice, Ryan Rushen, Matteo Perkins, Louis Czerwak (subs – Sam Greenwood, Ritchie Inghan, Adrian Bilicz, Alex Hales, Louis Nesbitt)

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELAFRE – Thomas Smith, Jordan Wheatley (capt), Daniel Tuck, Tom Hilton, Oliver Ball, Max Thornberry, Sacha Markelic, Nathaniel Peters, Finley Ryder, Joshua Timson, Kole Lambert (subs – Lewis Partridge, Hanif Alassani, Zak Sandhu, Paul Johnson, Raphael Garrett)

Elsewhere in the Vase there was progression for Sherwood Colliery (3-0 at Easington Sports), Retford United (4-0 at Melton Town), Sandiacre Town (2-1 at home to Stone Old Alleyians), Radford (2-1 against visitors Droitwich Spa) and Eastwood CFC (3-2 at Irchester United).

The two other, Notts-based clubs in Vase action, and exiting the competition, were Newark & Sherwood United (1-0 at home to Grantham Town), and Clifton All Whites (on penalties against Desborough Town following a 1-1 draw).

There was also plenty of action in the league on Saturday afternoon, although Worksop Town suffered a narrow, 2-1 loss, when home to Marine, in the National League North; meanwhile, both Basford United and Carlton Town registered big wins on the road in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands.

Ethan Stewart, Jordy Hallam, Kieran Cummings, and Jack Goodwin all netted for Basford as they won 4-1 at Boldmere St. Michaels, whilst there was a brace from Ashley Chambers, and an own-goal, in Calton’s 3-1 win at Bedworth Town.

A handful of league games were also played in the United Counties League as Hucknall Town and AFC Mansfield both registered home wins in the Premier North, the former winning 2-1 at home to Deeping Rangers, the latter 2-0 against visiting Heanor Town.

In the UCL Division One, leaders Retford went on a goal-spree when hitting hosts Rainworth Miners Welfare for nine without reply, Iren Wilson firing a four-goal salvo alongside Liam Bennett’s brace, and a goal apiece for Nico Digirolamo, Rory Coleman, and Scott Boden.

Aaron Lamb was on-target twice as Stapleford Town won 5-0 ay Dronfield Town, Lemar Carlin scored two in Clipstone’s 3-2 win at Pinchbeck United, as did Byron Adiado as Southwell City won 3-0 at Shirebrook Town.

Rio Murray scored twice in Dunkirk’s 2-1 home win over West Bridgford, whilst Gedling Miners Welfare fell to a 4-0 defeat at home to FCV Grace Dieu, for whom Suleiman Nassor scored twice.

A handful of games were played in the Central Midlands Alliance, Blidworth Welfare taking the plaudits following an 8-0 home win over Mansfield Hosiery Mills on Friday night, Harry Eastgate with five, Triston Burrell two, and Colby Porter the other.

RHP Sports and Ollerton Town played out a goalless draw, whilst there were 2-0 home losses for Teversal (against Kinsley Boys), and Linby Colliery Welfare (to Mickleover Athletic).

As for the Notts Senior League Premier Division, leaders Cotgrave saw their game away to Beeston abandoned following an injuring to Mark Green (Cotgrave) just after hour mark, whilst Kimberley’s Reserves missed the chance to go second, falling to a 2-1 defeat away to West Bridgford Reserves.

There wasn’t much luck for Awsworth Villa or Collingham either, the former losing 4-1 to visitors Keyworth United for whom Dan Chadwick scored twice, and the latter on the end of a 5-0 loss at Woodthorpe Park Rangers where Kieran Wheat notched a hat-trick.

Bingham Town and Aslockton & Orston played out a 2-2 draw whilst Wollaton top-scored in their 6-0 home win over FC Cavaliers, Reece Campbell with two; the additional game was in the NSL Senior Cup, Southwell City Reserves winning 3-1 at Ruddington Village.