The entertaining start to the non-league season continued on Saturday afternoon as the regions big three, Worksop Town, Basford United, and Carlton Town, kicked off their respective campaigns with road wins, four sides progressed in the FA Cup, and there were goals aplenty in the United Counties League, and the opening days of the newly-named, Nottinghamshire Football League.

In the National League North, Worksop Town travelled to the North-East and defeated hosts Darlington, whilst in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Basford snatched a lone-goal victory in Leicestershire, at Barwell, and Carlton Town edged a five-goal game in Cambridgeshire, against St Ives Town.

At Darlington, Craig Parry’s Tigers took an early lead through Kian Harratt’s goal inside the opening ten minutes, the hosts making an enforced change shortly after but couldn’t breach the visiting back line until early in the second period, Max Howells levelling for the Quakers within minutes of the restart.

That lasted less than fifteen minutes though, Lewis Whitham finishing off a counter-attack just after the hour mark, firing home from close-range what proved the winner, and a positive start to the new campaign.

WORKSOP TOWN – Max Dearnley, Deegan Atherton, Rollin Menayese, Andrew Boyce (capt), Vaughan Redford, Aleksandrs Starcenko, Kian Harratt (Ryan Viggars, 56), Oli Greaves, Lewis Whitham (Josh Wilde, 92), Mason O’Malley, Liam Waldock

At Barwell, visitors Basford snatched the points courtesy of Nyle Blake’s goal midway through the second half, whilst Calrton claimed the points at St. Ives courtesy of second half goals, in a 3-2 win, from Ashley Chambers, Jack Thomas, and Niall Davie.

Of those on FA Cup duty it was a case of four through, four out for local sides, AFC Mansfield, Eastwood, Sherwood, and Retford progressing, Retford United, Hucknall Town, Kimberley Miners Welfare, and Newark Town exiting.

Ryan Ingram grabbed the only goal as Mansfield saw off visiting Retford United, and Eastwood’s upturn in form continued thanks to goals from Patrick Webb and Tyler Blake in a 2-1 win at Loughborough Students.

Bernard Nsiah and an own-goal afforded Retford victory in their first-ever FA Cup match, 2-0 at the seaside, against Skegness Town, and Sherwood looked to have kick-started their season with a 3-2 home win over Moulton, Jamie York’s brace being added to by Nathaniel Crofts.

In exiting the competition, alongside Retford United, were Hucknall, going doing 1-0 at Desborough Town, and home losses for both Newark (4-0 to Wellington Town), and Kimberley (5-0 to AFC Rushden & Diamonds).

Clipstone’s hundred percent start to the season continued following their 3-0 home win over Pinxton in UCL Division One, Drew Allwood bagging a brace, whilst Southwell dropped to third on goal difference from Shirebrook after the former were held to an entertaining, 2-2 draw at South Normanton Athletic, and the latter romped to a 4-0 win over visiting West Bridgford Colts, Blaise Duruaku bagging a hat-trick.

Also in the top ten are Dunkirk, Cotgrave, Stapleford Town, and Radford, all four sides picking up points, which included Cotgrave’s 4-1 win over visiting Swallownest, and Stapleford winning 2-0 at home to Dronfield Town.

Selston also picked up a 3-1 win when away to Pinchbeck United, whilst Dunkirk and Gedling Miners Welfare, Radford and Sleaford, and Louth Town with Clifton All Whites, all shared the spoils in their respective games, and Sandiacre Town were beaten 4-0 at Staveley Miners Welfare.

The re-named, Nottinghamshire Football League, kicked off on Friday night with home wins for Premier Division duo, Keyworth United and Rainworth Miners Welfare, against Bingham Town (4-1) and WBC Reserves (3-1) respectively, whilst on Saturday Woodthorpe Park Rangers won 5-2 at Collingham, and Southwell City Reserves won 4-1 at home to Stapleford Town Reserves.

Other Premier Division results saw Arnold Town edged a seven-goal thriller at Awsworth Villa, AC United defeated visiting Wollaton, as did Beeston against Kimberley MW Reserves, whilst Meden Vale Colts, they edged their visitors Newark & Sherwood United, by the odd goal in five.

There were several, high-scoring games further down the league also, with Division One seeing East Leake Robins win 6-3 at AFC Parabellum, Pass Move Grin defeat visitors FC Cavaliers 6-0, and Bilborough TRD win an eight-goal thriller against visiting Collingham Reserves.

Division Two saw Basford United Reserves win 10-1 at home to Ilkeston Town Reserves, and in Division Three Meden Vale Colts Development won 16-0 at home to Pelican, Phoenix Athletic won 10-1 at Notts City Rangers, and The Rossoneri won 7-1 away to Nottingham Greens.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @LewisPickersgi1 celebrations during Worksop’s win at Darlington.