NSL Roundup: Ilkeston Go Top

After the Friday night delight, where FC Sez and Linby Colliery Welfare produced seven goals at Eastwood, the two games played the following day in the NSL Premier Division producing another nine goals, the two away sides then, also collecting victories to kick off the weekend in style.

Ilkeston FCB would take over leadership of the Euro Soccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division on the Saturday afternoon following a routine, 3-0 away to Dunkirk, goals coming from Kieran Cummings, Mitchell Tait, and Lamin Manneh scoring.

The border clubs’ success would see them move a point clear of Sandiacre, and still boast three games in hand; Sandiacre saw the only other Premier Division game on Saturday when they won 5-1 at Cotgrave, Adam Gillett smashing a four-goal salvo for the victors to keep them in the title hunt.

As for that fixture, under the Friday night lights, visitors Linby CW, of the Central Midlands League, played five, seventeen-year-olds, winning 4-3 courtesy of a goal four minutes from time by Caden McGrath.

Leading 3-2 at the interval, neither side were ever, really out of the game, the visitors progressing with goals from Ewan Gibson, Josh Wass, and Danny Tring, prior to McGrath’s winner; their Notts Senior League hosts replying through Liam Honeyman, Asher Phytian, and second half substitute, Ryan Krause.

In the NSL Division One, the two games played would see Southwell City Reserves win 6-1 away to Pythian, whilst second place Gedling Southbank missed the chance to narrow the gap on leaders Radcliffe Olympic after they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Radford Reserves.

The two games played in Division One North, between AFC Cresswell and Arnold Town Reserves, and Phoenix Inham and Ravenshead Reds, both finished in draws, 3-3 and 1-1 respectively, whilst in the South, Bingham Town Reserves claimed a 4-1 win away to Pass Move Grin Reserves, two of their goals coming from James Keen, and East Leake Robins maintained their title charge with a 3-1 win on the road to Aslockton & Orston Reserves.

There would also be a plethora of matches played in that of Nottinghamshire Senior Trophy, in which there was some serious mismatches resulting in that of big wins/heavy defeats, Collingham romping to a 17-0 home win over Phoenix Inham Reserves, whilst Woodthorpe Park Rangers, FC Cavaliers and Basford United Development both scored nine, Newark Town, Hucknall Town Reserves and Ruddington Village with eight.

Individual performances would see Matthew Antcliff claim a four-goal haul as Awsworth Villa recorded a 7-0 win away to Beeston Development, further goals there coming from Tristan Comery, Sam Mellor, and substitute Travis Comery.

There was also a hat-trick for Alexander Goodall as he registered in Hucknall Reserves’ win over Education FC, whilst a handful of games also went to penalties.

A mammoth shoot-out was on show at Carlton Town Lions, the losing to visiting FC Geordie 11-10 from the spot following a 2-2 draw in a game which saw a good set of cards also brandished, whilst the goals came from Joshua Brown and Aaron Sisson (Lions) and Dom Lynas and Mason Bramwell (Geordie).

West Bridgford Reserves also progressed on penalties, they winning 4-2 when at Burton Joyce Senior Blue; both those contests in sharp contrast to the between Nottingham Community, and Keyworth United Reserves.

Six goals were shared at the Community Football Club with Kain Bell, Jayden Wilkes and Nathan Williams netting for the hosts, whilst the visitors would see Harrison Machin bag a brace, and Joshua Till the other, before winning the shoot-out 2-0.