The Brinkley Centenary Sports Ground would see new, Euro Soccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division leaders, Southwell City, extend their unbeaten run to an impressive eighteen in all competitions, and with thirteen straight wins (including a walkover victory over Bilborough) in their last dozen outings, a club record is now in sight.
The latest victim for the Brinkley-based outfit, mid-table Ravenshead, succumbed to a 3-1 loss, and that was after the visitors led at the interval, through Ryan Falcounbridge; however, second half efforts from Ben Selby, Calum Law, and Matthew Newton, ensured all three points stayed with the hosts.
Victory for Southwell means they move three clear of joint-second Keyworth United and Sandiacre Town, the former defeating the latter 1-0 on Saturday afternoon; Southwell also have two games in hand on them – their last defeat came back in early September, away to AFC Dunkirk.
Southwell’s starting line-up for the game was – Ryan Fletcher, Callum Leach, Bradley Peace-McDonald, Samuel Johnson (Fenn Radford), Taylor Jaine, Christopher Bowles, Oliver Clarke (Samuel Robinson), William Stocks, Calum Law, Mathew Newton, Ben Selby (Fraser Bricknell).
Woodthorpe, in fourth, and with games in hand themselves, fell to a 2-1 loss when home to visiting Stapleford Town, themselves in fifth, and sixth Ilkeston lost 4-2 on the road at lowly Attenborough, for whom George Chetwynd grabbed a brace – there’s just nine points splitting that top six as we head into the business end of the season.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division a pair of braces from Taylor Gardner and Sam McElroy, helped FC Sez to a comfortable, 5-0 win away to FC Cavaliers. Jack Robb scored both of Cotgrave’s goals as they won 2-1 at Aslockton & Orston, and Wollaton won by the same score when home to Dunkirk.
Two goals from substitute Michael Moussa helped Division One leaders, Radcliffe Olympic, see off hosts Hucknall Town Reserves 4-1 as they lead West Bridgford by one, they also winning, narrowly, away to Gedling Southbank, Lewis Heron with the only goal of the game, Radcliffe though have a game in hand, and Gedling, they’re now ten adrift of the top two.
Top Valley, in fourth, are fourteen behind the leaders, bu have the advantage of games in hand whilst other games in the division would see Ruddington Village hit visitors Calverton Miners Welfare for seven without reply, and Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves won 5-1 at home to Beeston OBA.
Radford Reserves edged a five-goal game when hosting Kirton Brickworks, whilst Pythian and Meden Vale Colts shared four, Luke Walters with a brace for the hosts, replies coming via Brandon Darke and Nick Westerman.
With Shirebrook Soldiers on Intermediate Cup duty, and winning, Nottingham Community closed the gap on Division Two North leaders, Bestwood Colliery, to a point, after they enjoyed a ten-goal game with visitors Blidworth Welfare Red, the hosts winning 7-3, meanwhile Shirebrook saw off visiting FC Geordie 4-2 with braces from Ben Charlesworth and Kieran Darby.
FC Mansfield, in fourth place, secured a 3-1 win away to Rushcliffe to keep themselves in shouting distance of the top three and, although ten off top spot, they do have a couple of games in hand, Ryan Dakin bagged a brace in their win.
Meanwhile, the top end of Division Two South was a quiet as can be, East Leake Robins, now ten games unbeaten, were held to a goalless draw away to mid-table Cotgrave Reserves, and second place Bingham Town Reserves, they fell to a 1-0 defeat when home to sixth place AC United, Courtney Valentine with the only goal of the game.
Mid-table Colsterworth Sports & Social racked up double figures in their home outing against Pass Move Grin Reserves, Sam Scothern with four and Luke Abel three in the 10-0 rout.
The NSL Foundation Division is currently headed by Carlton Town Lions, who lead AFC Bull Farm by five, the latter winning 3-2 away to AFC Rufford on Saturday, Craig Taylor registering two, and South Notts third, with a game in hand,
They romped to an eleven goal success when away to Phoenix Inham Reserves, Rugerro Osei scoring four in the 11-0 win whilst there was hat-tricks for Luke Tinkler and Remel White, the visitors six to the good at the break.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @JimBethell Southwell celebrate in victory over Ravenshead.
