On a day in which the weather would claim more victories than anyone else, just a handful of clubs across Nottinghamshire, right the way down the pyramid, saw games go ahead.
League games including that of Basford United, Worksop Town, Carlton Town, as well as Retford United in the Notts FA Trophy, all succumbed to the relentless weather conditions, as was the same across the country.
Of those, few games, that did go ahead, beginning in the Trophy, Newark Town romped to a 6-1 success when home to Sherwood Colliery Reserves, Ainsley Finney bagging a second successive hat-trick, this time though going one better as well, claiming a four-goal salvo, whilst Lewis Chambers and substitute Mason Rhiney also registered, the hosts bagging three in each half.
Finney’s scoring exploits, this being a second successive hat-trick, would see him follow up his treble in the 6-0 rout of Askern Miners Welfare the previous week; victory here will see them oppose either Radcliffe Olympic or Basford United U21s in the quarter-finals.
Newark Town – Harry Haywood, Max Jemson, James Gardner, Ben Newman (Mason Rhiney), Rhys Lewis, Abdul-Raheem Sunmonu, Jonny Wiles, Kosi Nwobi (Niall Parsons), Lewis Chambers, Ainsley Finney (Ben Sharpe), Chanju Mphande
Of the small smattering of league games that went ahead, including in the Nottinghamshire Senior League; there was to be mixed fortunes all round as Eastwood CFC fell to a 2-0 defeat away to a Long Eaton United side who stretched their unbeaten run in the United Counties Premier, to an impressive 25 matches, Michael Robinson heading home in the first, whilst Jamie Walker put away a penalty in the second.
Meanwhile, third bottom Selston fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Gresley Rovers, and a different story was seen in Division One as second place Kimberley Miners Welfare (stretching their unbeaten run to eleven) enjoyed a goal spree when home to Holwell Sports, Sacha Markelic and Luis Rose both bagging braces in what was a 7-1 victory at home, and Radford, themselves in fourth, endured a horror show when home to Harrowby United, Jevin Seaton and stand-in captain, Joe Meakin, netting in what was a 5-2 loss.
Sherwood Colliery grabbed three points when on the road at Handsworth in the Northern Counties Premier, captain Jobe Shaw opening the scoring, Will Norcross restoring parity for an interval lead, and substitute Lewis Weaver wrapped up the points with a late third; victory for them sees a still comfortable gap in fourth place.
Sherwood Colliery – Josh Turton, Jack Dando, Jobe Shaw, Charlie Taylor, Ewan Robson, Jamie York, Will Norcross, Brad Newby (Lewis Weaver), Gareth Curtis (Eden Homer), Robson Doohan, Tom Gregory (Brad Lathall)
Meanwhile, over in the Euro Soccer Notts Senior League, clubs that did play were on league and cup duty, with Stapleford Town edging a seven-goal thriller away to FC Sez in the NSL Senior Cup.
Just the one goal separated the two sides at the break, the visitors leading ahead of a goal-deluge second period where, overall, the hosts netted through Taylor Gardner, Kyle Pemberton and Asher Phythian, the visitors going through thanks to a brace from Junior Rodrigues, and one apiece from Reece Campbell and Lewis Robinson.
Of the league games to beat the weather, Keyworth United romped to a 7-2 home win over Ravenshead, as Ryan Smith grabbed five, and Cotgrave won 3-0 away to FC Cavaliers, goals coming from Ryan Plummer, Lee Potts, and Jack Robb.
With their first team hitting seven, the reserves of Kimberley MW also went nap in Division One, hitting six without reply away to Calverton Miners Welfare, Jake Brooks with a brace, he striking early in each half.
Lower down the pyramid also saw a plethora of goals registered, with nine coming at Rushcliffe in Division One North, they defeating visitors Arnold Town Reserves 5-4, Alex Ward with three for the victors, and Kian Leavesley a brace in reply; whilst in the Foundation Division Carlton Town Lions picked up a big win on the road at Manor.
Daniel Chambers was seen to claim a four-goal salvo for the league leaders, and was joined on the scoresheet, in what was an 82 win, by an Aaron Sisson hat-trick, and one from Bailey Kilcullen, they edging clear of South Notts but having played a game more.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NewarkTownFC action during Newark’s cup win over Sherwood Reserves.