Basford United moved into twelfth place on Saturday afternoon in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, thanks to a lone goal win away to fourth bottom Hyde United.
Affording a debut to Doncaster Rovers loanee, midfielder Lirak Hasani, there was also a game in the captains’ armband for Dom Roma due to the absence of Matt Thornhill (he being replaced by Declan Dunn), they all putting in a shift to help ease any worries at the wrong end of the table.
Plenty of chances would go by the wayside prior to the opener, Basford seeing a free-kick for Ryan Wilson clawed away by the home ‘keeper, before Roma smashes one off the crossbar from a Wilson corner before Tyreace Palmer grabs his first for the club, it coming after more hard work from Wilson, and Palmer eventually slotting home just before the break.
Kieran Preston would keep the visitors in the game with some great saves early in the second period, the hosts trying their hardest to level proceedings, he proving the difference-maker during the second forty-five, Basford holding on for a valuable three points.
Basford United: Kieran Preston, Owen Betts, Mitchell Tait, Dom Roma, Lewis Carr, Declan Dunn, Lirak Hasani, Courey Grantham, Tyreace Palmer, Harvey Grice, Ryan Wilson.
In the NPL East meanwhile, Worksop Town fell to a bad defeat when home to league leaders Marske United, the two sides having been level at twos each at the break.
Goals from Steve McDonnell, Aleksandrs Starcenko, and Adam Watson kept the Tigers in with a shout, for the most past, however Marske kept their noses in front at the top thanks mainly to a four-goal salvo by Matthew Tymon, Stephen Thompson (on loan from Spennymoor Town) adding the fifth in what was a 5-3 win for the visitors.
Aaron O’Connor struck early for Carlton in their league clash away to NPL Midlands leaders, Ilkeston Town, but that was to be as good as it would get because, by the time the half hour mark had passed the hosts were 3-1 to the good, eventually winning 4-1.
Defeat for Carlton sees them five adrift of Stamford, holding sixth place by one from Coleshill Town, whilst Ilkeston lead by one from Halesowen Town.
There was mixed fortunes in the United Counties Premier North, Eastwood falling to a 2-0 loss away to Loughborough Students, whilst Newark gave themselves hope at the bottom end of the table when seeing off visitors Holbeach United 4-1 as Richemone Sylla scored twice.
There was better success in Division One, Kimberley Miners Welfare romping to a 5-0 win away to Blackstones to extend their unbeaten run to twelve as Luis Rose, Josh Barr-Rostron, Aarron Coyle, Bijan Pakrouz, and an own-goal, completed the rout.
Radford meanwhile, themselves in fourth place, claimed a 4-1 win away to ten-man Barrow Town as Michael Fitzhugh opened the scoring after just sixty seconds, the game staying that way until the second period.
The hosts levelled proceedings on 65 minutes, they hoping to get something from the game, however, the final ten minutes would belong, comfortably, to the Pheasants, stand-in skipper Conor Moore restoring parity, Callum Smith adding a third, before Fitzhugh, who’d opened the scoring ninety minutes earlier, wrapped up the points.
Radford: Hadley Dunn, Craig Meakin, David Adegbola, Jermain Hollis, Emem Jones, Conor Moore, Jevin Seaton, Joe Meakin, Kevin Hemagou, Michael Fitzhugh, Solace Uyi-Olaye.
Both Clifton All Whites, and Gedling Miners Welfare, scored three times in their respective home wins, the former defeating Bourne Town 3-1, the latter seeing off Holwell Sports 3-0, Rueben Wiggins-Thomas with a first half brace.
Meanwhile Dunkirk were held to a 1-1 draw with Aylestone Park, and West Bridgford lost 4-2 away to Lutterworth Athletic.
It was also a bad day al-round in the Northern Counties for Notts sides, AFC Mansfield with light relief after a 1-1 draw at home to Hemsworth whilst Sherwood Colliery lost 2-0 to visiting Garforth Town, Ollerton crashed 3-0 to North Ferriby, and Retford lost 2-1 against Rainworth Miners Welfare.
The remaining games were also played in the Notts FA Senior Trophy, Central Midlands League side, Retford United, progressing comfortably with a 4-0 win away to Notts Senior League side, AFC Top Valley, goals coming from Mark West, with his 33rd of what has been a productive season, alongside efforts from Charlie Baird, Charlie Dawes, and Mason Barlow.
Elsewhere in the competition Southwell City defeated Linby CW 2-0, Calum Law and Ben Selby netting, Basford Utd U21s won 4-2 at Radcliffe Olympic, whilst the remaining two games were settled on penalties as Ruddington Village defeated Woodthorpe Park Rangers 4-3 on pens following a 1-1 draw, and Wollaton edged Attenborough 4-2 after a six-goal thriller, and six different scorers to boot.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Basdfordutdfc Kieran Preston punches clear for Basford at Hyde.
