With mixed fortunes for the county’s sides in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, Worksop and Basford United both notching five at home, whilst Kimberley Miners Welfare’s record-breaking run came to a half, sides on league duty witnessed the same.
Carlton Town would fall to a 4-1 defeat when away to Brighouse in the NPL East, the hosts bagging two goals in second half injury time, whilst there were also defeats for Eastwood CFC, and Selston, 4-0 and 3-0, at home to Deeping Rangers and Boston Town respectively, in the UCL Premier North.
Goals from Luis Rose and James Matthews earned Sherwood Colliery three points on the road at Heather St Johns, whilst a hat-trick from Nyle Blake helped Newark & Sherwood United to a 4-1 win away to pinchbeck United, Kieran Cummings also netting.
The remaining UCL Premier North game, featuring a Notts side, saw AFC Mansfield earn a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw when away to Heanor Town, Alex Hardwick with a brace, and Sam Ackroyd the other for the visitors.
Only one derby took place in the UCL Division One, as Clifton All Whites and Hucknall Town shared in a 3-3 draw, Wayde Hines with a hat-trick for the hosts, whilst the visitors battled back from 3-1 down, Joseph Ashurst netting for Hucknall, before late goals came via Joe Butler, and a stoppage time equaliser from Kieran Knight.
Elsewhere in the division there was victory for Dunkirk, 3-1 at home to Grantham Academy, Ryan Smith with a brace, whilst Romello Nangle did the same as Gedling Miners Welfare drew 2-2 at St. Andrews, and Thomas Spencer scored for Southwell City as they were held to a 1- draw by Saffron Dynamo.
Radford meanwhile, they’re nicely placed in second place in UCL Division One, four points behind leaders Aylestone Park, but with two games in hand, after the Pheasants romped to a 4-0 win when home to Holwell Sports, netting two in each half.
At the hosts’ Oakfield Arena, the Pheasants made numerous changes to their matchday eleven, taking an early lead as number nine, Jevin Seaton, bagged his first of the afternoon, finishing off a well-worked move before slipping the ball underneath the advancing ‘keeper.
One, quickly became two, for the hosts, and, following a mix-up in the visitors defence, Seaton looked like getting the last touch but it deflects off an opposing player. the Pheasants creating a high number of opportunities in the first period, putting their shell-shocked visits to the sword.
Jonathan Jebbison would be seen to have a couple of quick-fire chances late in the half, whilst the visiting captain was prevented from pulling one back after Daniel Fletcher pulled off a last-gasp block at the far post.
Two goals in the first, and with chances for more, the Pheasants flew out the block and could have been further ahead early in the second, Will Bailey flashing wide in a cross-cum-shot, before another, quick-fire double, killed off the visitors.
Seaton is seen to win an aerial battle with the opposition defence, before rolling home the loose ball for his second on the hour, then, four minutes later, three became four when Nathan Kelly, another of the Pheasants’ danger-men, and only on the pitch less than ten minutes into his return, notches.
Joe Meakin’s corner is punched clear by the visiting ‘keeper, but only as far as Kelly, who rolls his shot home through a small crowd of players before a flurry of substitutions break up the play; the hosts though, they continually searched for more, second half substitution, Anton Robinson, seeing an effort ruled out for offside as the Pheasants see out what was their seventh straight win, and a hundred percent record.
Lining up for the hosts, against Holwell Sports, was –
RADFORD – Yinka Adebowale, Will Bailey (David Adegbola, 71), Daniel Fletcher, Conor Moore, David Boafo, Craig Meakin, Jonathan Jebbison (Nathan Kelly, 57), Joe Meakin, Jevin Seaton 9Anton Robinson, 69), Michael Fitzhugh, Kyle Stovell (Callum Smith, 65)
Elsewhere in Division One, it was defeat for Notts sides, Clipstone falling to a 7-0 reverse away to Birstall United, West Bridgford lost 3-1 at Barrow Town, Rainworth Miners Welfare went down 5-1 at Bourne Town, Newark Town were beaten 2-0 at home to Blackstones, and Blidworth Welfare fell by a lone goal against visiting Kirby Muxloe.
The NCEL Division one saw Retford win 3-1 at home to Selby Town, Matt Parkin netting with a first half penalty before late goals from Will Tomlinson and Kyle Simpson saw the Choughs home, whilst Ollerton Town lost 2-0 at home to Shirebrook.
In the Central Midlands League, again, it would be mixed fortunes for the Notts club, Retford United winning 4-0 and SJR Worksop losing 5-0 in the North, whilst Linby Colliery Welfare, and Teversal, collected wins in the South.
The Badgers, they’re fourth in the CML North, a point off the top three sides who are neck-and-neck, and with two games in hand, after they earned a comfortable win away to AFC Bentley.
Netting two in each half, the Badgers led through Craig Mitchell after just ten minutes, he netting his first for the club, before Tom Brook headed home the second just after the half hour mark.
Two to the good at the break, the second period was just minutes old when Owen Fieldsend heads home a corner, before Jon Froggatt finishes off a Badgers attack to notch the fourth, and wrapping up the three points.
Lining up against AFC Bentley, the Badgers starting eleven was –
RETFORD UTD – Tom Crosby, Stuart Ludlam, Owen Fieldsend, Tom Brook, Danny Booth, Mason Barlow (Jacob Priestnall, 75), Brandon Kane, Charlie Dawes (Igor Mlynarski, 65), Niall Smith (Jed Philipps, 75), Craig Mitchell (Matthew Morton 67), Jon Froggatt (James Jepson, 81)
Tremere Lindo would score twice as Linby claimed the points in a 3-1 win at Cromford & Winksworth, Sam Atkin also scoring, whilst Danny Fletcher and Devon Smith both bagged braces in a 4-1 home win for Teversal over South Normanton.
The other two matches in the South would see Arnold Town held to a 2-2 draw away to Derby Singh Brothers, and Nottingham fell to a 1-0 defeat at Holbrook.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @HucknallTownFC action at Green Lane as Clifton & Hucknall share six goals.