The Lions, and The Tigers, both roared into the Third Qualifying Round of this seasons’ FA Cup at the weekend, as both Basford United, at home to United Counties Premier South outfit Rugby Town, and Worksop Town, away to National League North side Brackley Town, collected 2-0 wins.
At Greenwich Avenue, the home crowd would see a penalty from Anthony Dwyer, and a first for the club from Luther Munakandafa, put them safely through, Dwyer’s goal coming from the spot at the end of the first period, whilst Munakandafa’s maiden goal for the club, five minutes after the restart, came on the end of Ben Starkie’s pass, finishing well.
Meanwhile, at Brackley’s St. James’ Park, Worksop sailed through thanks to goals from Paul Green and Jack Broadhead, they also netting one in each half; Green would register just before the interval, his free-kick bouncing in for the opener, whilst Broadhead added a second within ten minutes of the restart, firing into the top corner following great work from Regan Hutchinson.
Worksop’s starting eleven as they progressed in the FA Cup was – Sebastian Malkowski, Regan Hutchinson, Josh Wilde, Sam Wedgbury, Hamza Bencherif, Jack Broadhead, Vaughan Redford, Paul Green, James Hanson, Liam Hughes, Jay Rollins
Carlton Town were on league duty, they being held to a goalless draw when away to Bridlington Town in the Northern Premier League East; Loughborough Students continued their unbeaten start to the season in the United Counties Premier North, at the expense of visitors AFC Mansfield, who are third bottom, whilst there was bad defeats on the road for both Selston, and Eastwood CFC.
Kimberley Miners Welfare were the only Notts side to win in the Premier, a James Shaw brace helping them to a 3-2 win at The Stag against visitors Deeping Rangers, substitute Louis Nicholson also netting; although Kimbo remain in tenth, its tight in mid-table as just five points split fifth place Sleaford Town, and fourteenth place, Belper United.
In amongst those, tightly-packed clubs, and just above Kimbo, are both Sherwood Colliery, and Newark & Sherwood United, both of whom picked up a point apiece when on the road at Leicester Nirvana, and Melton Town, respectively, the former drawing 1-1, the latter, 2-2.
Colliery, in sixth, earnt a point thanks to Jamie York’s half-time effort, whilst United, who were a goal behind at the interval, shared the spoils courtesy of second half goals from James Gardner and Kian Sketchley, the hosts equalising in the 96 minute.
In Division One a rampant Radford, boasting a 100% record from their eight league outings to date, put visiting St Andrews to the sword, Jevin Seaton bagging five in a somewhat one-sided, 11-0 win, setting a new, club record in doing so.
Sitting in second place, four points behind leaders Aylestone Park, and with two games in hand, The Pheasants led by seven at the break, four of Seaton’s haul coming in the opening period, including a seventeen-minute, hat-trick, adding the fifth within minutes of the restart.
Scott Litchfield bagged a first half brace, opening the scoring for the hosts inside ten minutes, whilst Johnathan Jebbinson added two for himself in the second, as well as substitute Anton Robinson, getting in on the goal-action.
Radford’s starting eleven for their record-braking win was – Oluyinka Abebowale, David Adegbola, Daniel Fletcher, Joseph McLaughlin, David Boafo, Greg Tobin, Michael Fitzhugh, Joe Meakin, Scott Litchfield, Jevin Seaton, Johnathan Jebbison
Dunkirk are tied with several clubs on the edge of the play-off places after they claimed a 3-0 win at home to Harrowby United, goals coming from James Rafferty inside five minutes, Jonathan White, and Samuel Harbottle, and Clifton All Whites snatched a 1-0 win away to Blidworth Welfare.
Southwell City continue to adapt to life at a higher level, picking up three points when away to Holwell Sports, the hosts’ Ton Pope scoring three in vain with City registering through Calum Law, Thomas Spencer, Ben Selby, and Liam Moran.
Timothy Gregory was at the double for his Clipstone side as they won 3-1 away to Saffron Dynamo, they looking to pull away from the bottom end of the table. Leading by one at the break, Gregory’s first coming after just seven minutes, the additional goal would come from Jack Sellars.
Both Hucknall Town, and Newark Town, collected a point in their respective home games, the latter drawing 1-1 with Birstall United Social, and the former, 2-2 with Barrow Town, whilst West Bridgford, although netting twice in the second period, crashed to a 5-2 defeat when at Blackstones, and Rainworth Miners fell to a 2-0 home defeat against bottom club, Grantham Town.
Retford are currently fifth in the Northern Counties Division One, and were held to a 1-1 draw away to Beverley Town, whilst mid-table Ollerton Town picked up a 2-1 win against visitors Armthorpe Welfare, Adam Scott opening the scoring midway through the first, and Jack Hollis-Smith grabbing the winner with fifteen to go.
As for the Central Midlands League, Retford United maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-2 home win over Glapwell, Jonathan Froggatt with a second half hat-trick, and Liam Arnold scored twice for SJR Worksop as they defeated visiting Collingham 3-2, in the Premier North,
The Premier South would see Teversal, joint second, collect a 3-0 win away to Arnold Town, and Linby Colliery Welfare win 3-1 at home to Ashland Rovers; Mansfield Hosiery Mills were held to a goalless draw away to Derby Singh Brothers, and Nottingham FC lost 3-1 against visitors Graham Street Prims, who lead by the narrowest of singular point margins.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Basfordutd Anthony Dwyer celebrates his goal for Basford.
