As the three Notts clubs playing in the FA Cup on Saturday, were dismissed, albeit narrowly, focus was on further down the pyramid, and the ongoing progress of Newark & Sherwood United (United Counties Premier North), Radford (United Counties Division One), and Retford United (Central Midlands North).
In the FA Cup, Notts County lost 3-2 at home to Coalville Town, Worksop Town fell to the same score when away to Alvechurch, whilst Basford United narrowly lost away to Solihull Moors; Sam Auston scored one in each half as County were felled, whilst late goals from Vaughan Redford and Liam Hughes weren’t enough despite a rousing comeback.
Carlton Town, despite racing into a two-goal lead, and holding a 2-1 advantage at the break, lost 4-3 at home to Sheffield FC in the Northern Premier League East, Brad Wells and Aaron O’Connor with the goals, whilst in the United Counties League, a plethora of Notts clubs were in action, including The Highwaymen.
Nathan Arnold’s high-flying Newark & Sherwood United sit third in the table, just four points off leaders Loughborough Students (and two behind second place Melton Town) following a decisive, 5-0 win, on the road at fellow Notts side, lowly Eastwood CFC.
Leading by one at the break, Nyle Blake with his first of the afternoon when taking on the last man, and slotting the ball under the home ‘keeper, with Kian Sketchley proving a thorn in the home sides’ side in the opening exchanges.
Early in the second period, the Highwaymen doubled their lead as Blake turned provider, again taking on the Eastwood defence before laying the ball off for Kieran Cummings to net at the back post; with the chances flowing for the visitors, Luke White’s deep cross was headed home by Sketchley just after the hour mark to put them all but out of sight.
Five minutes later, three became four, as Blake notched his second of the afternoon with a rocket of a shot, with the fifth, and Blake completing his hat-trick, arriving with thirteen minutes remaining, the N&S hitman beating the home centre-half, followed by the ‘keeper in a one-on-one situation, wrapping up a comfortable win.
NEWARK & SHERWOOD UTD – Ross Woolley, Ryan Ebanks, Ryley Thompson, Toby White, Ben Richards, James Gardner, Kian Sketchley, Kacper Rajter, Nyle Blake, Luke White, Kieran Cummings
Kimberley Miners Welfare are sixth, with a game in hand on those above them, after goals from Kai Moore and George Atwal afforded them a 3-1 win at home to Leicester Nirvana, and Sherwood Colliery, in ninth, eased to a 4-0 win away to Selston, goals coming from James Matthews, Devon Smith, Ewan Robson, and Jacob Edge-Lucas.
In Division One, with a whole handful of Notts clubs residing, Radford are still in second, three points behind leaders Aylestone Park with a game in hand, both sides picking up wins as the leaders won 2-0 away to Hucknall Town, following a goalless, first half, whilst the Pheasants, they romped to a 6-1 win at home to Saffron Dynamo.
A quick-fire pair of goals just after the twenty minute mark, from Kyle Stovell and Joe Meakin, put the hosts firmly in control; just before the break Radford added a third as Greg Tobin heads home a William Bailey cross.
Comfortable at the break, the hosts added a fourth within ten minutes of the restart after a free-kick from Conor Moore is played to Stovell and he is seen to drive forward to drive home his second, and Radford’s fourth.
Captain Moore was on hand to score the firth of the afternoon, sliding in at the far post to finish off a Joe Meakin free-kick; Saffron would be seen to pull one back, with eighteen remaining, before a sixth was fired home in stoppage time, substitute Jordan Alls heading home a corner.
RADFORD – Oluyinka Adebowale, William Bailey, David Adegbola, Conor Moore, David Boafo Craig Meakin, Joe Meakin, Greg Tobin, Sacha Markelic, Scott Litchfield, Kyle Stovell
Other victories, for Notts clubs, un the UCL1, belonged to Clipstone, 4-1 over visitors Grantham Town Academy, Newark Town 4-3 at home to Kirby Muxloe (Lewis Chambers with a brace) and Rainworth Miners Welfare, 2-1 away to St. Andrews, whilst Clifton All Whites were held to a 2-2 draw away to Blackstones.
Meanwhile there were defeats for Blidworth Welfare, by the odd-goal-in-seven at home to Holwell Sports, West Bridgford (3-0 at home to Bourne Town), Gedling Miners Welfare (3-1 away to Harrowby United), Southwell City by the odd-goal-in-five against visitors Barrow Town, and finally, Dunkirk (2-0 away to Birstall United).
Two late goals for the Choughs helped Northern Counties East side, Retford, to a 3-0 win away to Glasshoughton Welfare, William Tomlinson and Ashley McEwen netting in the last ten minutes to add to Charlie Baird’s first half opener, whilst Ollerton Town won 3-1 away to Nostell Miners Welfare.
As for the Central Midlands League, their Cup competition would see Teversal progress, on penalties, following a 1-1 over Derby Singh Brothers, whilst in the CML North, leaders Retford United maintained a five-point advantage, with a game in hand, with their ninth straight win.
The Badgers’ 100% record remained intact thanks to a last minute winner, by Jonathan Froggatt, when away to Collingham, Craig Mitchell bagging a hat-trick as well for the unbeaten visitors.
SJR Worksop were beaten 3-0 away to Dinnington Town whilst in the CML South there was 3-1 losses for both Linby Colliery Welfare and Mansfield Hosiery Mills, against Holbrook St. Michaels and South Normanton Athletic respectively.
In the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Derbyshire outfit, Borrowash Victoria hold a one point advantage on AFC Dunkirk after the new leaders won 2-1 away to Cotgrave.
Woodthorpe Park Rangers, and Wollaton, are joint third, on sixteen points, two off the leaders, after the former saw off fifth place Top Valley, by the odd-goal-in-five, and the latter won 2-1 at home to West Bridgford Colts IIs.
Other games in the Premier Division would see Aslockton & Orston win 3-1 at home to Basford CFC, and FC Sez claim a 3-0 win at Clifton FCB, whilst five matches were also played in the NSLs Intermediate Cup.
Keyworth United Reserves progressed with a 5-2 win away to South Notts, Carlton Town Lions and Greyfriars both won 2-1 at home to Blidworth Welfare Red, and Radford Reserves, with FC Mansfield winning 2-0 at Fernwood Foxes, and Phoenix Top Spot edging visitors FC Pelican 1-0.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Official_NCFC Geraldo Bajrami in action for Notts County v Coalville.
