The last Saturday of October, 2022, was a dull one for Nottinghamshire’s non-league sides at step seven upwards, with only five of their clubs winning their respective league/cup matches.
Of those in action, both Basford United and Worksop Town exited the FA Trophy at the First Round stage, suffering 2-1 defeats at the hands of Marine (home) and Leek Town (away) respectively, whilst other cup matches taking place, in the United Counties and Central Midlands League, saw but two sides progress to the next round.
Plaudits though, are to be shone on the work being done in the CML Premier North, at Retford United, Ryan Hindley’s Badgers making up for missed opportunities last season to winning all twelve of their league outings, to date, this time around.
In doing so, they’ve opened up a sizeable, elven point cushion, atop of the division, coming from behind on Saturday to win 3-1 at home to Dearne & District, who currently sit third, and led as early as the tenth minute, through a deflected effort.
Hindley’s Badgers though, they’ve got a stern, never give up attitude about them, and can overturn deficits with seemingly some ease, as shown here; it took just twenty minutes for them to get back on level terms, the hosts’ star player, Brandon Kane, showing turn of pace in a solo run which ended with him firing home his third of the season.
Level at the break, Hindley made a number of changes early in the second, including bringing on recent signing, Max Pemberton, to shore up the defence, the hosts wrapping the game up in the closing stages.
Tom Roebuck volleyed home his first for the club, with his left, from the edge of the box, as the game ticked into the final ten, from a Kane assist; Kane was at it moments later as well, this time setting up Mark West for what is only his second of the campaign, with a couple of minutes remaining.
Hindley’s Badgers lined-up as follows, for the win over Dearne & District – Tom Crosby, Liam Nelthorpe (Staurt Ludlam, 64), Owen Fieldsend (Max Pemberton, 78), Tom Roebuck, Tom Brook, Danny Booth, Mason Barlow, Brandon Kane, Igor Mlynarski, Craig Mitchell (Mark West, 84), Jonathan Froggatt (Jed Phillips, 85)
Other victories across Notts, of which there was few, saw AFC Mansfield the only side to progress in the United Counties League Cup, easing past visitors Easington Sports 4-0, thanks to goals from Sean Devlin, Tyler Blake, Sam Ackroyd, and Brontae Vint, whilst Newark & Sherwood United won 2-1 at home to Heanor Town in the Premier North, and Clipstone eased past visitors Holwell Sports, 5-1, in the UCL Division One,
The Highwaymen collected all three points thanks to a brace from Kian Sketchley, victory seeing Nathan Arnold’s side keep up the pressure on the top two of Loughborough Students (who inflicted 5-0 defeat on their visitors, Eastwood CFC), and Melton Town, the latter whom are just two ahead.
Luke Walker was at the double for a Clipstone who, in seeing off visitors Holwell Sports, moved into fifth place, the final play-off spot, but are a sizeable fourteen points behind leaders Aylestone Park.
Walker’s brace for the Notts club, who were just 1-0 up at the break, was added to by second half efforts from Charlie Hardwick, Ryan Ingram, and Timothy Gregory.; meanwhile, the only other Notts side to taste victory, that went to Retford Development, in the CML Cup, away to local rivals Worksop Town Reserves.
A four-goal, first half, the sides going in level at the break, would see the game lit up by a brace from recent Choughs signing, Hayden Rush, he netting one in each half, on his debut.
Results elsewhere, with draws for Carlton Town at home to Cleethorpes in the Northern Premier East, Bradley Wells equalising late on in a 1-1 draw, and Newark Town drawing 2-2 away to Barrow Town in the UCL Division One, Joe Aitken and Jesse Anderson, about covers the good news.
Clifton All Whites, Kimberley Miners Welfare, Radford (on penalties) Sherwood Colliery, and West Bridgford, all bowed out of the UCL Cup, whilst Eastwood CFC, Southwell City, and Blidworth Welfare, all conceded five in heavy defeats, as did Ollerton Town in the Northern Counties Division One, both they, and Retford, losing on the road, to Worsbrough Bridge and Swallownest respectively.
As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League, Hucknall Town Reserves progressed to the next round of the Intermediate Cup, winning 2-1 away to Shirebrook Soldiers, whilst in the Premier Division, Woodthorpe Park Rangers hold a narrow advantage at the top after a 3-1 win under the Friday Night Lights, at FC Sez, Connor Scott-Parkin with a brace.
Elsewhere in the division, Sandiacre Town are second, with two games in hand, after they won 3-2 away to Awsworth Villa, whilst there was also victories for third place Wollaton (2-0 at Aslockton & Orston), fourth place Keyworth United (3-1 at home to Borrowash Victoria), and fifth Top Valley (4-0 at Cotgrave).
The draws have also taken place, this past week, for the next round of both the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup (quarter-finals) and Senior Trophy (second round), they being as follows –
NOTTS FA SENIOR CUP (to be played, 25 November)
Carlton Town vs. Dunkirk; Newark 7 Sherwood United vs. Basford United; Notts County vs. Mansfield Town; Gedling Miners Welfare vs. Nottingham Forest Academy.
NOTTS FA SENIOR TROPHY (to be played, 5 November)
Retford United vs. Top Valley; West Bridgford Colts IIs vs. Collingham; Wollaton vs. Bingham Town; Beeston vs. Kirton Brickworks; Retford Development vs. Clifton FCB (3 November); Arnold Town vs. FC Sez; Keyworth United Reserves vs. Ravenshead; Arnold Town Reserves vs. Keyworth United; Greyfriars vs. Aslockton & Orston; Mansfield Hosiery Mills vs. Mansfield Hosiery Mills Reserves; Bilborough Town vs. Rushcliffe; Teversal Reserves vs. Ruddington Village; Kimberley MW Reserves vs. AC United; Radford Reserves vs. Awsworth Villa; West Bridgford Colts IIIs vs. Linby Colliery Welfare; Meden Vale Colts vs, Stapleford Town.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @worksoptownfc heartbreak for Town as they crash out of the trophy to Leek.
