There was a rare, yet enjoyable sight, at the Halbrooke Stadium at the weekend as Eastwood CFC picked up just their sixth win of the season, in a local derby with AFC Mansfield, both sides facing a relegation battle at the bottom end of the United Counties Premier North.
The Red Badgers made some six changes from the side that lost to Newark in their last outing, and home shot-stopper, Joe Searson-Smithard, donned the captain’s band due to the absence of Travis Munn.
The visitors had a penalty appeal turned away in the opening minutes, and it would be they who’d take the lead just after the half hour mark when Joe Harrison supplied the cross for Conor Moore to head past Searson-Smithard, the ‘keeper just getting a hand to it but could only help the ball on its way.
The two sides though went in level at the break when, ten minutes after the visitors opened the scoring, the hosts equalised, Louis Czerwak crossing deep to the back post for Terry Atem to head home past Richard Dearle.
Coming from behind, the hosts led in the opening minute of the second period after Massiah McDonald released Kamani Wilson, he proceeded to drop and turn, before calmly slotting the ball past Dearle, the hosts enjoying behind in the ascendency.
That enjoyment continued less than ten minutes later when two, became three, a great move from the hosts was finished off well by McDonald, smashing the ball past Dearle and into the top corner, the Red Badgers holding on for a vital, and much-needed three points.
EASTWOOD CFC – Joseph Searson-Smithard, Oliver Robinson, Ben Wallis, Martin Ball, Tyreece Robinson (Daryll Thomas, 77), Jermain Hollis, Terry Atem (Etien Omari, 60), Ryan Tait, Kamani Wilson, Massiah McDonald, Louis Czerwak
AFC MANSFIELD – Richard Dearle, Jack Cockram, Rhys Alsop, Anjola Onasanya, Adam Bartley, Conor Moore, Harry Goddard (Ayleal Dill, 71), Ethan Hulley, Yewo Nyirenda, Sean Devlin, Joe Harrison (Surafel Tefera, 80)
There was also a big, local affair in the UCL Division One, Radford on the edge of the play-offs following a comfortable, 4-0 derby success, when home to lowly West Bridgford.
Somehow the two sides went in goalless at the break, especially after the chances for both sides, but neither ‘keeper was really tested.
However, within ten minutes of the restart, the Pheasants were not just a goal up, but two goals to the good, after first, a comedic own-goal gifted the hosts the lead.
A mix-up between David Leak and Anthony Nunez saw the former look to nod the ball back to his ‘keeper, however, he wasn’t there and failed to cover the ground in time as the ball trickled over the line for an own-goal.
Minutes later and the lead was doubled when a throw-in is flicked on by Jevin Seaton, and he fires a goal-bound effort that is touched home by Scott Litchfield; that was doubled within ten minutes of the hour as well, two quickly becoming four.
Jevin Seaton is set free following a beautiful pass and, having nipped past Nunez, coolly slots the ball home, then, minutes later, the same player adds a fourth when, after Sacha Markelic breaks on the right, his pass to Seaton is sliced past a beleaguered Nunez in the visiting goal.
In less than twenty, second minutes, the hosts had turned the game from being goalless, into a more-than-comfortable, four goal lead, with them having a number of chances to increase that late on.
It remained at four though, and the Pheasants added a further three points to their promotion aspirations, they sitting four off fifth place Birstall United, and eleven off second place Bourne Town, and with games in hand on those above them.
RADFORD – Yinka Adebowale, David Adegbola, Dan Fletcher (Abdul Saad, 70), Greg Tobin, Kial Thurman, Craig Meakin (Sacha Markelic, 59), Jonathan Jebbison (Kyle Stovell, 59), Kuwsi Ofushine, Jevin Seaton, Scott Litchfield (Jordan Alls, 62), Michael Fitzhugh
WEST BRIDGFORD – Anthony Nunez, Courtney Bartley, Buba Ceesay, Nick Knight, David Leak, Cole Maule, Rav Jackson, Ryan Krause, Isaac Morledge, Alex Neilson, Abou Sylla
Elsewhere across Nottinghamshire’s non-league scene and Basford United fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Mickleover in the Southern League Central, and Carlton Town were held to a goalless draw away to Sheffield FC in the Northern Premier East.
Worksop meanwhile, they continued their record-breaking run with a 2-0 win on the road, Jay Rollins and Josh Wilde with the goals in a 2-0 win away to Stocksbridge Park Steels.
The United Counties Premier would see Newark & Sherwood held to a goalless draw at Deeping Rangers, whilst there was defeat for Sherwood Colliery, Selston, and Kimberley Miners Welfare, whilst in Division One there was victory for Newark (1-0 home to Barrow), a goalless draw in the derby between Hucknall and Rainworth, and a 2-2 draw for Gedling at Saffron Dynamo.
Bourne Town hot visiting Southwell City for five without reply, and Aylestone Park scored three when at Clifton All Whites, as did Birstall United when winning 3-1 at Dunkirk.
In the Northern Counties East, Ollerton Town moved within a point of local rivals Retford, when winning 1-0 at home to Campion, Jake Squires with the only goal of the game, from the spot, midway through the second period.
The Central Midlands League would see SJR Worksop win 2-1 at home to Hatfield Town, in the North, whilst in the South, Jake Ogden and Liam Black both bagged braces as Arnold Town won 5-2 away to South Normanton.
Nottingham won 1-0 at Derby Singh Brothers, Linby Colliery Welfare and Teversal both picked up a draw, against Mickleover Reserves and Holbrook St. Michaels respectively, and Mansfield Hosiery fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Cromford & Wirksworth.
Meanwhile, the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division may be led by Wollaton, but they fell to a 3-0 defeat when home to fourth place Woodthorpe Park Rangers, and undefeated Stapleford Town, in sixth, picked up another win, 1-0 at home to Borrowash Victoria.
There was also games in the NSL Senior Cup as East Leake Robins won 3-1 on penalties (following a 1-1 draw) when away to Top Valley, Keyworth United won 4-1 at home to Clfiton FCB, and Sandiacre Town won 3-1 against visitors AC United, Blair Anderson with a brace for the victors.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @eastwoodcfc Massiah McDonald scores for Eastwood verses AFC Mansfield.
