There’s no stopping Craig Parry’s Worksop Town side, is there? A 6-0 win on Saturday, when home to Shildon, kept their advantage at the top of the Northern Premier East at ‘just’ twenty points, and sealed a top five finish, at least, for the Nottinghamshire side.
It was a result that not only marked an impressive, 27 league games unbeaten, but also a twenty-second clean-sheet for Sebastian Malkowksi and that stingy, Tigers defence; surprisingly though, it was only 1-0 to the hosts at the interval.
The only goal of the opening half came inside the first ten minutes, Tavonga Kuleya getting on the end of a Terry Hawkridge through-ball to finish strongly; however, with both sides having several chances throughout the half, it remained at just the one goal lead for the hosts.
That second period however, Shildon’s defence collapsed when, from the hour mark onwards, the Tigers roared to an emphatic victory; although the visitors could have equalised just before the hour mark, Malkowski standing firm to get a hand to Hutchinson’s header at the back post.
Shortly after that, and Tigers captain, Hamza Bencherif, had notched, not once, but twice, in quick succession, the first, on 64 minutes, seeing him head home a cross from Aleksandrs Starcenko, and the second, on 65 minutes, getting onto a rebound after his initial header was blocked.
Sandwiched between the two goals, Parry would make a decisive, double-switch, brining on Liam Hughes and Vaughan Redford; then, with the game heading towards the final ten, Kuleya also doubled up, the Doncaster Rovers loanee firing home with a left-footed effort through a packed box.
Unsurprisingly, with this Tigers side, and their rampant attack force, there was time for even more goals, they adding another two in the closing minutes as Starcenko headed home a chipped cross from Josh Wilde, and, with the game heading to stoppage time, the returning Liam Hughes, on for James Hanson just after the hour, wrapped up proceedings, with another headed goal, this time from a Hawkridge free-kick.
The goal blitz against Shildon took the Tigers to an impressive, 83 goals, in the league this season, and it shouldn’t be too long before promotion, and the title, is wrapped up.
WORKSOP TOWN – Sebastian Malkowski, Regan Hutchinson, Josh Wilde, Sam Wedgbury (Vaughan Redford, 64), Hamza Bencherif, Deegan Atherton (Connor O’Grady, 71), Terry Hawkridge, Aleksandrs Starcenko, James Hanson (Liam Hughes, 64), Luke Hall, Tuvonga Kuleya
Other games in the Nottinghamshire non-league scene would see Basford United held to a goalless draw away to Hednesford Town, in the Southern League Central, and Carlton Town losing 2-0 at home to visiting Hebburn Town in the Northern Premier East, a certain Daniel Moore with the opener for the visitors.
Continued mixed fortunes in the United Counties Premier Division with Sherwood Colliery the only victors, 2-1 away to Loughborough Students, Aaron Korpal and Gareth Curtis with the goals and, in doing so, inflicted a first defeat of the season on the league leaders.
Victory for the Colliery side sees them the highest-placed Notts outfit in the division, three ahead of Newark & Sherwood United, who fell to a 3-2 defeat when home to Melton Town; Kimberley Miners Welfare, and Selston, were both held to 1-1 draws, against Boston Town and Leicester Nirvana respectively, and AFC Mansfield lost 2-0 away to Pinchbeck United.
Both Newark Town, and Hucknall Town, notched five apiece when on the road, both continuing to boost their promotion hopes; the former, they won 5-2 away to Kirby Muxloe, Lucus Cotterill with a brace, and the latter, they won 5-1 at Gedling Miners Welfare, Kieran Knight at the double.
The other two, Notts clubs, to collect victories, was Dunkirk, 3-2 at home to Holwell Sports, and Rainworth Miners Welfare, 2-0 over visitors West Bridgford, Radford being held to a goalless draw with visiting Blackstones.
Early goals from George White and Alex Boyd saw Retford earn a point in a 2-2 draw with visiting Glasshoughton Welfare, and Ollerton Town, they were on the wrong end of a seven-goal drubbing when home to Nostell Miners Welfare, two own-goals, and a hat-trick from Reagan Waud easing the victors home.
Despite a first league defeat of the season, Retford United continued their march towards the Central Midlands League North title with an eighteenth win in twenty matches, seeing off hosts Glapwell, 3-1, thanks to a hat-trick from Charlie Baird, victory keeping the gap at the top at a healthy, seventeen points.
Meanwhile, in the CML South, Linby Colliery Welfare and Mansfield Hosiery Mills both tasted victory, the former, 4-3 at South Normanton Athletic, Tremere Lindo with a brace (one penalty) as well as goals from Connor Gillan, and Alex Patterson, whilst the latter, Aiden Ordidge bagged they only goal as they saw off visitors Ashland Rovers.
Wollaton’s lead at the top of the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division has been cut to just two points after they lost 1-0 at home to lowly Awsworth Villa, the chasing three of Keyworth United, Woodthorpe Park Rangers (goalless draw with Ravenshead) and Sandiacre Town, all collected points.
Keyworth defeated visiting FC Sez 3-0, and Sandiacre won 4-0 away to Clifton FCB, Alex Beno with a hat-trick, whilst Stapleford remained unbeaten and moved into fifth place, courtesy of a 4-0 win at home to Radcliffe Olympic.
Two goals in each half gave Stapleford the points as Aaron large, Cian Lyon, Tristan Elson, and substitute Marcus Thomas, all netted in their eleventh win (and three draws) from fourteen thus far, moving them within six points of the top four, and nine of leaders Wollaton – they still boast five, and ten games, in hand, on the side above them.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @worksoptownfc the Tigers players celebrate yet another win for Worksop.
