Title number two is heading to Nottinghamshire as, following Dearne & District not winning away to Staveley Miner’s Welfare (finished goalless), Retford United have been crowned champions of the Central Midlands League Premier North.
Ryan Hindley’s side didn’t play on Saturday, but they did enjoy a 5-0, home, derby win, in midweek, against SJR Worksop; they’ve now got just three matches to play before finishing this season, two of which are at home, before a season finale, at…..
Dearne & District (15 April); the Badgers will be thanking their lucky stars the title race didn’t go that close to the wire.
But first, it is to be home ‘parties’ against Staveley Miners Welfare (1 April), and Dinnington Town (8 April), and just sixteen goals to score to hit the magic, hundred, anything is possible.
Speaking of anything being possible, the other, Nottinghamshire title-winners, Worksop Town, continued their record-breaking campaign with a 31st game unbeaten on Saturday, winning 6-0 away to Brighouse Town – and that wasn’t even the highest score in the county either.
Luke Hall and Vaughan Redford both scored twice for the rampant Tigers, doing so after ‘Big Jim,’ James Hanson, had opened the scoring after just three minutes; three goals in each half had the Tigers purring and of course, no win is complete for the new, Northern Premier East Division champions, without a goal from Liam Hughes, he netting on the stoke of half-time.
The other Notts side in action in the NPL East, Carlton Town, they fell to a 2-0 reverse when home to Stockton Town, whilst in the Southern League Central Division, Basford United lost 1-0 at home to Redditch United.
Plenty of action was witnessed in the United Counties League, Sherwood Colliery continuing their charge for a play-off spot when winning 5-1 at home to Pinchbeck United, whilst Newark & Sherwood United, a place beneath the Colliery side, in seventh, lost 2-1 at home to Quorn.
Sherwood though, an early, Charlie Taylor goal afforded them a lone-goal, interval lead, but fans would have to wait until the closing twenty minutes or so, before further goals arrived; Ewan Robson and James Matthews had the hosts at three, with eighteen left on the clock, before Keenan Leeds, and Jobe Shaw, added further goals at the death, wrapping up a valuable, three points.
Elsewhere in the Premier North, Kimberley Miners Welfare were held to a goalless draw away to Leicester Nirvana, AFC Mansfield drew 1-1 at home to Boston Town, and Eastwood CFC came from two-down at the break, to draw 2-2 at Heather St Johns; whilst Selston lost 2-1 at Deeping Rangers.
In the UCL Division One, joint-second Hucknall Town continued their promotion push with a 3-1 win at home to Holwell Sports, goals coming from Bradley Lathall, Niall Towle, and Craig Westcarr; Sacha Markelic netted the only goal as Radford won 1-0 at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, and Clifton All Whites, thanks to a David Kolapo double, drew 3-3 away to St. Andrews.
Newark Town were stunned when losing 3-0 at Birstall United, and West Bridgford shipped four away to Bourne, Clipstone were edged 2-1 at leaders Aylestone Park, and Dunkirk, despite Luis Parkes’ brace, were edged 4-3 at home to Kirby Muxloe.
Mixed fortunes for the two, Notts clubs, in the Northern Counties East Division One, Ollerton Town losing 4-1 at home to Wakefield, and Retford, pushing for a play-off spot themselves, won 2-0 at home to Athersely Recreation, Liam Frost and Kylse Simpson with the goals.
There was defeats for SJR Worksop (CML North), and Linby Colliery Welfare (CML South), whilst Nottingham, they picked up a 4-1 win in the latter, when home to Holbrook St. Michaels.
Meanwhile, the day’s biggest score, came in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier, AFC Dunkirk romping to a 15-0 win away to Top Valley, in a somewhat lop-sided, mid-table contest, Dennan Morgan with a double hat-trick, and Alexander Goodall grabbing a handful himself, the visitors running riot.
Keyworth united currently hold leadership, winning 3-2 at lowly West Bridgford Colts IIs, whilst second place Sandiacre Town won 4-1 at home to Borrowash Victoria; Awsworth Villa and Radcliffe Olympic both scored four in their respective wins, the former winning 4-0 at home to Cotgrave, the latter, by the same, when at Ravenshead.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @RetfordUnited celebrations as the Retford players enjoy a winning drink.
