Eight Nottinghamshire clubs progressed to the next round of the FA Vase at the weekend following home comforts for Clipstone, Newark Town, Selston, Sherwood Colliery, and Southwell City.

They were joined in the next round by AFC Mansfield, Hucknall Town and Retford, on what was a relatively good afternoon for the county’s non-league scene.

Newark Town top-scored, just, when they hit visiting Holbeach for six without reply, George Asplin with a hat-trick, whilst Niall Towle scored twice in Hucknall’s 5-1 win on the road at Sandiacre Town, one of two, all-Notts games played.

Selston eased to a 3-1 win at home to Harrowby United, whilst Clipstone, Southwell and Retford all progressed on the back of 2-1 wins, the former seeing off Radford at home with the hosts’ goals arriving in the first twenty minutes; Edward Munton struck in stoppage time to see Southwell through against Kirby Muxloe; and goals from Liam Frost and Matthew Thompson helped Retford come from behind to win at Swallownest.

As for Sherwood Colliery, under those Friday Night Lights, they edged a five-goal thriller when coming from 2-1 down at the break to snatch victory against visiting Melton Town.

Sam Beaver headed the visitor’s in-front inside ten minutes and, although they could have had more, were pegged back by Craig Westcarr equalising halfway through the first half from the penalty spot after Marley Grant was fouled in the box.

It would be Melton that would go in at the break with the one-goal advantage, Gregory Mills also netting from the spot with ten remaining in the half after Josh Waldram was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Not to be undone, Sherwood went for it upon the restart, in a game that was back-and-forth, and, with a little over twenty left on the clock they were back on level terms through Grant, he crashing the ball home from eight yards out following great work from Ewan Robson.

Westcarr’s second of the game, just eight minutes later, proved to be the winning goal; the Sherwood stalwart could have easily gone down but stayed upright enough to finish well past the visiting ‘keeper, and inside the post.

SHERWOOD COLLIERY – Dale Sheppard, Carter Widdowson, Jake Wright, Jobe Shaw (capt), Josh Waldram, Ewan Robson, Jamie York, James Matthews, Craig Westcarr, Kieran Knight, Marley Grant (subs – Louis Pennington, Jacob Pearce, Ricky Starbuck, Louis Tomlinson, Robson Doolan)

There was also plenty of action across the leagues, although not much joy in the Northern Premier as Basford United were held to a 1-1 draw with visiting Atherton Collieries, and Worksop Town lost 3-1 on the road at Hyde United (Premier Division), and Carlton Town were held to a 1-1 draw with visitors North Ferriby (East Division).

It was even worse in the Northern Counties East Division One, despite the perfect start for Ollerton Town when away to  Louth Town; Adam Morrison afforded the Notts club the lead inside ten minutes, but it was to be downhill from there; Bailey Wright would fire a four-goal salvo, including a penalty, as the hosts ran out 7-1 victors.

In the United Counties League, Premier Division, both Eastwood CFC, and Kimberley Miners Welfare, maintained their early, top ten placings, with big wins, the former won 4-1 away to leaders Belper United, Tyler Blake with a hat-trick, whilst the latter saw off visiting Pincbeck United 5-2, Joshua Mundell also grabbing three, whilst Newark & Sherwood United lost 2-0 at Heanor Town.

Six Notts clubs are in the top ten in Division One, with Clipstone top of the pile, and Dunkirk joint-second after the latter won 2-0 at home to Gedling Miners Welfare, goals coming from Jack Thatcher and Declan Brown in the closing stages.

Clifton All Whites meanwhile, also in the top ten, they saw off their visitors Asfordby, with a comfortable 4-1 score-line, Solace Uyi-Olaye with a brace, and one apiece for Wayne Hines and Sam Leggitt.

Plenty of goals arrived in the Central Midlands South, although Nottingham did concede five in a home loss to Bakewell Town, however, Arnold Town and Teversal both scored three, and Linby Colliery Welfare two.

Arnold defeated visiting Mayfield 3-1 with goals from Jake Ogden, Liam Black, and Ben Cooke, whilst the other two Notts clubs were held to draws, Teversal 3-3 against visiting Mansfield Hosiery Mills, and Linby CW when at Mickleover RBL, Ashdon Bernard with a very early brace in that one.

Meanwhile, in the Nottinghamshire Senior League, Cotgrave edged Ruddington Village in a seven-goal thriller in the Senior Cup, whilst in the Premier Division, and on Friday night, thirteen goals were witnessed in the game between West Bridgford Colts IIs (17th) and Gresley Rovers Reserves (18th), the former winning 8-5 as Jahred Russell grabbed three alongside braces for Joshua Wright and Adam Wright.

With Collingham top, Stapleford edged into second following a goalless draw with Southwell City Reserves, and Awsworth Villa are third after they won 3-0 at Borrowash Victoria; Woodthorpe Park Rangers sit fourth following a 2- home win over Basford CFC, whilst Beeston (8) and Radcliffe Olympic (12) also picked up victories.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @RobCurrell Newark Town action against Holbeach.