A six-goal thriller in the United Counties League Division One was one of few highlights on another, rain-affected Saturday in Nottinghamshire’s non-league scene.
A local derby at Lenton lane would see Dunkirk and Clipstone go in level at two’s apiece at the interval, following a frantic first half; Jack Gibb afforded the visitors the lead after sixteen minutes, he slotting home a rebound following an acrobatic effort from Lewis Bingham, before Jack Thatcher capitalised on a mistake by the visitors to level a little over ten minutes before the break.
Bingham then restored the lead for the visiting Cobras a minute later, lifting the ball over the home ‘keeper to score and the Boatmen then levelling up three minutes before half-time through Ben Sandhu.
The second period was but minutes old when the visitors notched the games’ fifth goal, Bingham breaking the home defence and laying off Ryan Ingram who has the easy job of slotting into an empty net then, on the hour, the Cobras opened up a two-goal lead when Gibb tried his luck from range and Bingham was on-hand to head home his second of the game, and the visitors fourth.
Both sides had numerous chances in which to add more, Clipstone hitting the bar in the final ten minutes from the head of Bradley Hextall, they holding out for a valuable, 4-2 win in their early, promotion chase.
Victory for Clipstone sees them remain second, behind early leaders, Bourne Town, with a seven-point gap, the Cobras though having a game in hand, at least, on all sides around them; defeat for Dunkirk meanwhile sees them in ninth place, two points off the final play-off spot.
Dunkirk – Charlie English, Ethan Greenidge (Declan Brown, 81), George Harrison (Jack Harrison, 87), Harrison Mellors, Rueban Nwadike, Christopher Neilson (Dylan Fitzpatrick, 73), George Okoye (Rhulani Sawa, 81), Ben Sandhu (Andrew Tsolakis, 81), Reece Sugars, Jack Thatcher, Lewis Wilcox
Clipstone – Joshua Turton, Kieran Coupe, Liam West (Jordan Roberts, 79), Eden Homer, Charlie Taylor, Bradley Hextall, Jack Gibb (Gareth Curtis, 73), Jamie Bonsor, Lewis Bingham, Nathan Clarke (Tremere Lindo, 68), Ryan Ingram (William Heather, 68)
Elsewhere in the United Counties, only one Notts club was in action in the Premier North, Newark & Sherwood United held to a 2-2 draw when away to Boston Town, Ainsley Finney and an own-goal for the Highwaymen, whilst in Division One Lewis Chambers was on-hand with a hat-trick in Newark Town’s 5-1 home win over Asfordby, Kieran Holmes-Harrison netted twice as Gedling Miners Welfare won 4-2 at Kirby Muxloe, and Tye Simpson’s early effort was enough to settle another local derby, West Bridgford winning 1-0 at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare.
Worksop Town’s FA Cup dreams are over despite Jay Rollins’ goal in their First Round trip to Stockport County, the hosts running out 5-1 winners, whilst in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Jordan Hallam was at the double to give Basford United the points in a 2-0 home win over Bradford Park Avenue.
Action was limited elsewhere with Arnold Town losing 1-0 in the Central Midlands Alliance South, away to Pinxton, with other clubs on cup duty in the Second Round of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy, Linby Colliery Welfare falling to a 2-1 defeat away to Cotgrave Seniors, Patrick Ferguson and Lewis Robertson netting for the hosts, Greg Conn replying.
Also in the Trophy, Blidworth won 2-1 away to Stapleford Town, Keyworth United and Southwell City Reserves both won 2-0 at home, and Collingham romped to a 6-0 success against visiting Beeston Old Boys Association, William Hollingsworth with a second successive hat-trick (scored three in the previous weeks’ 5-4 win at Gresley Rovers Reserves), other goals in the Trophy coming from Craig Bridge, Callum Judge and Ben Sharpe.
Meanwhile, in the Notts Senior League Premier Division, West Bridgford IIs moved away from the bottom three with a 2-0 win at home to mid-table Beeston, Shea Gough and Jahred Russell scoring for the victors.
FC Cavaliers are currently joint-top of Division One with Leicestershire-based FCV Grace Dieu, six clear of third place Stapleford Reserves; AFC Colsterworth, having played less than those beneath them, lead Division Two after a 4-3 win away to buyglass.co Reindeer FC goals from Junior Gaskin, Liam Jacques, Sam Scothern and substitute Tyler Haynes; and Gedling Southbank lead Division Three, by three from Beeston Reserves, and Meden Vale Reserves, they both having two games in hand on the leaders.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Dunkirk_FC action from Clipstone’s victory at Dunkirk.
