Arnold Town, of the Central Midlands Alliance League Premier South, was one of several, Nottinghamshire clubs, to pick up a much-welcomed victory on Saturday, they seeing off Mickleover Reserves in a five-goal thriller at Eagle Valley.
It would be the visitors who took a first half lead before Jake Ogden equalised for the hosts, the two sides going in level at the break.
Craig Taylor’s first for the club gave the Notts club the lead early in the second period, Mickleover then equalising, tying the game at twos apiece; Ogden though was on hand, as the game headed into the final fifteen, to add a third for the hosts and seal a 3-2 win, and move them up to fourteenth in the table.
Meanwhile, Arnold’s Reserves side romped to a 7-2 home win in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Division Three, with six different scorers for the side sitting in sixth, against third place Beeston Reserves.
Kian Leavesley netted twice for the victors, alongside goals from Liam Cunningham, Quentin Hayes, Ashley Jenkins, Riley Whitelocks, and Thomas Yorks; Leavesley’s brace moved him onto fifty goals for the club with Cunningham netting on his fiftieth appearance (his tenth in ten games this season).
Sandiacre’s Saints also pulled off victory on Saturday afternoon as both their United Counties League Division One, and Notts Senior League Division One sides, both picked up welcome victories.
In the UCL, the Saints have endured a torrid start to the new season, this being only their third win in sixteen outings, when home to local rivals, West Bridgford, whilst the NSL outfit also picked up win number three, in fifteen games, with a 2-0 success away to Keyworth United Reserves.
Saints’ Firsts, moving level with Rainworth Miners Welfare at the foot of the table, were thankful of a first half penalty miss, as well as Kial Thurman’s effort midway through the half, the hosts going in a goal to the good, he seemingly glancing home an Alex Beno free-kick.
The second half however turned into a goal-fest with some four goals, two for each side, being netted; within ten minutes of the restart the hosts doubled their advantage when Lamin Jasseygm picked up a poor back-pass, rounded the visiting ‘keeper, and slotting home.
Two became three with twenty minutes remaining, Robbie Horsley finishing well across the opposing ‘keeper, the hosts looking to put a rare win to bed; the visitors though were awakened by the third goal, pulling two back in the final fifteen minutes.
Tye Simpson was on-hand to net twice for the visitors in the closing stages, the second coming from another, missed penalty, the hosts holding on for a valuable, three points.
Anandhu Rajendran, Perry McGrath, Kian Morrison (Owen Hayes, 73), Joel Isaac, Kial Thurman, Callum Clarke, Alex Beno, Benjamin Maxwell, Robbie Horsley, Samuel Kellam, Lamin Jasseygm (Marcus Thomas, 73) (subs – McKenzie John Bult, Harvey Hancock, Killian Higgins)
Meanwhile, in the NSL match, AFC Sandiacre won 2-0 at Keyworth Reserves, courtesy of a goal in each half; Yoan Penkov scored the opener just before the half hour mark, and Harry O’Neill added the second in the closing minutes.
Elsewhere across Nottinghamshire’s non-league scene there was to be mixed fortunes in the Northern Premier League as Worksop Town registered a 4-1 win at home to Atherton Collieries in the Premier Division, goas coming from Regan Hutchinson, Jay Rollins, Aleksandrs Starcenko, and Colin Daniel, whilst Basford United fell to a 5-2 defeat at Bamber Bridge, Remaye Campbell and Jordan Hallam netting.
Carlton Town were on the end of a four-goal loss way up in Northumberland, Connor Thomas opening and closing the scoring in a 4-0 win for hosts Ashington; the Northern Counties East League Division One also saw plenty of goals, although both Retford, and Ollerton Town, lost by the odd one in their respective outings.
Retford United, they were held to a 4-4 draw when away to Beverley Town, the Badgers netting through Liam Owen, James Eyles, Spencer Blake, and, with minutes remaining, Lewis Mackaskill, Scott Phillips however netted twice for the hosts, including a last minute equaliser, from the penalty spot.
Sherwood Colliery continued their fine form in the United Counties Premier North, winning 6-0 at home to Belper United, Marley Grant and Craig Westcarr both netting braces as the hosts scored twice in each half as Hucknall Town, Kimberley Miners Welfare, and AFC Mansfield, all suffered defeat.
There was mixed fortunes for the county’s clubs in UCL Division One, Clipstone and Selston, along with Sandiacre Town, the only victors; Timothy Gregory scored twice as Clipstone defeated Bourne Town 3-1, whilst Jacob Barrass and Toby Francis were on target as Selston won at Blackstones.
Also picking up points was Southwell City, 1-1 at Birstall United, and the local derby between Gedling Miners Welfare, and Radford, finished in a 3-3 draw, Zachary Hill at the double for the hosts.
In the Central Midlands Alliance Premier South, along with Arnold’s 3-2 win over Mickleover, Mansfield Hosiery Mills eased to a 6-0 win away to Nottingham FC, Elliott Nunn with a brace for the victors, whilst Teversal were on the wrong end of a 9-1 drubbing away to Derby Singh Brothers, three of the hosts’ players netting braces.
SJR Worksop saw off Worksop Town Reserves 2-1 at home in the CMA’s Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup thanks to goals from Liam Mullen and Alex Bennett, whilst the next round of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy was also played.
Basford CFC when hosting Radcliffe OIympic, Radcliffe Olympic at Woodhouse Colts, Aslockton & Orston at Eastwood & Kimberley, and FC Sez when home to Nottingham CFC, scored five apiece to progress in the Trophy, Ravenshead also going through when edging a five-goal thriller at home to Cotgrave Reserves.
Of the NSL Premier matches, Keyworth United top-scored with a 6-0 win away to West Bridgford IIs, Akand Gangotra firing a four-goal salvo, whilst there was also away successes for Cotgrave (on Friday night), Collingham, Woodthorpe Park Rangers, and Wollaton, with Stapleford Town and Awsworth Villa finishing in a 1-1 draw.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @TheOfficialATFC Arnold celebrate during their win over Mickleover.
