Heading into the New Year and several Nottinghamshire clubs are vying for contention at the top of their respective divisions with Worksop Town (NPL Premier) and Carlton Town (NPL East) at the forefront of the promotion stories.
Both won on Saturday to continue their respective promotion charges, as did Basford United to strengthen their battle against relegation, the two NPL Premier sides winning 1-0 with Worksop relying on an own-goal in the closing stages to earn victory at home to Whitby Town after Jordan Burrow put the visiting defence under pressure.
The win sees the Tigers sitting nicely in third place, a point behind second placed Warrington Rylands, and seven off leaders Radcliffe (who have games in hand); at the other end of the table, Toby Ritzema’s goal in first half stoppage time gave Basford all three points when away to fellow relegation contenders, Stafford Rangers – there is a gap however between Basford and sides above them in the table.
In the NPL East, a comfortable, 4-1 win for Carlton Town, away to eighth place North Ferriby, enhanced the Notts clubs’ play-off credentials, just three points separating the four sides in the zone (Hebburn Town 39pts, Pontefract Collieries 37pts, Belper Town and Carlton 37pts) – Stockton meanwhile are opening a nice gap at the top.
For Carlton however, a three-goal first half put them on their way to victory; Lamin Manneh was on-hand to fire a quick-fire brace early in the first whilst Alex Howes added the third on the stroke of half-time.
Although Tom Corner had reduced the deficit for the host just before Howes restored it, and the second period was quiet in terms of goals scored, it would be Carlton who found the back of the net once more; just after the hour mark David Adegbola was on hand to wrap up the win with the visitors’ fourth of the game, strengthening their promotion ambitions in the process.
Carlton Town – Felix Annan, Ryan Ebanks, Lewis Durow, Dean Freeman, Peter Dearle, Khyle Sargeant, Lamin Manneh, Niall Davie, Alex Hardwick, Alex Howes, David Adegbola
In the Northern Counties East Division One, Retford United’s promotion aspirations continued with a 5-1 win at home to Horbury Town, Jake Champion with a goal in each half putting them on their way.
Liam Owen and Joshua Nodder also netted in the first period as the Badgers led 3-1 at the interval, whilst Charlie Baird added a late fifth to keep them in the hunt with them six off leaders Parkgate, and with Shirebrook Town and Wakefield sandwiched between.
Elsewhere in the division there was defeat for both Retford, 3-1 at Wombwell, Liam Frost with a penalty ten minutes from time, and Ollerton Town losing 4-2 at home to Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Tom Sowden and Ewan Birch netting for the hosts either side of the interval; Birch’s goal affording the hosts a rare lead.
Sherwood Colliery still lead the United Counties League Premier North, that on goal-difference from Lincoln United, who’ve a game in hand, after Sherwood saw off visiting Melton Town 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Craig Westcarr afforded the hosts an interval lead, and the same doubled the advantage with a little under twenty remaining, his first a header and the second coming from the penalty spot; substitute Jacob Pearce was on-hand to add a late third following a one-two with Kieran Knight.
Sherwood Colliery – Jordan Pierrepont, Ricky Starbuck, Oliver Lobley, Jobe Shaw, Wright, Ewan Robson, William Norcross, Robson Doolan, Craig Westcarr, Marley Grant, Ethan Wiesztort
Eastwood CFC are on the fringes of the play-off places following a 1-1 draw at home to Belper Town, captain Aaron O’Connor with the hosts’ goal early in the second period; Kimberley Miners Welfare push towards mid-table following a 1- win away to AFC Mansfield, Jordan Alls with the goal, and relegation-threatened Hucknall Town went down 1-0 away to Skegness Town.
Clipstone are nine points behind Division One leaders, Bourne Town, with a game in hand, following Saturday’s battling 4-3 win at home to Harrowby United; a goal down at the interval, a half which saw five goals overall, would see the hosts net through Gareth Curtis and Timothy Gregory, Harry Allcock with a first half brace for the visitors.
Substitute William Heather levelled up for the Cobras with twenty remaining, and the hosts snatched victory ten minutes later when Gregory grabbed his second, and their fourth, of the afternoon, thus keeping them in contention at the top.
Clipstone – Charlie Dando, Bradley Hextall, Liam West, Eden Homer, Charlie Taylor, Sam Stretton, Timothy Gregory, Jack Gibb, Gareth Curtis, Lewis Bingham, Ryan Ingram
Clifton All Whites and Sandiacre Town shared four goals, Lamin Jasseygym having afforded the visitors a two-goal interval lead with a brace, the hosts however claimed a point thanks to second half goals from David Kolapo, and a late second from Coden Duncan.
Radford went down 2-0 at home to Bourne Town, and Gedling Miners Welfare were beaten 5-2 at home to Birstall United, Kieran Harrison netting in the first, and Gianfranco Ciaurro in the second affording a little hope, but to no avail.
Only Linby Colliery Welfare were in action in the Central Midlands Alliance, they going down 3-0 away to Wirksworth Ivanhoe in the South, whilst in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division Stapleford Town lead second place Wollaton by ten points after both enjoyed victory.
Stapleford won 2-0 away to Woodthorpe Park Rangers thanks to goals from Aaron Large and Liam McCormack, whilst there was a goal-fest at Wollaton, they eventually seeing off visiting Borrowash Victoria in a nine-goal thriller.
Six, first half goals, saw the two sides go in level at threes-apiece as Jacob Hawksworth, Luke Stone and Gerson Diaz kept the visitors in the mix; however, a brace from Joshua Stevenson, and one apiece from Joshua Broad, Charlie Sanders, Liam Taylor, and substitute Luke Smith, saw the hosts move into second place, and with three games in hand.
The battle between third place Collingham and fourth place Awsworth Villa ended in a 1-1 draw, Cotgrave won 5-1 at home to Ravenshead, and Basford won 2-0 at home to FC Sez, whilst Keyworth United won 3-1 at home to Southwell City Reserves under the Friday Night Lights, the top seven continuing to alternate.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Papapix Basford United are continuing to show fight in the NPL.
