It’s tough this Northern Premier League lark with Worksop Town, looking for another promotion, picking up another win to keep themselves in the mix for the play-offs whilst Basford United sit just above the drop zone, with sides beneath them having games in hand.
Worksop narrowly picked up three points when hosting Ashton United, Jay Rollins with the only goal of the game, after just two minutes, whilst Basford, on the road at Whitby Town, were beaten 3-0 as the hosts notched twice in the final ten minutes to wrap up the points.
The NPL East meanwhile saw a battle of two promotion hopeful, unfortunately for Carlton Town it was a bad day at the office when they crashed to a 4-0 loss away to second place Belper Town, Kevin Bastos notching a quick-fire, second half brace.
Sherwood Colliery still lead the United Counties League Premier North, by a point, from second place Lincoln United (who’ve a game in hand), despite the former losing away to mid-table Kimberley Miners Welfare and the latter hitting visiting AFC Mansfield for six without reply.
It was only a second league defeat of the season for Colliery (Lincoln have lost four), as they head into the business end of the season, but, at the Stag Recreation Ground, it was all about the hosts, and Kole Lambert, who bagged a brace.
Kieran Knight afforded the leaders an early lead but Lambert notched twice to give the hosts an interval lead before Henry Swann bagged a decisive third late on to wrap up a huge, three points for a Kimbo side who’ve battled hard this season.
Kimberley Miners Welfare – James Fogg, Toby Thompson, Tom Eccleshall, Josh Timson, Jordan Wheatley, Ryan Wheatley, Dan Davy, Dan Tuck, Jordan Alls, Henry Swann, Kole Lambert
Sherwood Colliery – Jordan Pierrepont, Carter Widdowson, Ricky Starbuck, Jobe Shaw, Jake Wright, Ewan Robson, Jamie York, Harry Bircumshaw, Kieran Knight, Marley Grant, Ethan Wiesztort
Another promotion hopeful, Eastwood CFC, were held to a 1-1 draw away to bottom club Hucknall Town, Niall Towle netting for the hosts and Tyler Blake with a stoppage time equaliser; Luke White netted for Newark & Sherwood United in their 2-1 loss away to Wisbech Town, and AFC Mansfield were on the end of a 6-0 defeat at title challengers Lincoln, Ify Ofoegbo with a brace.
There were some good battles witnessed in the UCL Division One as Clipstone lost and Newark Town won at the top end of the division, Clifton All Whites picked up a big win over Leicester St. Andrews, Radford were edged, and there was a five-goal thriller at Selston as they narrowly lost at home to Dunkirk.
So, where to begin; at Clifton AW, two goals in each half, first from Isaac Morledge and Wayde Hines, then from Tristan Comery and David Kolapo, saw them defeat visiting Leicester St. Andrews 4-1 to keep them within touching distance of the play-offs.
Both Newark Town, in second, and Dunkirk sixth, picked up 3-2 victories, the former when home to Sandiacre Town, and the latter away to Selston as Jack Thatcher bagged a hat-trick as they overturned a 2-1 interval deficit to win.
Goals from Ryan Hlabangana and Blair Bryant saw Southwell City edge visiting Holwell Sports 2-1, Joshua Thornton’s late winner saw Gedling Miners Welfare win 1-0 at Radford, whilst there was defeat for West Bridgford, Clipstone, and a heavy defeat for Rainworth Miners Welfare, a 6-0 drubbing at Bourne Town.
The Northern Counties East Division One would see home defeats for the two Notts-based clubs, Retford dropping a lone-goal result at home to Dronfield, and Ollerton Town were felled 4-0 against visitors Nostell Miners Welfare.
Mixed fortunes befell clubs in the Central Midlands Alliance as SJR Worksop won 3-0 away to Woodhouse Colts courtesy of goals from Chad Lake, Thomas Millen, and Kieran Taylor, in the Premier North, whilst in the South there was a much-welcomed win for Linby Colliery Welfare, 3-0 at Bakewell Town, goals coming from Joe Butler, Mitch Slawson, and Alex Paterson.
Goals were at a minimum elsewhere in the South, Jake Ogden netting for Arnold Town in their 1-0 win at Holbrook St. Michaels, and Charlie Smith scored late as Teversal lost 2-1 at Wirksworth Ivanhoe, whilst Mansfield Hosiery Mills were held to a goalless draw at Mayfield.
Lower down the non-league pyramid, Nottinghamshire FA saw a handful of Senior Trophy matches played, Keyworth United defeating visiting Bilborough Town on penalties following a 1-1 draw, Wollaton won 1-0 at Collingham, and Southwell Reserves saw off visitors Aslockton & Orston 2-1.
In the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Cotgrave moved fourth following a 2-0 win at Ravenshead, and Basford CFC seventh after their narrow home win over Awsworth Villa; meanwhile, in the bottom half of the table, FC Sez won 6-0 at home to Gresley Rovers Reserves on Friday night, Michael Lindsay with a hat-trick, with Beeston (3-0 at home to Radcliffe), and West Bridgford Colts IIs (3-1 at Woodthorpe Park Rangers) also winning.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @worksoptownfc action from Worksop Town’s win over Ashton United.
