Several Nottinghamshire clubs residing in the United Counties League, Premier Division North, and Division One, have promotion aspirations as they head into the business end of the season.
Sherwood Colliery, although having played three more than second-placed Lincoln United, lead Premier North by ten points, whilst Eastwood CFC are sixth, a place and fourth points off the final play-off spot, with around ten to play.
In Division One meanwhile, three Notts-based clubs sit in the play-offs, Clipstone, in second place, nine points off leaders Bourne Town (who’ve a game in hand), Newark Town are third, ten back from the Cobras, and Dunkirk are in the final spot, in fifth, three points ahead of sixth place Birstall United, whilst Radford, in ninth, can still slide in the back door, they being just eleven points off the pace, following Saturday’s round of matches.,
Sherwood snatched another three points at the weekend, this time away to Deeping Rangers, Devon Smith’s goal with twenty-five remaining, adding to Craig Westcarr’s first-half effort, whilst Eastwood were perhaps fortunate to grab a point when on the road at Wisbech Town, Christopher Robertson’s equaliser, with two minutes remaining, earning a share of the spoils, and keeping them in the play-off hunt.
Sherwood Colliery – Jordan Pierrepont, Carter Widdowson, Oliver Lobley, Jobe Shaw, Jake Wright, Ewan Robson, Jamie York, Harry Bircumshaw, Craig Westcarr, Marley Grant, Ethan Wiesztort
The other Notts clubs in the UCL Premier all suffered defeat with Newark & Sherwood United, despite an eventful afternoon for Tom Jones, scoring twice and being dismissed in stoppage time, losing 3-2 at Ashby Ivanhoe, Hucknall Town were beaten 2-0 at Sleaford, and AFC Mansfield were beaten 6-0 off visitors Melton Town, for whom Tyreace Palmer bagged five.
In Division One Clipstone eased to a 4-1 win on the road at Clifton All Whites as Gareth Curtis opened the scoring inside ten minutes, and a quick-fire brace just after the half-hour mark from Timothy Gregory, had them firmly in the drivers’ seat at the interval; David Kolapo reduced the deficit just before the hour, but Lewis Bingham sealed the win in the closing minutes.
Newark Town were held to a 1-1 draw with visiting Rainworth Miners Welfare, Harry Wakefield and Thomas Bedford netting for their respective clubs, whilst Dunkirk were edged 1-0 at home off Birstall United Social.
Radford kept up their play-off hopes with win in a five-goal thriller away to Lutterworth Athletic, the Pheasants leading 2-1 at the break with goals from Fola Fagbemi and James Reynolds, Joshua Gardner added the decisive third in the opening minutes of the second half and hung on to the points.
Radford – Krystian Ogonowski, Favour Osaghae, Conor Moore, Emem Jones, Joe McLaughlin, Craig Meakin, Josh Gardner, Kuwsi Ofushine, Fola Fagbemi, Grant Tobin, Jimi Reynolds
Elsewhere in the division, Gedling Miners Welfare overturned an interval deficit to win 2-1 at Blackstones, Kieran Harrison and Buba Ceesay netting in the final ten minutes, the latter with minutes remaining;; Benjamin Maxwell bagged the only goal of the game as Sandiacre edged visiting Southwell City, and Alexander Neilson’s late goal was insufficient as West Bridgford lost 2-1 at home to Holwell Sports.
The regions other top sides, the majority slipped up as Worksop Town were held to a goalless draw at Matlock Town and Basford United were well-beaten, 2-0, away to Gainsborough Trinity, in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, whilst Retford were held to a 1- draw with visiting Yorkshire Amateurs, and Ollerton Town were beaten 3-0 at home Staveley Miners Welfare, in the Northern Counties East Division One.
Retford United meanwhile continue to push for promotion in the latter, wrapping up another three points when away to Swallownest; leading 2-1 at the break, the Badgers took the win thanks to Joshua Nodder’s brace, and Adam Chapman’s late, first-half effort.
Retford United – Danny Haystead, Max Dungworth, Owen Fieldsend, Sam Finlaw, Alister Haydowck, Liam Owen, Brandon Kane, Danny Deakin, Mark West, Josh Nodder, Adam Chapman
Plenty of goals were witnessed in the Central Midlands Alliance, seven in the Premier North as SJR Worksop defeated visiting Elite FC 4-3 as Thomas Mullen bagged a brace alongside efforts from Jack Greaves and Cole Starkey; in the South meanwhile, it was defeat for the regions three sides in action as Arnold Town and Mansfield Hosiery Mills were beaten at home, off South Normanton Athletic (3-2) and Pinxton (2-1) respectively, and Linby Colliey Welfare were beaten 4-2 on the road at Melbourne Dynamo for whom Jack Bodill scored twice.
As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League, Wollaton and Beeston both progressed to the final four of the NSL Senior Cup, the former seeing off visitors Keyworth United on penalties, following a goalless draw, and the latter winning 1-0 at home to FCV Grace Dieu.
In the league’s Premier Division meanwhile, Stapleford Town’s seemingly endless march towards the title continued following their 2-0 win at home to Ravenshead, Kyle Hudson and Liam McCormack with the goals, whilst Southwell Reserves top-scored after they won 7-1 at Ruddington Village, Fraser Bricknell bagging a hat-trick for the victors.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @SCFC_08 action from Sherwood Colliery’s win at Deeping Rangers.
