It was another, weather-depleted weekend of non-league action in Nottinghamshire this past Saturday, although there was plenty on show – football not rain, in the United Counties League, and plenty of goals to boot.
In the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Worskop Town were beaten 4-2 at home off Bamber Bridge, the two level at ones-apiece at the break as Josh Wilde in the first, and Jay Rollins the second, netted for the beaten hosts.
As Sherwood Colliery strengthened their promotion/title aspirations, play-off hopefuls, Eastwood, were seeing theirs fall away somewhat when losing at home to local rivals, and relegation-threatened, Hucknall Town, in a seven-goal thriller in the Premier North.
Craig Westcarr bagged a brace, a goal early in each half, as Sherwood picked up all three points in a 2-0 win away to Melton Town; it was victory that sees them sitting ten points clear of Lincoln United, who’ve three games in hand; meanwhile, at Coronation Park, they two sides were level at twos apiece at the break, with the visitors running away with it in the second period.
Lowly Hucknall raced into a two-goal lead when Niall Towle and Jordan Ashurst linked up well with Towle being played through on goal, however, his effort was parried by Samuel Wilson straight into the path of Ashurst who’d carried on his run, and sticks home the rebound.
The lead was doubled seven minutes later when Towle produced a delightful, overhead kick goal to give relegation-threatened Hucknall, early breathing space; that advantage though was wiped out by the break when first Kyle Tomlin scored with six minutes left in the half, then, a couple of minutes later, captain Aaron O’Connor despatches a spot-kick past Alfie Smith-Eccles after he was brought down in the box.
The visitors, who pulled off the bottom, on goal-difference with the win, restored their lead in under ten minutes of the restart when a cross from Mazhi Simmons missed Towle, but was met by Samuel Smith, who slotted past Wilson in the home goal.
It was then dreamland for the visitors as the game headed towards the final twenty minutes,, Ashurst getting on the end of Dillon Rawson’s back post cross to score and, with a matter of minutes remaining, the visitors grabbed a fifth when a long ball from substitute Raife Poplar, on for Simmons around fifteen minutes earlier, sends a ball over the top for Towle, who took great delight in grabbing his second of the game, and sealing a 5-2 success.
Eastwood – Samuel Wilson, Lavell White, Lynden Joyce, Daniel Elliott, Christopher Robertson, Thomas Maddison, Alexander Troke, Kyle Tomlin, Tyler Blake, Aaron O’Connor, Kamani Wilson
Hucknall – Alfie Smith-Eccles, Mazhi Simmons, Dillon Rawson, Taylor Jaine, Aaron Short, Omreiki Myles, Ayleal Dill, Nicholas Swan, Niall Towle, Jordan Ashurst, Samuel Smith
Goals from Daniel Tuck, Samuel Brown and Kole Lambert gave Kimberley Miners Welfare the points in a 3-1 win away to Sleaford Town, whilst Luke White and Liam Moran were both on-hand to net for Newark & Sherwood United, who won 2-1 at home to Deeping Rangers.
Division One promotion hopefuls, Clipstone and Dunkirk, battled out a goalless draw, whilst Newark Town were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Harrowby United; Radford closed the gap on those above them following a 3-0 win at home to Holwell Sports courtesy of second half goals from Joshua Gardner, Conor Moore and a late third by Jevin Seaton.
At the other end of the able meanwhile there was success for Southwell City, Rainworth Miners Welfare and Sandiacre; Southwell won 1-0 at Lutterworth Athletic, Callum Brooks bagged three as Rainworth defeated visitors Leicester St. Andrews 4-1, and Sandiacre won 2-1 at home to Asfordby, whilst Clifton All Whites were beaten 3-0 at home off Blackstones.
Having now conceded a century of goals, Ollerton Town were soundly beaten when away to Beverley Town, in the Northern Counties East Division One, Joe McFadyen with three and Luka Sulubric a brace, in the hosts’ 9-0 win.
Only two Notts clubs were in action in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier divisions, Woodhouse Colts beaten 4-0 at home off Dearne & District in the North, and Linby Colliery Welfare held to a goalless draw with visitors Holbrook St Michaels in the South.
And there was but a handful of games played at the top-end of the Nottinghamshire Senior League, Collingham progressing to the semi-finals of the NSL Senior Cup, thrashing hosts Gresley Rovers Reserves 7-1, Garvie Cameron firing a four-goal salvo, and William Hollingsworth a brace, in the win.
Meanwhile, in the Premier Division, Borrowash Victoria won 4-0 at Keyworth United, and Woodthorpe Park Rangers won 1-0 against visiting Southwell City Reserves.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @worksoptownfc Jay Rollins in action for Worksop against Bamber Bridge.
