Despite the incessant weather, the semi-finals of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy were played on Saturday afternoon, and the final will be contested between Wollaton and Keyworth United, after they saw off visitors Trent Vineyard and Southwell City Reserves respectively.
In the former, at Ilkeston Town’s 3g, there was a delayed kick-off due to an ongoing match taking place; it mattered not for Wollaton however, they sitting third in the NSL Premier Division, as they eased past their Division Three opponents with a 4-0 win.
Wollaton, who are nineteen points off the pace in the Premier Division, but with six games in hand on leaders Stapleford Town, and two on second placed Collingham, made the final dance with braces from Joshua Stevenson, he putting them two to the good, and Liam Taylor, who completed the scoring with two of his own also.
It was to be a much tighter affair at Platt Lane however, hosts Keyworth, and fellow Premier Division mid-table side, Southwell Reserves, shared four goals, before the hosts took the win, and a place in the final, 4-2 on penalties.
In a see-saw game Aaron Bailey afforded the visitors the lead before Thomas Siswick equalised to send the sides in level at the break; Akand Gangorta saw the hosts take the lead but the visitors would see the game to spot-kicks when Patrick Lally tied the game at twos apiece, the hosts making the final though when edging the shoot-out.
League action meanwhile, it was to be again decimated by the weather conditions with Basford the only Notts club playing in the Northern Premier League, and none from the county in action in the Northern Counties East; Basford, they were edged 1-0 when away to Lancaster City.
A smattering of the county’s clubs were in action across the United Counties League, Premier Division leaders, Sherwood Colliery, were held to a goalless draw when away to Boston Town, they sitting eight points ahead of second place Lincoln United having played two more games.
Newark & Sherwood United edged towards mid-table following their come-from-behind, 2-1 win away to Belper United, Jamie Williamson and Liam Moran with goals in the final twenty for the win, and Hucknall Town moved a point off the bottom of the table after they drew 2-2 at Wisbech Town, Samuel Smith and Niall Towle scoring.
A number of clubs from the county were in action in UCL Division One, promotion candidates, Clipstone, winning 3-0 at home to Asfordby as Ryan Ingram bagged a brace alongside one for Lewis Bingham, they sitting in second, eleven behind leaders Bourne Town.
Radford are in ninth place after a 2-0 win at Harrowby United, Joshua Gardner and Fola Fagbemi scoring, and Gedling Miners Welfare eleventh when they won by the same, at home to Leicester St. Andrews, goals coming in the second half from Kieran Harrison and Gianfranco Ciaurro.
In the bottom half of UCL One both Southwell City, and Selston, picked up a point apiece, the former when home to Lutterworth Athletic, Christopher Okoye netting early on in a 1-1 draw, and the latter at Birstall United as they snatched a point at the death, Steven Bonel netting with four remaining and Jacob Barrass levelling proceedings deep into stoppage time.
Rainworth Miners Welfare were beaten 1-0 at home off Blackstones and West Bridgford suffered a second half collapse when at Kirby Muxloe, losing 6-2; the hosts led 3-2 at the break with Kai Biggs-Finney and William Gillies netting for West, Kirby adding another three in the second period to complete the scoring.
In the Central Midlands Alliance Premier North, SJR Worksop continued their rise towards a mid-table placing after they won 4-0 away to Staveley Miners Welfare, they having a good six in hand on those above them as Charlie Baird scored twice between goals from Jack Greeves and Matty Templeton.
The mixed form of Woodhouse Colts meanwhile continued when they fell to a 4-2 defeat away to Elite fc, Jayden Bull and Connor Ward netting for the Colts; meanwhile in the CMA Premier South, Teversal hung on for three points when home to Mayfield following first half goals, in a 3-2 win, from Jake Allen, Cameron Pinnick, and Ben Denton, and Linby Colliery Welfare lost 2-0 at home to Bakewell Town.
Elsewhere in the CMA, Division One North side, Worksop Town Reserves (sitting second), progressed in the Division One Cup following a 5-2 win over Blidworth Welfare, Daniel Gillatt with a brace for the hosts; and Kirton Brickworks lead the way in Division One East although Blidworth have five games in hand.
In the games played in the NSL Premier meanwhile Stapleford Town continue to the lead the way, boasting an eighteen point advantage over second place Collingham, after both picked up wins in the race for the title.
Aaron Large was among the scorers as the leaders edged a 2-1 success away to West Bridgford Colts IIs, whilst the second place side eased to a 5-1 win over visitors Gresley Rovers Reserves; Awsworth Villa are fourth after a 4-2 win away to Aslockton & Orsston, and Basford CFC claimed a 2-0 win at home to Borrowash Victoria.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @robhornby Notts FA Trophy action between Wollaton & Trent Vineyard.
