Saturday afternoon in the Northern Premier League Premier Division was certainly a case of ‘Brilliant Basford’ and ‘Roaring Tigers’ as the pair concluded their respective league campaigns in style, and with a pair of clean sheets to match as well.
Basford, who just recently confirmed their place in the Premier Division for next season, cruised to a 4-0 home win over visiting Bamber Bridge thanks to a brace from Josh Barnes, he netting once in each half to put the Ambers on their way to three points.
The opener came after twenty minutes following a drive from the back by Victor Nirennold, and, without being challenged, released Barnes who nutmegged the visiting ‘keeper to score; the game stayed that way until eight minutes after the restart when Barnes doubled his, and Basford’s advantage.
Jack Lewis was seen to fire the ball into the path of the onrushing Jack Thomas and, once received, he crossed for Barnes to head home at the back post; a handful of changes came shortly after the hour mark, but it was Thomas who’d add the third, unleashing a thirty-yarder into the visiting top corner.
Already with a goal and an assist to his name for the afternoon, Thomas was at it again just minutes later, this time turning provider for substitute Tyler Dacres, on for Prince Mancinelli, Dacres dashing in and calmly slotting home his first league goal for the club, and sealing an impressive, 4-0 win.
Basford – Kieran Preston, Jordan Fankwe, Henri Wilder (Kane Richards, 65), Prince Mancinelli (Tyler Dacres, 65), Victor Nirennold, Kieran Fenton, Jack Thomas, Toby Ritzema (Matt Thornhill 75), Rev James, Jack Lewis, Josh Barnes
The Tigers meanwhile confirmed their place in the NPL play-offs with victory on the final day, their seventh of their last nine outings, and will now face runners-up Macclesfield Town in the semi-final on Tuesday (30 April) night.
A 3-1 defeat for Ashton United, against Marine, coupled with Worksop’s 2-0 win away to Atherton Collieries, saw the Tigers take fifth place ahead of both Ashton, and Hyde United, by three points.
It was to be a goal in each half that would give them victory, Liam Hughes opening the scoring after four minutes following a Jordan Burrow knock-down, and with fourteen remaining, the captain himself, Hamza Bencherif, headed home a Terry Hawkridge corner.
In the East Division it was defeat for Carlton Town on the final day, they losing 2-0 away to Brighouse Town, but had done enough to also the make the play-offs, they travel to the north-east, and runners-up Stockton Town, in their semi-final on Tuesday (30 April) night – it’ll be their first play-off match in a dozen years.
The United Counties League Division One play-off semi-finals were played on Saturday afternoon, with mixed fortunes for the Notts clubs, Clipstone came unglued when hosting Harrowby United and losing 4-1, whilst the derby saw a five-goal thriller, Newark Town edging their visitors Dunkirk.
The hosts led by two at the break thanks to goals from Jamie Lloyd and Rhys Lewis, before going three-up ten minutes into the second half; the visitors however made a fight of if though and, with Jack Thatcher’s quick-fire brace either side of the seventieth, made for a nervy close.
Of the league games that were concluded, Sandiacre Town and West Bridgford, alongside Asfordby, were relegated, the former losing 1-0 at home to Gedling Miners Welfare, and the latter 4-1 at Asfordby; back-to-back victories meanwhile for Rainworth Miners Welfare at the last kept them up, Thomas Bedford’s double helping them to a 3-0 win at Southwell City on the final day.
Southwell, along with Gedling, Clifton All Whites, and Selston, all finished in the bottom half of the table, Selston winning a seven-goal thriller on Saturday when away to Lutterworth Athletic, Jordan Black with a late hat-trick for the visitors; Radford, the remaining Notts club in the division, finished in eighth place.
In the Northern Counties East Division One it was defeat for Retford, 3-1 away to Harrogate Railway, and there was similar for Notts clubs in the Central Midlands Alliance, Linby Colliery Welfare the only victor, in the South, 1-0 at Holbrook St. Michaels, Mason Moore with the only goal of the game.
Defeats, they befell that of SJR Worksop and Woodhouse Colts in the North, 3-0 (Dearne & District) and 4-1 (AFC Bentley), at home respectively, and to Arnold Town (AFC Normanton) and Mansfield Hosiery Mills (Bakewell), in the South, 2-1 and 3-2 away, respectively.
As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Stapleford Town have wrapped up the title ahead of that of Collingham, Wollaton, and Cotgrave, Jake Upton bagging a brace in the champions’ 2-0 home win over Ruddington Village.
Collingham won by the same score, when under the Friday Night Lights, early goals coming from William Hollingsworth and Jordan Haywood, and Wollaton won 3-0 at West Bridgford IIs thanks to efforts from Joshua Broad, Ryan Pearson, and Liam Taylor.
Other results would see Greg Simmons score twice for Awsworth Villa in their 4-2 win at home to Southwell City Reserves, Sam Brakewell at the double for Aslockton & Orston in their 3-2 win at Dunkirk, and Beeston won 3-1 at home to Gresley Rovers Reserves.
With cup finals upcoming throughout May, a lot of focus turns there also; games as follows –
Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup: Nottingham Forest U21s vs, Basford United (14 May)
Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy: Wollaton vs. Keyworth United (2 May)
Nottinghamshire Senior League Senior Cup: Collingham vs. Beeston (18 May)
Nottinghamshire Senior League Intermediate Cup: Stapleford Town Reserves vs. Greyfriars (11 May).
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Basfordutdfc Tyler Dacres celebrates his first Basford goal in the 4-0 rout of Bamber Bridge.
