Linby Heading The Way

The 2024/25 season of the Central Midlands Alliance League is well underway, most clubs having already played around half-a-dozen or so matches with two Notts-based clubs leading their respective divisions.

Linby Colliery Welfare head up the Premier South, with seven wins and a loss from a busy August, whilst Mansfield Hosiery Mills Blue head up a Notts-heavy Division One East, they having won three and drawn two of their five outings date.

It’s looking bleak for a handful of the counties’ clubs though, Woodhouse Colts (Premier North), Teversal (Premier South) and Blidworth Welfare Reserves (Division One East) all propping up their respective divisions.

A shining light out of last seasons darkness however comes from Ollerton Town CFC; having suffered relegation from the Northern Counties they have started this, in the Premier North, with four wins and a draw, from eight played, to sit sixth in the table, two places behind Blidworth’s firsts.

Looking at those high-flying Notts clubs, Zachary Hamilton fired a four-goal salvo for the Premier South leaders, Linby CW, in their 7-1 home demolition of Derby Singh Brothers on Saturday afternoon, taking their early season tally to 28 goals in eight games (they’ve also registered a 6-0 win over Bakewell Town and a 4-0 success against Teversal).

LINBY CW – Jack Walker, Greg Conn (Bailey Godfrey, 62), Joe Turner, Josh Wass, Ethan Fells, Corey Wood (Patrick Stefaniak, 55), Spencer Pollitt (Mason Moore, 45), Ewan Gibson, Liam Cartledge, Zach Hamilton, Charlie Tassi

With both Mansfield Hosiery Mills (7th) and Teversal (17th) losing in the South, and Blidworth (4th) falling to a 4-1 home loss to high-flying leaders Dinnington Town in the North, it was Ollerton Town who’d also catch attention, they winning 3-1 at home to lowly Worksop Town Reserves.

Goalless between the two at the interval it would be Ollerton who’d take the lead midway through the second, Sam Jackson opening the scoring on his debut; five minutes later and the hosts doubled their lead when Alfie Parnell netted against his former club.

As the game headed towards the closing minutes, substitute Harry Topliss collected a pass from Jackson to squeeze his effort past the visiting ‘keeper; Worksop substitute Kirk Bradshaw pulled one back in the closing minutes, but it was a case of too little, too late for the visitors.

OLLERTON TOWN – Rio Alberry, Kian Mills, Sonny Bennett, Regan Edridge, Alex Sennett, Lewis Price, Sam Jackson, Sam Geeves, Alex Wilkinson, Harvey Limb, Rob Singer (subs – Harry Topliss, Alfie Parnell, Josh Brentnall, Jonathan Clark, Josh Watson)

A goal late in each half from Matty Templeton and Scott Wesley saw SJR Worksop win 2-1 at home to Yorkshire Main, whilst bottom club Woodhouse were inactive.

In the South, away from Linby’s success, it was defeat for both Mansfield HM and Teversal; the former were edged in a seven-goal thriller when home to Wirksworth Ivanhoe, and the latter last 3-1 at home to Gresley Rovers Reserves, under the Friday Night Lights.

SJR Worksop Development sit third in Division One North, they picking up their third win of the season (from five outings) with a 6-1 result at Dearne & District JFC, goals coming from Callum Edwards (hat-trick), Taylor Thackery (brace), and substitute Dan Scott.

Four of the top five clubs in the Division One East are Notts clubs, Mansfield HM Blue leading the way after their third win of the season on Saturday, a 4-0 success at home to Eastwood & Kimberley, whilst third-to-fifth is made up of Lord Bennington, RHP Sports & Social, and Ashland Rovers.

Lord Bennington eased to a 3-0 home win over Kirton Brickworks, RHP won a feisty encounter, 2-1, against visiting Pilsley Community (the game saw five red cards, including RHP scorer, Sebastian Headley), and Ashland went down 5-2 at home to mid-table Southwell City Reserves.

Ethan Widdowson was on hand to notch all five of Southwell’s goals in their win, Owen Walker replying with a brace for Ashland, whilst Linby’s Reserves fell to a 5-0 defeat away to Shirebrook Soldiers, for whom Ben Charlesworth netted twice, and Blidworth Reserves, who prop up the table after three losses in three, were inactive.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @FCLinby Linby CW currently lead the way in the CML Premier South.

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