Late Heartache for Blidworth

Two road trips, the same result, as two of Nottinghamshire’s Central Midlands Alliance clubs suffered heartache at the death at the weekend.

In the CMA Premier North Blidworth Welfare, who’ve slipped to seventh of late, were undone at the death when at leaders Dinnington Town, despite leading 2-1 at one point, and looking like having earned a draw.

Kyle Bacon afforded the visitors the lead after just seven minutes when his free-kick ends up in the home ‘keepers bottom corner; the hosts equalised shortly after through Jed Phillips, and a manic, opening quarter of the game saw Welfare regain the lead through Triston Burrell’s rocket after 21 minutes.

The contest was level at the break when, six minutes before the break, the hosts levelled for a second time, this time through Liam Royles; the second half though didn’t live up to that however and, despite attempts from both sides, it was to be the hosts who’d snatch all three points.

With the game looking like it was easing towards a battling, 2-2 draw, for both sides, the hosts grabbed what was an 89^th minute winner when, following a corner from Cam Evans, Josh Baxter rose highest, out-jumping the Welfare defence, to head home the decisive goal, and maintained their four-point advantage at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, at the bottom end of the CMA South, a new-look Teversal were also undone at the death, when away to top-five side, Cromford & Wirksworth Town.

Sam Jackson was on-hand to afford Tevie an early lead, after just three minutes, however, a brace from Ben Cartwright, afforded the hosts a narrow, interval lead.

Oliver Baines netted a second for Tevie midway through the second half and, with the game heading towards what would have been just a fourth point of the season for the beleaguered visitors, they found themselves undone in the closing minutes when Luke Roper snatched what proved a winning effort for Cromford.

Defeat for Tevie, combined with results elsewhere, sees them ten adrift of the two sides directly above the drop-zone, as sides close in on the second half of the season.

Elsewhere in the CMA Premier North, Hatfield Town won 3-1 at home to SJR Worksop, Joe Bean with the visitors only goal midway through the second period, and Worksop Town Reserves, with games in hand, closed in on mid-table with a 4-1 success at Yorkshire Main.

Leading 3-0 at the break, the Tigers’ second string roared out of the gates courtesy of an early brace from Ethan Slater, and one from Kirk Bradshaw, the decisive fourth arriving in the last minute via Rostyslav Yaremenko.

In the CMA South meanwhile, coupled with the Tevie loss, it was defeat for all four Notts-based clubs, Billy Brooks netting Mansfield Hosiery Mills’ only goal as they went down 3-1 at home to Mickleover Reserves.

Linby Colliery Welfare and Arnold Town both suffered 2-0 defeats on the road, the former slipping to fifth when at Mickleover RBL, and the latter, who are fifth bottom, losing at leaders Graham Street Prims.

Eastwood & Kimberley moved above Ashland Rovers into fourth place in Division One East following their 1-0 win at Linby Reserves, substitute Callum Banks with the only goal, whilst Long Bennington, sitting in ninth place, were held to a 3-3 draw away to Pilsley Community, Alfie Morley with a brace for the visitors, Jack Marshall also netting.

As for the Division One Cup competition, it was an exit for all three of the Notts clubs, Mansfield Hosiery Mills Blue losing 9-8 on penalties at Borrowash Victoria Reserves, following a 3-3 draw, the visitors netting through Travis Roe (2) and James Whitmore.

RHP Sports & Social lost 6-1 at Epworth Town Colts, and Blidworth Reserves lost 1-0 at home to Little Eaton, whilst in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Trophy, SJR Worksop Development eased past hosts Hemsworth Miners Welfare Veterans, 10-2.

The remaining game involving a Notts club came in Division Two, Ashland Reserves going down 4-2 away to Allenton United, Jack Sheldon and Antonio Wedderburn with the goals for the visitors, Jayden Cozens netting twice for the hosts and victors.