Differing weather conditions continue to cause havoc with the fixture schedule as we move headlong into the winter period, and the Central Midlands Alliance suffered the same fate as most others on Saturday afternoon, with just five games involving Notts clubs going ahead.

Both of the SJR Worksop teams were in action though, although with differing results, their senior team winning 4-2 away to AFC Phoenix in the CMA Premier North, whilst their development side fell to a last-minute winner from visitors Bottesford Town, in Division One North.

Just the one goal was netted in the first half of the win at Phoenix, Alex Bennett netting minutes before the break, the visitors equalising early in the second; however, that didn’t last too long, Worksop regaining their advantage just before the hour mark when Liam Cross netted, and Bennett extending the advantage to two with twenty minutes remaining.

Like Worksop Town Reserves, SJR Worksop have lingered at the bottom end of the table in the early stages, but games in hand have helped them climb the table and a fourth of the afternoon, this time from Thomas Mullen with four minutes remaining, and after the hosts had pulled another back, wrapped up the points for the visitors.

Victory for SJR sees them not only leapfrog the pairing of Worksop Reserves and Yorkshire Main, who were battling each other in the cup, up to eleventh place, but also within three points of eighth place Kiveton Miners Welfare.

SJR’s Devs side meanwhile, they were involved in a five-goal thriller when home to Bottesford Town Development, in Division One North, Corey Beedle netting a second half brace for the visitors to keep them in the running, whilst the hosts netted via Will Bates, and Taylor Thackery; Bottesford would snatch victory through substitute Logan Hayes, in the ninetieth minute.

Although leading the division, SJR Devs’ four-point advantage looks precarious now with Bessacarr JFC, and third place Evo FC, having three games in hand apiece, whilst fourth place Appleby Frodingham have five in hand, and fifth place Kinsley Boys, four, the gap to them just eight points – defeat to Bottesford, at the death, could prove costly.

Two of the CMA Notts-based clubs were on cup duty, Worksop Reserves exiting the Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup, to a loan goal when home to fellow Premier North side, Yorkshire Main, and Linby Colliery Welfare, of the Premier South, progressed in the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy.

Away to Notts Senior League high-fliers, Collingham, the CMA side had just enough in them to progress to the next round, thankful to a brace of goals from Liam Cartledge, his first coming four minutes before the break, and the second, six minutes after the restart, taking his tally to six in thirteen thus far.

And the remaining game, that came in Division One East, and a battle between first and fourth, leaders Shirebrook Soldiers extending their lead at the top to seven points on second place Mansfield Hosiery Mills Blue, and eleven on third place Kirton Brickworks.

Shirebrook, who are now unbeaten in ten league matches thus far this campaign, won 4-1 at home to fourth place Eastwood & Kimberley, the hosts easing to three points courtesy of Joshua Brentnall’s brace (five in seven), and one apiece for Lewis Foster (seven in ten), and substitute Fraser Howarth.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @StWorksop Aaron Redfearn in action for SJR Worksop.