Saturday’s top of the table clash in the Euro Soccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division went the way of leaders, and hosts, FCV Grace Dieu, after they saw off the challenge of the previously unbeaten, second placed side, Cotgrave, thanks to a goal in each half.
Cotgrave went into the game on the back of a nineteen-match (all competitions) unbeaten start to the season, and, with the two sides having shared the spoils earlier in the season, it was a game that could have gone any way.
A counter attack midway through the first half was finished off by Sidney Tucker to give the hosts the lead and, with ten minutes remaining, that lead was doubled when Alis Hallaci curled one into the far from just inside the box.
It was a victory that send the leaders into the New Year boasting a ten-point advantage atop of the Premier Division, although they have played two games more than their opponents, and with both having cup distractions to come as well, anything can happen.
FCV Grace Dieu – Samuel Edwards, Ziyad Al-Oyouni, Huw Emery, Joshua Halliday, Joe Lindley, Samuel Warburton, Sidney Turner, Liam Merrick, Rufus Brooks, Spencer Weir-Daley, Alis Hallaci
Cotgrave – Jake Want, Henry Burdett, Dan Fletcher, Jack Reid, Lawrence Cooke, Samuel Dunn, Ben Upton, Kieran Diver, Lee Potts, Mark Green, Lewis Robertson
With third place Collingham seeing their game at Ruddington Village postponed, Borrowash Victoria in fourth were held to a 2-2 draw at FC Cavaliers, Josh Lawrence with a brace for the Vics, whilst Aslockton & Orston in fifth were beaten 3-0 at mid-table Wollaton whose goals came from Liam Taylor, Noor Saleh, and Andrew Thompson.
There were also away day successes for that of Keyworth United, Woodthorpe Park Rangers, and Southwell City Reserves; substitute Sam Foster scored twice as Keyworth edged an eight-goal thriller, 5-3, at Awsworth Villa, Malaky Eshelby also scored twice as Woodthorpe edged hosts West Bridgford Reserves 3-2, and Southwell Reserves won 2-1 at FC Sez thanks to goals from Ethan Widdowson and Ryan Linford.
Division One saw Colsterworth close the gap on leaders Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves to eleven points, with five games in hand, after they demolished visitors Beeston Old Boys Association, 8-0 – Junior Gaskin and Sam Scothern both bagged braces, with further goals coming from Haniel Marasco, Alfie Sheen, Harry Stubbs, and substitute Liam Jaques.
Both Rushcliffe, and Meden Vale Colts, notched four times in wins at home, the former seeing off Hucknall Town Reserves 4-0 to move into fifth place, Callum Baker with a treble, whilst the latter helped that cause with a 4-2 win against AC United, to move fourth, following goals from George Camps, Alfie Gaughan, Jake Smith, Jordan Smith, the two sides separated by goal difference.
Notts Olympic have a three-point lead in Division Two, but have played four more than Elston United and Gedling Southbank, the Olympic winning 3-2 away to FC Pelican to maintain their title aspirations as William Bouwen bagged two and Matt Gordon the other.
As for Division Three, Beeston Reserves are six ahead of second place Collingham Reserves, and seven ahead of Langwith Whitestar in third, following their 8-1 domination of visitors Trent Vineyard, Josh Maxwell and Oluwadamilare Oguntuga with hat-tricks for a side who’ve netted near eighty goals in all competitions so far this season.
Langwith matched that with an 8-2 win of their own, when home to Nottingham Greens, Owen Biddle netting a hat-trick and Ryan Hibbert two, as Collingham Reserves fell to a 3-2 loss when home to AFC Parabellum, who are sitting fifth going into the New Year, the visitors netting through Samuel Raynor, Mackenzie O’Shea, and Mikhia Walters.
The New Year will see the Development Division split in A & B divisions, Newark & Sherwood United and Attenborough were top of the pile at the end of this year, following eight matches, and will be joined in A by the remaining sides who finished in the top five, AFC Warriors, Cotgrave, and Red Sea; meanwhile, the bottom four will make up B, and consist of Linby CW, Pegasus, South Notts, and West Bridgford, fixtures for which will start in February due to Development Cup matches kicking off the New Year.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @FCVGraceDieu a 2-0 win has FCV Grace Dieu extend their lead at the top of the NSL table.
