Defeats for Worksop Town and Carlton Town in the Emirates FA Cup, and for Basford United in the Enterprise Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, meant it was a bad road day for Nottinghamshire’s flagship, non-league clubs at the weekend.

However, in the GCE Hire Fleet United Counties League, it was to be goals galore for the regions sides as Retford and Stapleford Town both hit four in Division One, and there was three apiece for Newark Town, Eastwood CFC, and AFC Mansfield in the Premier North.

Worksop and Carlton both exited the FA Cup in differing circumstances on Saturday afternoon; the Tigers will be ruing not putting their game away to Harborough Town to bed after a saved penalty inside the opening twenty minutes, when already two-to-the-good, would have afforded daylight.

Dylan Cogill and Aleksandrs Starcenko had the Tigers 2-0 up after fifteen minutes, but Elliott Taylor’s save from a Liam Hughes spot-kick proved a turning point which the hosts, eventually, capitalised on.

Riley O’Sullivan halved the deficit with a penalty of his own in first half stoppage time, but they’d have to wait until the closing ten minutes to complete the turnaround, Ben Stephens levelled with seven left, and Paul Malone grabbed the hosts winner three minutes into stoppage time.

Carlton also conceded a penalty and conceded two late goals as they submitted to hosts Matlock Town, Conor Washington netting from the spot after fifteen minutes before grabbing his second in the ninetieth minute, and Diego De Girolamo wrapped up the win for the hosts in added time.

Basford United meanwhile lost for the first time this season when away to AFC Rushden & Diamonds, the hosts running out 4-2 winners, the Ambers netting through Jack Goodman late in the first, and Jordy Hallam early in the second, whilst a brace from Tyler Winters, alongside a fifth minute penalty from Bruno Andrade, and a late fourth from Joel Nketia, sealed the win for the hosts.

At the top of the UCL Premier North there’s three Notts-based clubs tied on seventeen points apiece, they being Sherwood Colliery, Newark Town, and Kimberley Miners Welfare, the first two of whom picked up wins, whilst the latter could rue their home draw.

Sherwood is leading the way and won 2-0 away to Harrowby United as Alexander Duhameau and Kieran Knight netted first half goals for the three points; Newark joined the early front-runners edging a five-goal thriller at home to Clay Cross Town after goals from Bradley McGregoor and Alexander Hales in the first half, and a third from Louis Czwerwak in the second kept noses in front.

Kimberely meanwhile could have gained sole leadership, but were pegged back when home to Ashby Ivanhoe late on after Joshua Timson had afforded them an interval lead, then

added a second, shortly after the restart, the visitors though struck back in the closing stages with Sam Birks and Thomas Smith salvaging a point as the game moved into its final ten.

With Grantham Town and Wisbech Town tied on sixteen, and Blackstones, Heanor Town and Skegness Town level on fourteen, there’s a nice, early season battle brewing at present; remaining Notts-based clubs are in the bottom half led by Hucknall Town and Eastwood CFC, the former losing 3-1 at home to Boston Town, and the latter drawing 3-3 at Belper United, with Terry Hawkridge bagging a brace.

AFC Mansfield won 3-2 at home to Deeping Rangers as Nathan Moss grabbed a double, and Skegness won 2-0 at home to visiting Newark & Sherwood United, whilst in Division One, Retford have moved within a point a point of neighbours, and league leaders Retford United, following their 4-2 win at home to Holwell Sports, and their rivals dropping points to draw 1-1 away to Radford.

David Olatomide scored twice as Stapleford Town won 4-1 away to Clifton All Whites, Jack Vipond doubled up as Sandiacre won 2-1 at home to Southwell City, Elliott King with the only goal for West Bridgford at home to Shirebrook Town, Gelding Miners Welfare netted twice late on to win 3-2 at Swallownest and Clipstone conceded three in the closing twenty-two minutes to lose 3-2 at Staveley Miners Welfare.

The remaining two games saw Rainworth Miners Welfare hold hosts Coalville Town to a goalless draw, and Dunkirk lost 1-0 away to Sleaford Town.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @LewisPickersgi1 it all looked to be going well for Worksop who were beaten by Harborough.