There was plenty of action in the United Counties League’s Sports Ground Development Cup First Round on Saturday afternoon, with both Retford sides progressing to the next round with home wins.

Alongside the two Retford clubs there was victory for Eastwood CFC and Kimberley Miners Welfare, whilst Gedling Miners Welfare, Newark Town and Southwell City exited, following an exciting afternoon.

Top of the UCL Division One, Chris Woodhead’s Choughs edged visiting GNG Oadby Town, 1-0 at the Rail Ground, Iren Wilson netting the only goal of the game with twenty minutes remaining, whilst Ryan Hindley’s second place Badgers collected a 2-1 win at Cannon Park against Northampton Sileby Rangers, Josh Devereux’s first-half brace enough to see them through.

Eastwood edged visiting Bugbrooke St. Michaels thanks to a lone goal from Tyler Blake immediately after the restart, and Kimberley MW edged Eynesbury Rovers in a five-goal thriller courtesy of Olver Ball’s brace and one for Joshua Timson, the hosts leading by two at the break.

Exiting the UCL Cup was Gedling, on the end of 7-2 thrashing away to Clay Cross Town, Joel Stevens and Kieran Harrison with a goal in each half for the visitors, Newark lost 3-0 at home to Coalville Town, and Southwell City were beaten 2-0 against visiting Coventry United.

The draw for the next round of the UCL Cup has also been made, with Notts-based clubs opposing as follows (dates to be confirmed)

Retford FC vs. Grantham Town; Kimberley Miners Welfare vs. Retford United; Eastwood CFC vs. Lutterworth Town; Coalville Town vs. Newark & Sherwood United/Atherstone Town

Elsewhere in the UCL, there were three games in the Premier North, Sherwood Colliery moving level with Kimberley MW and Newark Town in joint-second after their 1-0 win at Melton Town, Jamie York with the only goal.

AFC Mansfield moved out of the bottom two with victory by the same score when home to Belper Town, Ethan Wiesztort scoring early on, whilst it was defeat for Hucknall Town, losing 2-1 at home to Heanor Town, Aaron Coyle netting for the Yellows.

Action aplenty in Division One saw Sandiacre Town go third with a 2-1 home win against South Normanton Athletic, as FCV Grace Dieu slip to fourth following a 2-2 draw against Clifton All Whites.

Stapleford Town won an eight-goal game when home to Shirebrook Town, George Harrison bagging a brace in their 6-2 win, whilst West Bridgford won 3-1 at home to Radford; Dunkirk, Clipstone, and Rainworth Miners Welfare all suffered losses, the former going down 3-2 at home to Staveley Miners Welfare.

Worksop Town were beaten 2-0 at home to Bedford Town in the National League North, and Basford United exited the FA Trophy, on penalties, following a goalless draw at home to Alvechurch, whilst Carlton Town won 2-1 at home to St Neots Town in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Ashley Chambers with a brace.

The draw for the second round of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup, made in midweek, is as follows (again, dates to be confirmed)

West Bridgford vs. Mansfield Town; Clipstone vs. Retford; Newark & Sherwood United vs. Notts County B; Basford United vs. Sherwood Colliery; Radford vs. Eastwood CFC; Kimberley Miners Welfare vs. Retford United; Hucknall Town vs. Carlton Town; Stapleford Town vs. Nottingham Forest U21s

Lower down the non-league pyramid and Woodhouse Colts’ enjoyable return to competitive action this season continued when they saw off visiting Robin Hood Colts in the Notts FA Senior Trophy, Jordan Ingram with a hat-trick, and there was a 6-3 win for RHP Sports & Social away to Calverton Miners Welfare in a game which saw Callum Baker score three for the hosts, whilst the visitors saw three players bag braces – Callum Chilvers, James Crosby, and Sebastian Headley.

League-wise, in the Central Midlands Alliance, SJR Worksop win 3-1 at home to Hatfield Town, whilst Ollerton Town and Worksop Town Reserves both suffered defeats, in the Premier North.

Meanwhile, in the Nottinghamshire Senior League, several clubs were in NFA Trophy action, Awsworth Villa top-scoring with an 11-0 thumping of hosts PMG Reserves, five players bagging braces, whilst there was also progression for Arnold Town, and a cup upset as Notts City Rangers dismissed visiting Wollaton on penalties.

Cotgrave remain top of the NSL Premier, three points ahead of Kimberley MW Reserves, with a game in hand; the leaders were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Southwell City Reserves, whilst the second-placed side won 4-1 away to Ruddington Village.

With Awsworth on cup duty, and Collingham losing 3-1 at Beeston, Bingham Town closed the gap when moving fifth with a 4-1 home win over Dunkirk, whilst there were also 2-1 home wins for Aslockton & Orston, and Notts Olympic.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Jon_Knight Iren Wilson scores for Retford FC.