Tigers Leave It Late

There was plenty of league and cup action for the region’s non-league sides to contend with on Saturday afternoon, with both Worksop Town, and Carlton Town, grabbing lone-goal victories, whereas Basford United slipped up when in Coventry.

The Tigers left it late before snatching all three points when home to Scarborough Athletic; the game looking like it was head for a goalless draw, and a share of the spoils.

Joe Leesley was the provider as his cross, in the closing minutes, was met by Liam Hughes at the back post to apply the finish past Ryan Whitley; victory sees the Tigers in fourteenth place, five points off the play-offs, and two points above a Darlington side which they visit on Tuesday night.

Carlton meanwhile lead the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, by three points from second place Belper Town, and with games in hand on those beneath them.

A 1-0 win away to Corby Town, who sit fourth, stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches (six wins and a draw), Niall Hylton with the games’ only goal eight minutes into the second half – they now have back-to-back home games against AFC Rushden (4 November) and Coleshill (8 November).

Basford on the other-hand are sitting tenth following their fifth league defeat of the season, losing 2-0 away to a Coventry Sphinx side who moved up to seventh place, they’ll welcome Lichfield City this coming Saturday (8 November).

The United Counties League saw both league, and cup matches played, with Notts clubs involved in both, Kimberley Miners Welfare and Eastwood CFC both progressing to the quarter-finals of the UCL Cup following wins over Retford United (on penalties) and Lutterworth Athletic, respectively.

Kimberley and Retford played out a 1-1 draw as Finn Ryder’s first half effort was cancelled out in stoppage time via Jackson Buckthorp; it was to be Daniel Tuck’s 100th appearance for the victors and he celebrated as his side won 7-6 on penalties.

Eastwood were also made to battle for progression to the latter stages, edging through courtesy of goals from Toby Woodward and Thomas Hodgkinson in the final five minutes.

The draw for the quarter-finals has been made and is as follows –

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE KO QUARTER-FINALS (to be played 21/2/26, or midweek)

Kimberley Miners Welfare vs. Clay Cross Town, Coalville Town vs. Eastwood CFC, Nuneaton Town vs. Grantham Town, Hinckley vs. Moulton

Coalville progressed having knocked out visiting Newark & Sherwood United, 2-1, the visitors scoring through Luke White, whilst Clay Cross won 4-1 at Heanor Town.

In the Premier North, Newark Town went top following a 4-0 win away to Melton Town, goals coming from Harvey Grice, Matteo Perkins, Ryan Rushen and Jack York, whilst

Sherwood Colliery dropped points after being held to a 3-3 draw at Grantham Town, Kieran Knight with a brace, and Jamie York netting his fiftieth for the club.

Hucknall Town were beaten 1-0 at home off Belper Town, and AFC Mansfield lost 2-1 against visiting Wisbech Town; meanwhile the top three in Division One were inactive, so South Normanton Athletic closed the gap in fourth following a 2-0 win at home to Shirebrook Town.

Dunkirk are eighth after a 2-0 win at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, Craig Westcarr and Rio Murray scoring, Pinchbeck United held Gedling Miners Welfare to a goalless draw, and there were narrow defeats for both West Bridgford and Radford.

SJR Worksop and RHP Sports both suffered losses in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier South, with the majority of other sides at this level on cup duty, in the Nottinghamshire FA Saturday Trophy.

Ollerton Town top-scored with a 9-0 thrashing of hosts, South Notts, Elliott Nunn with a hat-trick and two for Barnaby Smith; Selston won 7-0 at home to East Leake Reserves thanks to braces from Dale Fairfield and Connor Ward; Linby Colliery Welfare won 5-1 at Arnold Town Reserves, and Teversal won 4-1 at Woodthorpe Park Rangers.

Results elsewhere saw Southwell City Reserves win 9-2 at home to Newark Town U23s as Henry Easgate, John Fitch and Noah Dickens all netted twice, whilst four sides netted four on the road in wins.

Meden Vale Colts won 4-0 at Bingham Town, Notts Olympic edged West Bridgford Reserves 4-3, and there were 4-2 wins for both Collingham (at Woodhouse Colts) and Keyworth United (at Collingham).

Of the two games played in the Notts Senior League Premier Division, Aslockton & Orston won 5-1 at home to Dunkirk, and Wollaton won 5-2 at FC Cavaliers, two games with a combined, thirteen different scorers.