Non League Round Up

A wet, early bonfire extravaganza was served up at the Bill Stokeld Stadium, Carlton, on Tuesday night, as the NPL Division One Midlands table-toppers, Carlton Town, edged a five-goal thriller with visiting AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

The respective captains would find the back of the net, but it was the brace from the hosts’ skipper, Niall Davie, that would prove the deciding factor in this one, the Millers leading by one at the break after Oliver Clarke netted after a goalmouth scramble.

The blue-touch paper was lit early in the second half though, the visitors equalising through Tejan Thomas’ effort two minutes in, Rushden’s joy last but a matter of minutes though as Ashley Chambers, Alexander Troke, and Niall Hylton all combined well.

Hylton’s effort from the edge of the box however was well-saved by Elsom in the visiting goal, the ball though falling to Millers captain, Davie, who fired home from four-yards out; the same player added his second, and the hosts’ third goal, on the hour when Durrow sent Manneh down the flank, before crossing for Davie to fire home from the edge of the box.

Again, a matter of minutes elapsed when Rushden threw themselves a lifeline, their captain, Joel Nketia, heading past Felix Annan, when left unmarked from a corner, the hosts holding out for a big, 3-2 home win.

The victory sees the Millers open a six-point gap atop of the division, having now won eleven and drawn two of their fifteen league games; the advantage also comes with a game in-hand on second place Belper Town with the chasing pack looking rather tight-knit.

From Belper in second, down to Rugby Town in eleventh, just five points separate the ten sides, one of which is Basford United, who sit in tenth place on twenty-four points, both Notts clubs having played fifteen games.

CARLTON TOWN – Felix Annan, Shea Thompson-Harris, Lewis Durow (Neo Saunders, 73), Dean Freeman, Ewan Robson, Oliver Clark (Alex Howes, 61), Lamin Manneh, Niall Davie, Ashley Chambers (Kieren Watson, 79), Alexander Troke (Jason Law, 81), Niall Hylton (Ollie Taylor, 86)

It was a disastrous trip to the north-east meanwhile for National League North side, Worksop Town, they falling to a 5-1 loss against the Quakers.

Jordan Burrow netted what turned out to be a consolation goal for the Tigers as the hosts, having led 2-1 at the break, ran riot in the second half, goals coming from Aidan Rutledge, Will McGowan, Max Howells, Charlie Lennon, and Jack Maskell.

There was plenty of action in the United Counties League as Sherwood Colliery moved top of the Premier North, by a point, with a game in hand, following a 7-2 thumping of hosts Kimberley Miners Welfare.

Sitting fifth in the table, Kimberley found themselves 4-2 down at half-time, with four goals coming I the opening twenty minutes; Kole Lambert and Sacha Markelic netted for the hosts, Alexander Duhameau and Kieran Knight the visitors.

Will Norcross and Jacob Pearce added two more for Sherwood just after the half-hour mark, before second half goals from Duhameau, completing his hat-trick with a quick-fire double, and a late seventh from Destiny Wognin, completed the rout.

Lowly Eastwood CFC meanwhile picked up a 3-2 win when home to Ashby Ivanhoe, goals coming from Thomas Hodgkinson, Tyler Blake, and Elijah Wright, whilst second bottom Newark & Sherwood United were beaten 1-0 off Boston Town, the visitors grabbing the win with a stoppage time goal.

Retford now have a seven-point lead in Division One after they defeated visiting Pinchbeck United 3-1, Nicolantonio Degirolamo with a brace, with second place rivals, Retford United, falling to a 2-1 defeat at South Normanton Athletic.

Elsewhere in the division, Stapleford United won 6-2 at home to Southwell City, Max Taylor and David Olatomide with braces, and Dunkirk were held to a 1-1 draw at FCV Grace Dieu.

The Central Midlands Alliance League meanwhile saw action in the first round of their Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup competition with Linby Colliery Welfare, Selston, and Blidworth Welfare all progressing to the next round.

Patrick Stefaniak netted the only goal as Linby won at Ollerton Town, Liam Taylor and Declan Whitton netted late on as Selston edged visitors Holbrook Sports 2-1, and goals from Finn Brooks and Archie Ward saw Blidworth win by the same when at Crowle Colts – Worksop Town Reserves and Mansfield Hosiery Mills both exited.