Sherwood Through In Vase

Sherwood Colliery are the only Notts club left in this seasons Isuzu FA Vase following Saturday’s narrow, Third Round win at home to Retford United.

The two United Counties League high-fliers clashed at Debdale Park, the hosts netting a goal in each half to claim a battling, 2-1 win, and progress to the fourth for the first time in their history.

William Norcorss gave the UCL Premier North side an early lead, skipping past a pair of Badgers players before shotting inside Harvey Woodward’s far post, the goal lighting the contest’s blue-touch paper with both sides creating chances aplenty.

The best of those chances came late in the half when Warner headed a goal-bound effort from the hosts off the line, then, minutes later, Dale Sheppard saved brilliantly from Ben Ashall, Wayne Savage’s hosts going in with an interval lead.

Both sides continued the high pace in the second period, Lewis Chambers firing wide early on as the UCL Division One high-fliers continued to push forward; their pressure eventually paid off just after the hour mark as well.

Ryan Hindley had brought on Jake Wright for Charlie Dawes, and it paid off instantaneously when Wright bagged his first Badgers goal to level proceedings; visiting joy though was short-lived when, less than fifteen minutes later, the hosts snatched what proved the winner.

A break down the left would see Norcross, having bagged the opener, turn provider, cutting the ball back for Alexander Duhameau to fire into the roof of Woodward’s net; the Badgers did have a chance to level it up again late on but Charlie Fox’s effort went wide of Sheppard’s goal, and Sherwood Colliery progressed.

SHERWOOD COLLIERY – Dale Sheppard, Jacob Barrass, Oliver Lobley, Jobe Shaw, Carter Widdowson, Robson Doolan, Jamie York (capt), Jacob Pearce, Alexander Duhameau, William Norcorss, Kieran Knight (subs – Marley Grant, Destiny Wognin, Dorian Sulkowski, Ricky Starbuck, Harrison Leech)

RETFORD UNITED – Harvey Woodward, Charlie Dawes, Ben Ashall, Matt Tootill, Conner Willamson (capt), Josh Eggington, Carlton Carty, Jack Warner, Lewis Chambers, Jackson Buckthorp, Callum Orange (subs – Charlie Fox, Darren Smith, Josh Devereux, Jake Wright, Drew Allwood)

Sherwood will next play Droylsden away in round four.

In the other third round tie Radford were heavily beaten when home to Heather St. Johns, exiting on the back of a tough, 5-0 loss, the Pheasants having put a run together similar to that of the side of 2020/21.

Elsewhere in the county’s non-league action, there was drama aplenty at the top end; Worksop Town were held to a 1-1 draw in the National League North against visiting Chorley; Jordan Burrow had afforded the Tigers an early lead before Milan Lalkovic levelled from the penalty spot with less than twenty remaining.

The Tigers could have snatched all three points in stoppage time with a spot-kick of their own however Vaughan Redford’s penalty was saved by Matt Urwin in the visiting goal; Carlton Town won 1-0 away to Rugby Borough in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Lamin Manneh with the only goal of the game, via a first half penalty.

Meanwhile, at Basford United’s home game against AFC Rushden & Diamonds, the sides played out a goalless draw as Nathaniel Peters saw red on thirty minutes, and Matt Yates saved a penalty at the end of the first half.

There wasn’t much goalscoring action in the UCL Premier North, Newark & Sherwood United the only victors, boosting their chances of climbing the table with a 2-0 win at home to Skegness Town; Hucknall Town scored twice but were beaten 4-2 at home to Melton Town, whilst Eastwood CFC, Kimberley Miners Welfare, and AFC Mansfield all drew blanks, the former earning a point at home to Blackstones.

Retford scored five when home to Dunkirk in Division One, Iren Wilson with an early brace, and Southwell City conceded five away to FCV Grace Dieu; Stapleford Town won 3-1 at home to Dronfield Town, and Clipstone won by the odd-goal-in-seven when at Gedling Miners Welfare, Mykah Skervin with a brace for the hosts.

The two Notts-based clubs in league action in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier suffered defeat, RHP Sports losing 4-2 at AFC Phoenix (Premier North) and Mansfield Hosiery Mills suffered a 13-0 drubbing at Borrowash Victoria (Premier South), for Ethan Watson bagged four, and Labrada Domini three.

Other sides, from the both the Central Midlands, and Notts Senior League, were on cup duty in the Notts FA Senior Trophy, Linby Colliery Welfare progressing with a 3-0 win at home to Ollerton Town and Teversal saw off visiting Notts City Rangers 5-1, Joshua Parfitt with a brace.

Other results saw Collingham win 8-1 at Southwell City Reserves, Keyworth United win 6-1 at home to Collingham Reserves, and Awsworth Villa win 7-3 at Keyworth United Reserves, whilst Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves required penalties to see off visiting Calverton Miners Welfare following a 2-2 draw.

Three games were also played in the Notts Senior Premier Division, leaders Cotgrave strengthening their grip at the top with a 4-0 home win over Beeston, and sit thirteen ahead of joint-second Aslockton & Orston, and Bingham Town, the former winning 2-0 at home to West Bridgford Reserves, whilst the latter lost 5-1 at Wollaton, who moved into fifth.