Eastwood Make It Eight Unbeaten

Eastwood CFC continued their climb up the United Counties League Premier North table with a Saturday night victory away to Clay Cross Town.

After a mixed start to the season, winning just four of their opening thirteen matches, the Red Badgers are unbeaten in their last eight, league outings following Saturday’s 2-1 win which came courtesy of goals in the closing ten minutes.

Timothy Gregory afforded the hosts an early lead, but found themselves down to ten men early in the second when Alex Marshall was dismissed; the Red Badgers finally cracked the home defence with eight minutes remaining when Louis Nicholson equalised following good work from Theo Flanagan.

The winner arrived just minutes later when Nicholson turned provider for Neo Saunders to grab what proved a vital goal, firing the visitors up to seventh in the table, and two points off fifth place Kimberley Miners Welfare, in the final playoff spot.

Kimberley, along with Newark Town and Sherwood Colliery are three of the four sides in the UCL Premier North playoff positions, all of whom collected victory on Saturday afternoon; fifth place Kimberley won 3-1 to visiting AFC Mansfield as Joshua Timson bagged a double, third place Newark won 1-0 at Gresley Rovers with Harry Alcock netting the only goal, and second place Sherwood won 3-0 against visiting Newark & Sherwood United thanks to goals from William Norcross, Oliver Lobley, and Jacon Pearce.

Action for Notts-based clubs above the UCL saw Northern Premier League Division One Midlands leaders, Carlton Town, win 3-1 away to AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Lamin Manneh’s brace being added to by another, Ashely Chambers effort, whilst Basford United snatched a 1-0 win at St. Neots Town, Louis Czerwak with the only goal.

Meanwhile, in the FA Trophy Third Round, Worksop Town were held to a goalless draw away to Kidderminster Harriers, before exiting the competition 4-1 on penalties.

In the UCL Division One Retford’s lead is at a dozen points following their 2-1 home win over Staveley Miners Welfare, Rory Coleman bagging a double, whilst Retford United are second on goal-difference from Stapleford Town, both sides being held to 1-1 draws on the road, United away to Pinxton, and Town at West Bridgford.

Sandiacre Town won 2-1 at Dunkirk, Gelding Miners Welfare and Clifton All Whites shared four goals in a 2-2 draw, whilst Shirebrook Town drew 1-1 at Dronfield Town; elsewhere there was defeats for Clipstone, Radford, and Rainworth Miners Welfare, the former doing so in a seven-goal thriller at Holwell Sports, and after leading 2-0 at the break.

There was minimal action for local sides in the Central Midlands Alliance as Joe Bean scored twice in SJR Worksop’s 4-1 home win over Glapwell, Logan Liggins and Matty Templeton also netting, and RHP Sports won 3-2 at Ollerton Town on Friday night, in the North – Elliott Nunn scored twice for the hosts, whilst the visitors netted via Harry Chapman, Sebastian Headley, and Rhuel Samuels.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills suffered another, heavy defeat in the South, this time 12-0 at home to FC Sunnyhill, whilst Blidworth Welfare and Selston both progressed in the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy, the former 2-1 at a resilient, Meden Vale Colts, Archie Ward with the winner, and the latter 14-0 against plucky visitors, AJ Sports Reserves as Liam Taylor bagged four, Jordan Black three, and Tom Batterham two, in the rout.

The other NFC Trophy match played saw Cotgrave Reserves win 3-2 away to AFC Parabellum, whilst in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Cotgrave’s Firsts won 3-0 away to Notts Olympic to continue their fine start to the season.

Awsworth Villa (5-1 at Wollaton), Keyworth United (2-0 at Woodthorpe Park Rangers), and FC Cavaliers (1-0 at Aslockton & Orston) all picked up wins on the road, whilst the game between Bingham Town and Ruddington Village finished in a 1-1, as did the NSL Cup quarter-final between Collingham and Beeston, the hosts progressing to final four on penalties.