Several Nottinghamshire-based clubs are flying high at the top end of their respective divisions as we head into Christmas, with quite a few harbouring hopes of title-winning seasons, and with it, promotion.

Carlton Town and Basford United are at the top end of the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, the Millers with a firm grip on the number one spot, and the Ambers holding onto joint-third – both sides registered points this past weekend.

The Millers, they boast a ten-point advantage on second place Belper Town, and with a game in hand, heading into Christmas, following another win on Saturday afternoon; Lamin Manneh was at the double, six minutes in and with six minutes remaining, to seal a 2-1 win against visiting Rugby Borough.

As for the Ambers, they were held to a 2-2 draw when away to Sutton Coldfield Town – perhaps they could have done with a win – they’re level on goal difference with Anstey Nomads; the draw with Sutton Coldfield courtesy of goals from Oli Wilson and Osa Solomon.

In the United Counties League, Sherwood Colliery are nicely perched in second place of the Premier North, two points behind leaders Boston Town, but with three games in hand; Saturday afternoon saw them register their fourteenth win of the season, 2-1 at Belper United, goals coming either side of the interval from Alexander Duhameau and Carter Widdowson.

Also in the mix at the top end of the UCL Premier North are Newark Town (third), Kimberley Miners Welfare (fifth), Eastwood CFC (seventh), and Hucknall Town (ninth), Notts clubs making up half of the top ten in the ten in the division.

Alongside Sherwood’s win were successes for Newark Town, 1-0 at home to Eastwood, Ryan Rushen with the only goal of the game, and for Hucknall Town, 2-0 away to Kimberley as Declan Reason and Aaron Coyle netted either side of the break.

The Retford one-two in UCL Division One continues ahead of their Boxing Day clash at the Rail; the Choughs lead the way and have a twelve-point advantage on the Badgers, but the second place side do have a game in hand as well.

On Saturday, Retford claimed their twenty-first win of the season, a 2-1 success at Dronfield Town, first half goals coming from Iren Wilson and Reece Clegg, whilst rivals United added their sixteenth success with a 3-0 home win over Rainworth Miners Welfare thanks to second half efforts from Ben Ashall, Lewis Chambers, and Drew Allwood.

The top end of UCL Division One also sees Stapleford Town in the mix, joint-second with the Badgers, but having played a handful games more than those around them; they also won on Saturday, 2-1 at Pinchbeck United courtesy of Jack Harrison and Max Taylor goals.

In the Central Midlands Alliance, Teversal’s move from Premier South to Premier North continues to benefit and they sit in fifth ahead of the festivities; although thirteen points off

leaders Kinsley Boys, Tevie do have three games in hand, whilst in the South it’s Selston leading the way of the Notts clubs, sitting third in the table, sixteen points behind leaders Graham Street Prims, and a game in hand themselves.

As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League, that’s taken an interesting turn beneath the unbeaten, runaway leaders, Cotgrave, in recent weeks; the leaders boast an eighteen-point lead on the chasing pack following a fifteenth win of the season at Ruddington Village – Patrick Ferguson, Henry Burdett and Lewis Robertson netting in a 3-2 win.

As for the chasing pack, just three points split second to seventh, with joint-second’s four sides parted by goal-difference – Awsworth Villa, Kimberley MW Reserves, Aslockton & Orston, and Bingham Town all sitting on twenty-nine points apiece.

Awsworth and Aslockton shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, Kimberley Reserves won 3-1 at Wollaton as Bradley Mee bagged a brace, and Bingham were on the wrong end of a 5-1 drubbing when home to Woodthorpe Park Rangers.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @SteveMack2017 there’s been a lot of celebrating for Carlton Town this season so far.