The New Year in Nottinghamshire began with just a handful of non-league games, due to the ongoing cold snap, with no local action in either of the Northern Premier League, Central Midlands Alliance, and Notts Senior League Premier.

Worksop Town continue to hold their own in the National League North, winning away to thirteenth Chester, thanks to a thirty-third minute goal from Aaron Martin, heading in a cross from Lewis Whitham.

A third goal in three games for Martin sees the Tigers into sixteenth place, and their eighth league win of the season to date; sitting on twenty-nine points, the Tigers are just eight points behind sixth place Scarborough, and eleven off fifth place Radcliffe.

No action was played in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, but Carlton Town started the year at the top, ten points ahead of second place Belper Town (with two games in hand), whilst Basford United are two points further back, in third.

Only two games were played in the United Counties (Premier North and Division One) involving Notts-based clubs; Kimberley Miners Welfare were beaten 2-1 at home to Wisbech Town in the Premier, whilst Retford United are now just six adrift of leaders Retford following their 4-2 win at home to Sleaford Town.

At Canon Park, the Badgers found themselves a goal down at the break, and two down just before the hour mark thanks to a brace from Harvey Graves; United though struck back strong and claimed the points courtesy of Lewis Chambers, Ben Ashall, and a brace from Drew Allwood.

The Central Midlands Alliance should be back this coming weekend with Teversal, Worksop Town, and SJR Worksop sitting fifth, sixth and eighth respectively in their Premier North, meanwhile the top ten of the Premier South sees Selston riding high in third, six off leaders Graham Street Prims, with a game in hand – Linby Colliery Welfare, Blidworth Welfare, and a struggling Mansfield Hosiery Mills are in the bottom half.

Two games were played in the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy, Arnold Town winning 3-0 at AJ Sport, and Keyworth United won 4-1 at home to a battling Cotgrave Reserves; meanwhile, with all Notts Senior League Premier games postponed, attention turned to their lower divisions.

Division One leaders, PMG Excel, won 3-2 at home to Ravenshead as Joshua Maregane’s brace moved them a point ahead of Stapleford Town Reserves, who dropped to second after a 3-3 draw at home to Clifton All Whites Reserves, Stapleford though having three games in hand.

Meanwhile in Division Three, City United moved into fifth after hitting their shell-shocked visitors, third place Notts City Rangers, for six as Damilola Sanusi and Emmanuel Uyiosa bagged braces in a 6-1 win; Ravenshead Reds also netted six, taking their tally to fifteen in

three games, after a 6-0 win at Phoenix Athletic with Callum Cosey’s hat-trick helping them on their way, and move them within touching distance of the top five.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @worksoptownfc Aaron Martin scored Worksop’s winner at Chester.