As the wintry snap continues to play havoc with this season’s non-league football, Saturday would see but three games contested, albeit with an eight-goal thriller for Worksop Town in the National League North on what was the Tigers’ Vaughan Redford’s 200th appearance.

Hosting Merthyr Town, and shorn of the recently departed Liam Hughes (moved to Cleethorpes Town during the week), the Tigers battled away with the Martyrs before losing out at the last, in a game which saw the hosts finish with ten men.

A five-goal first half would see Craig Parry’s hosts take a two-goal lead through Luke Waterfall and Vaughan Redford efforts before twenty minutes were even registered.

The first goal came from a corner and was finished off at the back stick by Waterfall, and the second off a cross from Martin Woods that was headed home by Redford.

The visitors though soon levelled proceedings, Cawley Cox with a quick-fire brace, before taking an interval lead when defender Noah Smerdon headed home the third in stoppage time.

Aaron Martin pounced for his fourth in four outings six minutes after the restart, again from a Woods cross, to tie the contest at threes-apiece, but ten minutes later the visitors restored their lead when Lewys Twamley netted.

Both sides continued to create in a back-and-forth game before Martin saw red for a reckless challenge on Jack Evans with eight minutes remaining; the visitors took advantage of the extra man when Cawley completed his hat-trick at the death, and in doing so completing the Martyrs come-from-behind victory.

Northern Premier League Division One Midlands leaders, Carlton Town, were the only side in action here as they played host to fellow promotion hopefuls, Racing Club Warwick.

A second successive draw stretched the Millers’ unbeaten run to eight games, and increased their lead at the top of the table to eleven points, with a game in hand on both Belper Town (second) and Basford United (third).

Lamin Manneh opened the scoring for the hosts, he netting after just three minutes, before James Harding equalised ten minutes later, for the games’ only goals as the two settled for a 1-1 draw.

The only other game involving a Notts-based club played out came in the United Counties Premier North, Newark Town moving joint-second with Sherwood Colliery following a 2-1 home win.

Hosting mid-table Blackstones, it would be they who’d take an interval lead when Callum Davies just after the half hour mark; Ryan Rushen levelled six minutes into the second half, before Louis Czerwak fired home a free-kick from 25yds with fourteen to go for a delightful winner.

The win sees them move level with local rivals, Sherwood, but having played more games than the majority of clubs around them at the top end of the table, Sherwood, and fifth place Grantham Town having at least three in hand apiece.

Action further down the pyramid came in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Division One, they seeing three games, and fourteen goals, as the away sides emerged victorious, Stapleford Town Reserves moving top by two points, and with games in hand, following a comfortable 4-1 win away to Calverton Miners Welfare, Harvey Lack grabbing a brace.

Clifton All Whites Reserves are seventh following their 5-1 win away to Keyworth United Reserves, and East Leake Robins strengthen ninth with a narrow, 2-1 win, away to Elston United, who they moved level on points with.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @worksoptownfc action during an eight goal thriller at Worksop.