Northern Premier League Division One Midlands leaders, Carlton Town, continued their march towards the title, and with it, promotion, following Saturday’s huge win away to lowly St Neots Town.

The hosts were themselves unbeaten in their last three games, winning two, ahead of the visit of Millers, and made management duo, Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks’ side, battle all the way; in the end though, it was the leaders, stretching their own unbeaten run to nine games, that prevailed.

Ashley Chambers opened the scoring just after the half hour to afford the Millers an interval lead, before Oliver Clark doubled the advantage with twenty minutes remaining, before Rhys Thorpe made for a nervy finish with nine minutes remaining.

Victory for the Millers stretched their lead to fourteen points, from second place Belper Town, and fifteen on third place Anstey Nomads, who themselves have three games in hand, travelling to Carlton on 10 February then hosting them on 7 March.

In the National League North, Worksop Town registered another point, despite throwing away an early, two goal lead, when at Kidderminster Harriers, Lewis Whitham’s early brace being cancelled out at the death by their high-flying hosts.

Basford United meanwhile, sitting fourth in the NPL Division One Midlands, came from two-down at Loughborough Students to earn a share of the spoils, Oliver Wilson and Ethan Stewart netting in the second half to grab a point.

As for Sherwood Colliery, flying high in the United Counties League Premier North, their FA Vase dream is over for another year, narrowly losing out in the fourth round when away to Droylsden.

The Bloods netted twice in the first half to put Sherwood on the back foot from the off, an own-goal after fifteen minutes, and captain Liam Moran from close range with two minutes of the half remaining, before William Norcross halved the deficit just before the hour mark.

Neither side could add more goals as the visitors’ history-making run came to an agonising end, and the hosts, well they continued with theirs.

Elsewhere in the UCL Premier North, Newark Town slipped into second place following a 3-3 draw at home to another promotion hopeful, Grantham Town, goals coming from Tristan Drummond, Alexander Hales, and Louis Czerwak, in the ninety-ninth minute, the hosts overcoming a two-goal, interval deficit.

Eastwood CFC are into fourth place after their 3-0 home win against Wisbech Town, Logan Dimmock-Fox and Phil Watt with first half goals, Theo Flanagan adding the third just after the hour mark.

There were also victories for Kimberley Miners Welfare (seventh) and Hucknall Town (eighth), against Deeping Rangers and Newark & Sherwood United respectively; Joshua

Timson scored the only goal of the game for Kimberley, whilst Lewis Belgrave and Dylan Reason netted either side of the break for Hucknall in their 2-0 win.

AFC Mansfield meanwhile are fifteenth following their 2-0 win away to Skegness Town, Eden Homer and Ryan Ingram with late, second half goals; meanwhile, in UCL Division One, Retford United moved top on goal-difference, but having played two games more than rivals Retford.

Hosting Clifton All Whites, the Badgers found themselves 3-1 up at the break as Lewis Chambers’ brace helped them to maximum points; Dunkirk are into ninth after they won 4-2 at home to Holwell Sports, and Southwell City are eleventh after a 1-0 win at Radford.

Shirebrook Town won 4-1 at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, and Clipstone beat visiting Pinxton 2-1, whilst there was heavy, home losses, for both West Bridgford and Gedling Miners Welfare, to Staveley Miners Welfare (5-1) and South Normanton Athletic (5-0) respectively.

Of the four, Notts-based sides in action in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier, SJR Worksop were the only victors, registering a 3-1 win at Glapwell to move seventh in the North, goals coming from Luke Tong, Scott Wesley, and Taylor Thackery.

As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Cotgrave’s lead sits at some fifteen points, and with games in hand on those beneath them, they registering a 6-1 won at home to Woodthorpe Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

Beneath them, Aslockton & Orston and Bingham Town are joint-second, the former seeing off visitors Wollaton 4-3 and the latter winning 2-1 against visiting Keyworth United, who sit fourth.

Two games were also played in the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy, Collingham winning 2-1 away to Attenborough Development, and Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves easing to a 4-0 home win against Hucknall Town Reserves.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @EmmaGroundGuide a stunning view of St Neots v Carlton Town.