Worksop Town gave themselves a much-needed shot in the arm on Saturday afternoon, their 2-0 home win over visiting Leamington ending a run of three straight losses.

After defeats at home to Oxford City, and away to Curzon Ashton and South Shields (both 3-1), Craig Parry’s Tigers were perhaps grateful that this one was against the National League North’s bottom side.

They were still made to fight for the points though, with a goal in each half enough to ease, for the now at least, the pressure heading into the final stretch of an up-and-down season.

Sam Sanders afforded the hosts the lead midway through the first half, his effort from inside the box nestling in the bottom corner, with nervy home supporters having to wait until the closing stages for the decisive second goal to arrive.

That came with twenty minutes left on the clock, Josh Wilde connecting on the volley and the ball sailed into the top right corner of the visiting goal, it sealing a 2-0 win that pushed them back up to sixteenth place, with ten games to go.

WORKSOP TOWN – Lewis Forshaw, Josh Wilde, Vaughan Redford, Aleksandrs Starcenko, Oliver Greaves, Mason O’Malley, Chae Whitman-Brown (Jay Rollins, 79), Deegan Atherton, Luke Hall, Sam Sanders, Luke Waterfall

Northern Premier League Division One Midlands leaders, Carlton Town, saw their home game with Mickleover postponed, their lead at the top down to eleven points with second place Anstey Nomads having a game in hand.

After three defeats now in their last four, Basford United slip a place to third, they going down 2-1 when home to fifth place Coleshill Town, as five points separate the four sides, Anstey, Basford, Belper Town, and Coleshill, in the playoff positions, and with a number of sides beneath looking to break into that contingent.

With games affected by the weather, the United Counties League Premier North only saw two played involving Notts-based sides, leaders Sherwood Colliery seeing their advantage at the top cut to five when they suffered a 4-0 loss away to second place Boston Town, Harry Limb bagging a brace for the other title hopefuls.

Eastwood were the other local side in action, they chipping away at a playoff spot following a 3-1 home success against Deeping Rangers, goals coming from Tyler Blake, Harry Wood, and Romello Nangle.

Long since a two-horse between the two Retford sides, neither were in action in the UCL Division One on Saturday, Stapleford Town taking advantage to move back level with the second place Badgers following a comfortable, 5-1 win at home to Radford.

They have however played a few more games than those around them, but continue to pick up the necessary points, this time the Saxons’ goals coming from Aaron Lamb, David

Olatomide, Michael Robb, Max Taylor, and an own-goal, Musa Jawara with a consolation for the Pheasants.

Sandiacre Town are into ninth following their 2-0 win at FCV Grace Dieu, Ryan Hlabangana and Jack Vipond netting, whilst there was defeat for Rainworth Miners Welfare (2-1 at Dronfield Town), and for Clipstone (4-1 at home to Staveley Miners Welfare).

In the Central Midlands Alliance SHR Worksop exited the Buckingham Insurance Challenge Cup at the third round stage, losing 2-0 at Dinnington Town, and there was not much joy for sides on league duty either – Linby Colliery Welfare were held to a goalless draw at home to Cromford & Wirksworth, whilst RHP Sports, Worksop Town Reserves, and Mansfield Hosiery Mills suffered heavy losses.

RHP Sports were beaten 7-3 at home to leaders Harworth Colliery in the CMA Premier North, and both Worksop Reserves and Mansfield HM suffered 9-0 thumpings when away to Brodsworth Main and Holbrook Sports respectively, in the CMA Premier South.

Only a handful of games were played in the Notts Senior League Premier Division, but plenty of goals netted; Aboo Younis with a hat-trick as FC Cavaliers won 5-2 away to Dunkirk, Marcus Thomas scored twice as Beeston won 4-1 at Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves, and in the nine-goal thriller, Callum Wolloch was the only player to double up as Keyworth United edged visiting Southwell City Reserves.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @worksoptownfc back to winning ways after Worksop beat Leamington.