Big Wins For Title Chasers

The title charges for Carlton Town (Northern Premier League Division One Midlands), Sherwood Colliery (United Counties League Premier North), Retford (United Counties League Division One), and Cotgrave (Notts Senior League Premier) continued on Saturday afternoon, all picking up routine wins, and neither of the four conceded.

In the NPL Midlands, the Millers (73pts) see their lead at the top currently on fourteen points from second place Anstey Nomads (59pts), who they beat 2-0 at the Marks Electrical Arena. The goals arrived in the latter stages of each half with Niall Hylton opening the scoring as the first moved into its final ten minutes, then Jason Law sealed the points with the second, three minutes from time.

Nomads may well have a game in hand, but that fourteen-point advantage could be too much of a mountain to climb, whilst Basford United (58pts) strengthened hopes of a play-off spot with a narrow, 1-0 win away to mid-table Corby Town, and are fifteen off the pace, Nyle Blake netting in the opening minutes for the Ambers.

Belper Town (53pts) and Coleshill Town (53pts) make up the rest of the play-off places, with Wellingborough Town (51pts), AFC Rushden & Diamonds (47pts), and Mickleover (46pts) ready to pounce on any slips; the next nine sides are separated by just five points, from Shepshed Dynamo in ninth, down to Boldmere St. Michaels in seventeenth (sixth bottom).

Worksop Town’s see-saw season in the National League North continued when they slipped to defeat by the odd-goal-in-five at home to Hereford on Saturday, the visitors three goals to the good come half-time following goals from Andy Williams, Keziah Martin, and Keenan Quansah.

The Tigers gave themselves hope in the early exchanges of the second half when Lewis Whitham netted, and Jay Rollins added a second with a little under twenty to go, but were unable to find equaliser and fell to a 3-2 defeat.

Sherwood Colliery continued their push for the UCL Premier North title, and automatic promotion, following a comfortable, 5-0 home win over mid-table Skegness Town, and kept their advantage at five from second place Boston Town, who won 3-2 at Kimberley Miners Welfare.

Kieran Knight’s early goal had the Wood a goal to the good at the break before a second half onslaught sealed the points; Jacob Pearce opened the floodgates soon after the restart, Alexander Duhameau made it three just before the hour, with further efforts coming from Marley Grant and Ethan Wiesztort wrapping up the win.

Second place Boston won 3-2 at mid-table Kimberley, for whom Max Thornberry and Tom Hilton netted; Newark Town is still in the play-off mix after they won 1-0 at home to Melton Town, Ryan Rushen netting, and Eastwood CFC are sitting sixth, keeping their play-off hopes alive following a 4-1 success against visiting Harrowby United – Tyler Blake netted a double alongside goals from Tyler Dacres and Harry Wood.

There were also successes for Hucknall Town, 3-2 at Ashby Ivanhoe, and AFC Mansfield, 2-0 at home to Gresley Rovers, whilst Newark & Sherwood United were beaten 3-0 at home to Grantham Town.

Although three Notts-based clubs make up the top three in UCL Division One, Retford are still in the driving seat and sit seven points ahead of second place Retford United, and ten clear of Stapleford Town in third.

The Choughs picked up a 4-0 win at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, Jesse Omoregbee at the double, the Badgers won 6-0 at Holwell Sports as Lewis Chambers scored twice, and Jack Messom netted the only goal as the Saxons won 1-0 at Shirebrook Town.

Clifton All Whites also netted four as they won 4-1 at home to Swallownest, West Bridgford won 2-0 at home to Pinchbeck United, and Clipstone won 1-0 at Radford, whilst Dunkirk and Southwell City played out a 1-1 draw.

Ollerton Town and Linby Colliery Welfare both registered wins in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier, the former winning 2-0 at home to Holbrook Sports in the South, and the latter seeing off visitors AFC Phoenix 3-2 in the North.

The semi-finals of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy were also played, the final to be contested between Selston and Collingham, the former win 4-1 at AC United thanks to goals from Alex Hardman, Elliot Bland, Tom Batterham, and Jordan Black, and the latter 1-0 at Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves, Alex Mackinder with the only goal.

As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, unbeaten leaders Cotgrave have a nineteen-point lead over second place Awsworth Villa, and third place Bingham Town, the leaders picking up a 2-0 win away to fourth place Aslockton & Orston, and Bingham moved up after a 4-1 win at home to FC Cavaliers.

Southwell City Reserves won 4-0 at home to West Bridgford Reserves and Wollaton won 3-1 away to Beeston, whilst Arnold Town were held to a 2-2 draw with Notts Olympic, and Ruddington Village drew 1-1 with Keyworth United on Friday night.