There’s a three-way tie atop of the Central Midlands Alliance Premier South as second placed Selston continue to battle with leaders Graham Street Prims, and third placed Borrowash Victoria, for the title, and with it, promotion.

Just a point separates the top two sides after both registered 2-0 wins on Saturday afternoon, Graham Street Prims doing so away to third bottom Bakewell Town, and Selston seeing off their visitors, sixth bottom Mickleover Athletic.

With just eight games left of the season (Borrowash have eleven, sitting third with three games in hand and ten points off Selston), the TBA clash between the top two, at Selston, could well turn out to be the decider.

At The Parish on Saturday, the hosts took the points courtesy of first-half goals from George Layton and Jordan Black, the first coming with ten minutes of the half remaining as Black’s initial effort is saved by the visiting ‘keeper, the Selston man proceeding to knock the return to the back post for Layton to take a touch, and fire home from ten yards.

The hosts second arrived as the game closed in on the break, Black bursting through on goal and, although brought down and shaking off penalty claims, gets back up and slots home for a two-goal, interval lead.

Neither side added to the goals tally in the second half and for the hosts, and their ‘keeper Brannon Meehan, it was to be a third successive clean sheet, all at home and eighth in the league so far this season.

Elsewhere in the CMA Premier South, Blidworth Welfare were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Mickleover Reserves, Henry Eastgate levelling at the death, and Linby Colliery Welfare progressed to the semi-finals of the Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup, beating Borrowash 2-0 at home, Zach Hamilton and Charlie Tassi both netting in the first half.

In the CMA Premier North, Teversal continue to push for a top five finish and won 2-1 at home to Harworth Colliery, Aston Thompson and Tyron Macaskill netting either side of the break, whilst the two Worksop sides are aiming for the top ten.

SJR Worksop registered a 4-1 win away to Elite AFC, Callum Edwards notching a hat-trick, and Worksop Town Reserves won 2-1 at Burngreave United, Luke Adby at the double, whilst third bottom RHP Sports drew 2-2 with visiting AFC Bentley.

Further up the pyramid and Worksop Town picked up a second successive win, this time 2-0 at home to Radcliffe, in the National League North, Aleksandrs Starcenko and Liam Waldock netting in each half.

As for the regions’ two representatives in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, it was a pair of losses on the board; leaders Carlton Town have seen their lead cut to just two points of late and, in front of their highest ever attendance of 486, suffered a

third successive loss, going down 3-0 at home to Loughborough Students, for whom Gafar Abari bagged a late brace.

Basford United were also handsomely beaten, they shipping four without reply at second place Anstey Nomads, Luis Rose scoring twice, and adding to the six they hot Carlton for in midweek.

Sherwood Colliery returned to winning ways to keep themselves ahead of Boston Town, on goal-difference, in the United Counties Premier North title race, winning 4-1 at home to Harrowby United, goals coming from Charlie Clements, Jacob Pearce, Jamie York, and Alexander Duhameau, whilst Boston won 3-0 at home to sixth place Eastwood CFC.

Fourth place Newark Town won 3-1 away to Ashby Ivanhoe, Harry Allcock bagging two, whilst there were defeats for AFC Mansfield, Hucknall Town, Kimberley Miners Welfare, and Newark & Sherwood United, the latter having requested voluntary relegation to Division One at the end of the season, it coinciding with a return to their Newark home.

The Division One title race is also going to run to the wire, leaders Retford having been held to a 1-1 draw at Holwell Sports, with second place Retford United moving within two points after a 3-0 win at home to Coalville Town, who are joint-third with Stapleford Town, who lost 1-0 ay FCV Grace Dieu.

Shirebrook Town were the only other victors in the division, 2-0 over visiting Swallownest, whilst there were draws for Clipstone against Clifton All Whites, Gedling Miners Welfare, Radford, Rainworth Miners Welfare, Southwell City, and West Bridgford, with Dunkirk losing.

As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, leaders Cotgrave have dropped points in two of their last three games, being held to a goalless draw at home to West Bridgford on Saturday.

That gave second place Awsworth Villa a chance to narrow the gap, which now stands at fourteen points, Villa having two games in hand, following their 4-0 win at Aslockton & Orston.

Bingham Town strengthened third with a comfortable, 5-0 win away to Ruddington Village, Keyworth United also hit five, winning 5-2 at Beeston, Southwell Reserves won 4-3 at Dunkirk, Notts Olympic edged hosts Woodthorpe Park Rangers 2-1, and there was a 2-0 home win for Collingham over FC Cavaliers.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @secondshotphoto Selston beat Mickleover Athletic at the weekend.