Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Roundup for April 19th 

MIDWEEK MATCHES

Nothing was quite resolved as far as divisional champions were concerned although themathematical side of things became more straightforward.

South Normanton need a point in their final match at Linby next Tuesday, If they don’t get it andMelbourne Dynamo win all five of their remaininggames, two of which are against nearest rivals Linby, they will pinch it by a point. The Shiners played their final home match against Mansfield Hosiery Mills on Wednesday, and by half time it was still scoreless. The second half was a different matter as the home side ran in five. The goals were shared between Perry Richards, Archie Brown, Eden Homer, Josh Devereux and Sam Kelly. The result also put the Mills closer to the bottom three as Gresley RoversReserves took maximum points at Mickleover RBL.The Legion made a good start, Anri Burmeisters giving them the lead in the 8th minute but that was as good as it got, Rovers equalising through Ben Mann six minutes later. Joey Shakespeare putting the visitors in front five minutes before half time. Mann’s second ended the scoring on the hour, the 4-1 scoreline giving them a sporting chance of escaping the relegation place, but increasing the concern at Mansfield, Singh Brothers and even RBL. Holbrook Sports would also have been in the list but for atimely 3-1 win at Graham Street Prims their first win in eight Holbrook were three up by half time, Archie Mayer’s 5th minute opener followed by Ethan Watsonnine minutes later and Toby Paulson in the 33rd. That was the score until eight minutes from the end whenAlex Seale hit a consolation for Prims. A local derby at Bakewell, visitors Wirksworth’s recent upturn in form continuing as they took the points. the match ending 2-1. Bakewell took a first half lead with a James Bean free kick, Wirksworth’s Harley Taylor and Ryan Marchington the matchwinners in the second half. 

In contrast, the four Premier North Division matcheshad no bearing on events at either end of the table. However, the 90 minutes served up by Worksop Town Reserves and Kiveton Miners Welfare on Tuesday could well have been between two sides contesting top spot in the table, such were the skill levels displayed and the pace of the game. Worksop built up a two goal lead, Shane Carver scoring in the 9th and 22nd minutes, Kiveton not having a great deal of luck, striking the woodwork twice. They pulled one back on 35 minutes through William Palmer, but couldn’t find an equaliser, Worksop’s Tahir Barros making it 3-1 in added time, the final score rather hard on Kiveton who played their part in an excellent three quids worth. A few hundred yards away, the game between SJR and Ollerton Town fell into the“end of season” category, with neither side managing to find the net. With only four goals in their previous seven league games, AFC Bentley must have beenhappy to end the drought with a 3-0 win at Yorkshire Main. Deven Hannan’s opener after 20 minutes wasfollowed by another three minutes later from Tobias Burke. They had to wait until the 58th minute for the third scored by Mark Baggaley, leaving the home side on a run of ten successive defeats. Hatfield Town were 2-0 winners at an inconsistent Harworth Colliery. Both goals came from Callum Stockton, thefirst a header on 37 minutes, the second coming from a rebound four minutes later, taking his total to 24 from 25 matches. 

Congratulations to Linby Colliery who won the Notts FA Senior Trophy at Sherwood Colliery on Tuesdayin front of a crowd of 493. The final was an all CMAL affair against Blidworth Welfare, three second half goals for Linby deciding the outcome. Spencer Pollitt broke the deadlock on 53 minutes, the other two goals coming in the latter stages, Ash Bernard’s 81st minute goal followed by an Ewan Gibson penalty in added time.

In the Macron Store Nottingham Division One North, Kinsley Boys gained some revenge with a 2-0 win against Evo FC who had knocked them out of the League Cup three days previously. Scorers for Kinsley were Rhys Hughes and Jack White. Armthorpe Welfare conceded six for the second game in a row, this time to Epworth Town Coltswhose goals came from Joe Bartlett’s hat trick, a double from Charlie Shapland and one for Sam Davies with Armthorpe’s goal scored by RomansKirillovs. Bottesford Town faced Appleby Frodingham for the second time in four days, faringbetter this time as they took a point from a 1-1 draw.Alfie Comerford was the scorer for Frod, Corey Beedle with his 30th goal of the season for Bottesford

Linby Colliery moved off the bottom of the East Division table after a surprise 2-0 defeat of champions Shirebrook Soldiers, only Shirebrook’s second loss of the season, Cohen Stevenson scoring Linby’s first after an hour, followed six minutes laterby another from Joel Jordan.

Mickleover still need a point from their last two matches to clinch the West Division as Heanor Town clung on to record a 5-1 win at Sleetmoor United, Shaun Turner with two goals, Tyler Beer, Niall Slack and George Greenwood. Adam Gosden replied forSleetmoor who can be excused some ring rust as theywere action for the first time in a month and playing at home for only the second time in 2025. Inter Belper signed off with a 2-1 win at Little Eaton, David Robinson and Robbie Slinger with the goals,Ross Webster the scorer for the hosts. Belper United travelled to Cromford & Wirksworth Town where they picked up three points from a 3-0 win, Jack Birks giving them a 7th minute lead, top scorer Lewis Walker increasing the lead in the 38th minute, and again in the 70th.

Wirksworth maintained their top spot in the Drayton PACS Division Two with a 2-1 result at AstonVillage, Rhys Lessiter and Harley Taylor their scorers, Kieran Isaacs with Aston’s reply. In an end to end game at Little Eaton the home side beat Mickleover Athletic by the odd goal in seven, Jacob Vella, Luke Fuller and Leslie Musaka the scorers for Mickleover, the home side topping that with two forJames Hickling-Mace and one  apiece from Zack Moorcroft and Mason Wright.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES

Two more divisional champions were resolved,congratulations going to Doncaster City and Mickleover Athletic on winning the Premier North and Division One West titles respectively.

Doncaster finally won what has been a two horse race for much of the season thanks to a 4-2 win at SJR Worksop, after being pegged back twice. Mason Barlow gave the visitors the lead a minute before half time, SJR fighting back with an equaliser from TomMullen five minutes after the restart. Jack McKay regained the lead but this time Aaron Redfearnbrought the sides level on 65 minutes. City finally pulled clear, Barlow scoring his second on 73, Ben Dyer getting number four a minute from time. Their long time rivals Dinnington Town were 2-0 winners at home to Staveley Reserves, Nat Jessop striking in the 22nd and 37th minutes, the top two now set to face each other in the League Cup final on May 4th. Worksop Town Reserves carried on from where they left off in midweek, comfortably seeing off AFC Bentley 5-1. Josh Sinclair gave them a solid start with goals in the 9th and 21st minutes, Uhdell Hannan briefly giving the hosts hopes of a recovery five minutes later. Those hopes didn’t last as Bentleyconceded two more in three minutes before the interval, Harry Roddis and George Jenkinson the scorers. In a more even second half the lead was increased just once, Ollie Ellery the scorer on 76 minutes. Kiveton Miners Welfare won 3-1 at Harworth Colliery, taking an 8th minute lead through Hisham Awadh. Abdul Asad made it two after 28 minutes. Although Harworth reduced the lead with a Mason Laws penalty in the 72nd minute, any thoughts of getting some reward vanished when Amir Mohammed got a third six minutes later. OllertonTown signed off with a 1-1 draw at home to Rossington Main Reserves. The visitor went ahead after 71 minutes with a goal from George Noble, Freddie Norris securing a point with just three minutes of the season remaining. Glapwell’s habit of conceding early goals returned, visitors Blidworth going two up in the first eight minutes, both scoredby Ben Copestake, although Cameron Burgin did get one back two minutes later. Another double, this time from Archie Ward in the 38th and 55th minutes, was decisive.

South Normanton came within a couple of minutes of being confirmed as Premier South champions without kicking a ball, as Melbourne Dynamo scored in the 94th minute against Bakewell Town to once again put off the highly likely. The late goal gave Dynamo a 2-1 win, Jake Peverley scoring both, Will Johnson scoring for the hosts. I’m reliably informed that this was the fifth occasion Melbourne have won in stoppage time, a useful habit to have picked up. In third place, Linby Colliery took a point at Derby Singh Brothers from a 1-1 draw, Jagtar Dhanoa scoring for Singhs, Ash Bernard for Linby. Singh Brothers find themselves back in the uncomfortable position one place above the bottom three, which seems to change hands weekly, Mansfield Hosiery Mills the latest to vacate it after a 2-0 defeat of Holbrook St Michaels, Warwick Wood scoring both.Mickleover RBL now find themselves too close forcomfort after a 3-0 defeat at Wirksworth Ivanhoe for whom James Colebourne scored twice, Harley Taylor with the other one. Meanwhile Gresley Rovers Reserves continue to pick up the points, the latest from a 2-2 draw at Cromford & Wirksworth Town. Alex Pott and Evan Wynne put Gresley two up, a Ben Cartwright double rescuing a point. Teversal may have left it too late, but are not giving in without a fight, winning 4-1 at Arnold Town. Tyron Macaskill was quick off the mark, putting the visitors in the second minute, which was the only goal in the first half. Macaskill’s second came after 52 mInutes, Matt Hubbard responding for Arnold ten minutes later. Nathan Hadley on 73 minutes and Josh Parfittshortly before the final whistle sealed the win for Tevie, a bit of relief for the club after having their facilities trashed by the local intelligentsia the previous day. 

The leading pair in Division One North both addedthree more points to their totals, but that was where the similarity ended. Armthorpe Welfare felt the full force of the Kinsley Boys’ attack, having to pick the ball out of the net fifteen times, the second timeKinsley have run up that total this season. On both occasions star striker Lucas Stubbs has scored eight, this time backed up by Jack White with four, Kyle Rose, Harry Mills and Rhys Hughes, leaving their goal difference at plus 98. In complete contrast, Bessacarr had only an Oliver Beaglehole goal to get the better of Evo FC, possibly the most important goal of their season. Bottesford Town are in thirdplace, Jo Gainsford, Lewis Walker and Harvey Birrell with a goal each in a 3-0 win against Harworth Colliery. Appleby Frodingham travelled the short distance to Crowle Colts, John-Terry Broughton and Ben Hayward scoring in Frod’s 2-0 win.

RHP kept alive their hopes of the runner up spot in Division One East, winning a scrappy game at Linby Colliery, Sebastian Headley and Aiden Horner with the goals. In the other game Southwell City edged out Pilsley 3-2. Vincent Kerslake, Diego Perez andFinlay Mellows-Simpson got the goals for the home side, Nathan Flint with both for Pilsley.

Waiting patiently for the last few weeks, Mickleover Athletic can finally celebrate as champions of Division One West. After waiting for Heanor Townto slip up, they finally clinched the title by their own efforts beating Rowsley 86  5-0, Cole Hassell’s double backed up by Kaelin Cole-Tonks, Jamie Laird and Callum Horton. Second placed Melbourne Dynamo won 5-1 at Little Eaton, Joe Shadbolt scoring twice, Joe Astle, Alex Walsh and Robin Bentley also finding the net, the home side’s scoring through Mason Wright. Zach Brown opened Belper United’s account in the 7th minute as Belper Unitedwon 3-0 at Bakewell Town, getting the second after half an hour, Chipego Haminga with number three midway through the second half. It was also 3-0 at Holbrook St Michaels, the home side getting the better of Mayfield with an own goal, and one each for Kieran Smith and Charlie Harrison.

One game only in the South Division, FC Sunnyhillgetting the better of Hemington Hammers 4-0, all four scored by Lewis Benjamin.

Ther were three close matches in Division Two. Markeaton beat Winster Darley Lions 2-0, Max Warrington giving them the lead on the hour, Sam Wilkinson ensuring the win seven minutes from time. Mickleover Athletic were 2-1 winners at Ashland Rovers , Richard Kayagila and Leslie Musari their goalscorers, Callum Jones replying for Ashland.Jordan Mayer scored the only goal of the game forAston Village in their game at Rowsley 86.

 Richard Lane

Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Roundup for April 12th 

MIDWEEK GAMES

A relatively light midweek schedule before a hectic final three weeks into which an eye-watering total of 166 fixtures have been shoehorned.

This season’s Buckingham Insurance League Cup Final will be a repeat of last year’s, Doncaster City getting the narrowest of wins in an absorbing semi final against AFC Bentley to set up another clash with Dinnington Town. Bentley had the better of the opening half hour and it was somewhat against the run of play when Jack McKay scored what proved to be the only goal of the game. Both sides created chances in the second half, with an incredible reflexsave by City keeper Drew Bremer preventing an extra half hour.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Two tight matches in the Black Dragon Badges Premier South Division resulted in narrow away wins. Both teams ended the game with ten men at Bakewell Town where local rivals Cromford & Wirksworth Town who took the points with an 83rdminute penalty put away by Luke Roper. Holbrook St Michaels had a 2-0 win at Mickleover RBL, Jay Barrett and Ryan Baker with the goals. Gresley Rovers Reserves went home with a valuable point from a 1-1 draw at Graham Street Prims, Alex Seale scoring for Prims, Alex Pott replying for Gresley. In the Premier North, Harworth Colliery inflicted a ninth successive defeat on Yorkshire Main the hostswinning 4-2. All of the hard work was done in the first half, Harvey Walker scoring Harworth’s first on 19 minutes, Harry Shepherd levelling the scores three minutes later before a match-winning burst of three goals in five minutes all but decided the outcome. Joe Green restored Harworth’s lead followed by two from Callum Edwards in the space of a minute. Harworth kept their lead intact untilstoppage time at the end of the second half when Shepherd got his second. Staveley Reserves won 2-1 against their counterparts from Worksop Town. Jamie Purkiss gave Worksop a 16th minute lead which lasted until four minutes after half time when Michael Wilson, Josh Nichols with the winner ten minutes later. There were several matches in the Macron Store Nottingham Division One. In the East, anyone who left early missed the excitement at Blidworth where, after 88 goalless minutes, James Prentice gave the home side what looked to be the perfect end to the season only for Southwell City’s Japu Gangotra to equalise five minutes into added time. The West Division Belper derby went to Inter who beat United thanks to a 15th minute own goal.Heanor Town’s heavy schedule continued with a 2-0 defeat of Holbrook St Michaels, Robbie Horsley and Tom Betts getting a goal apiece. Mayfield’s revival continues. After picking up just two points from their first eleven matches, they have now gone six games unbeaten after a 4-1 win over Little Eaton. Tom Wain scored twice, Dec Bacon and Henry Spowage-Delaney adding a goal each, Oliver Dann getting the visitors on the scoresheet. Rowsley 86 won 2-0 at bottom markers Cromford &a