Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division Roundup for January 17th

Two virtually blank weeks due to rain, snow and frost ushered in 2026. On the first Saturday of the year only two matches were played, both on 3G pitches. At Sandy Lane, Worksop Reserves had a 4-2 win against RHP Sports, the visitors’ eighth consecutive away league game. Sol Miller gave them a 27th minute lead, Ethan Slater bringing the Tigers level six minutes before the interval. Seb Headleyrestored RHP’s lead on the hour but it took less than 60 seconds for Will Bates to level the scores again. With six minutes left Alex Russell put the hosts ahead for the first time and as the visitors pushed forward in search of a point they were hit on the break, a 92nd own goal finally settling the outcome.Wirksworth Ivanhoe moved their match with Gresley Reserves to Sleetmoor, the change of venue rewarded by a 4-3 win. Gresley led 2-1 at half time Ben Mann and Fintan Dampier with the goals. Thesecond half belonged to Wirksworth who took the points thanks to a double from Ewan Sutherill and one each for Jack Higton and Lucas Brough withdebutant Evan Wynne scoring Gresley’s third.                                                                                                           Frost was the big winner on the 10th the only game surviving resulting in a 6-0 win for BurngreaveUnited over Ollerton Town, Umar Mohammed with ahat trick, Mohammed Taher adding two and Abdul Asad one.

Yesterday finally saw some football played, the Camper UK Premier North of seeing the majority of the action. At the top, four of the leading five took maximum points with Kinsley Boys maintaining their two point advantage after a straightforward 5-0win over RHP Sports. Kinsley built up a four goallead by half time, Jack White opening the scoring on 9 minutes, Adam Wilson adding a second six minutes later, White getting his second midwaythrough the half. Lucas Stubbs made it four in the final minute of the half before White completed his hat trick on 73 minutes with the only goal of the second half Dinnington Town got off to the perfectstart as they faced AFC Phoenix, whose preparationfor the match couldn’t have been worse. Their manager gave his notice an hour before kick off and several players disappeared, former manager Daz Newson deserving great credit for stepping up to steady the ship and ensure the game went ahead.Tom Bishop tucked away a first minute penalty,before Jordan Turner made it two with only nine minutes on the clock. Phoenix managed to weather the storm, the hosts adding one more to their total, Nathan Jessop completing a 3-0 win in the 68thminute. Third placed Brodsworth Main’s trip to Rossington Main Reserves was a lot closer than a look at the table might suggest. The first half ended goalless, both keepers pulling off fine saves. The match sprang into life on 62 minutes, Liam Williams giving Brodsworth the lead. Joe Parkin equalising three minutes later. The visitors were then reduced to ten men, but still came out on top thanks to thealmost guaranteed Callum Stockton goal, this onecoming in the 71st minute.                                                                                         Burngreave Unitedcompleted a quickfire double over Ollerton Town, with last Saturday’s six goal haul followed by a 4-0 win at Walesby Lane. With the first half in its final minute the deadlock was finally broken, HassanMohammed scoring from the penalty spot. The three goals in the second half included one from sub Mohammed Tafer and a Umar Mohammed double, the first of which was outstanding, a swift turn on the edge of the penalty area wrongfooting the covering defenders, the resulting shot going in off the upright.Glapwell’s habit of conceding early goals looks tohave been cured and replaced by one for conceding late goals. Just as it looked as if they were going to add a valuable point to their account, SJR Worksop pinched all three in the dying minutes.  Luke Tonge put SJR in front in the 53rd minute, Jacob Lally levelling midway through the half. It all went wrong for Glapwell as full time approached, Taylor Thackery heading home in the 89th minute while Scott Wesley’s third came a minute into stoppage time.

Attempts to play outstanding County Cup ties yetagain restricted Premier South matches to three. Gresley Reserves drew 1-1 with Holbrook Sportswho went in front on 52 minutes through Ewan Barnes, Tyler Cox equalising with 65 on the clock.Cromford & Wirksworth Town were 2-1 winnersagainst Mickleover Athletic, Joe Geeson’s penalty put Cromford in front after 25 minutes. Jordan Watts doubled the advantage with 56 minutes played. Although Jamie Laird pulled one back in the 74thminute but the home side held on to take the points.Two teams at the foot of the table met on the artificial pitch at Clay Cross, Bakewell and Mickleover Reserves taking a point each from a 3-3 draw. The only goal in the first half saw Bakewell take the lead through Tom Robe on the stroke of half time, Shujah Ali levelling the scores immediately after the interval. After Bakewell lost their keeper through injury, Mickleover took advantage, Samuel Otisi with a goal which James Handley immediately countered. Edward Watts gave Mickleover the leadagain after 74 minutes but Bakewell had the last word as Rob Littlewood got a late equaliser. 

The Derbyshire Divisional Cup South final will be contested by Melbourne Dynamo and Derby Singh Brothers. Khaliq Shaffique scored both goals forSingh Brothers that knocked out FC Sunnyhill 2-0, while Melbourne eliminated Holbrook St Michaels3-2 with Ollie Grimshaw, Ben Gowing and Jake Peverley sharing the goals. Rowsley 86 fell just shortin the Divisional Cup North, going out on penaltiesafter a 1-1 draw with Hayfield. Holders of the Notts FA Senior Trophy, Linby Colliery made it to the quarter finals, Ewan Gibson scoring the only goal of their clash with Awsworth Villa.

Richard Lane                                                                                                                      

Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division Roundup for December 20th

First of all I would like to wish a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Successful New Yearto all players, managers, backroom staff and supporters of the league. Have a good one. 

Just the one midweek game this time round, Melbourne Dynamo finally managing to play under their lights, the game ending, as current form would suggest in a 5-0 win against Mickleover Reserveswho are now eleven points adrift at the foot of the table Scorers for Melbourne were Haydn Simpkins, Jack Goodband, Tyler Withers, Dylan Moore and Owen Nixon. Mansfield Hosiery Mills will surely be glad to see the back of 2025 as they went down to a 9-0 defeat at Derby Singh Brothers, taking their goals conceded to 34 in the last three games. Tyler Johal got a hat trick for Singhs, Jagjeet Dhillon and Jagtar Dhanoa each scored two with one apiece for James Grewal- Pollard  and Raza Mughal. Gresley RoversReserves moved into the top five with a 6-2 defeat of Blidworth Welfare. There was at trick for Nathan Bowen, Tyler Cox and Cameron Briscoe making up the half dozen. Archie Ward and Henry Eastgatereplying for Blidworth. Three second half goalsenabled Linby Colliery to move level with visitorsFC Sunnyhill , Jacob Sucharewycz gave Linby a 20thmInute lead but the damage was done after the break, the hosts scoring three in the last quarter, Ewan Gibson (67), Mason Moore (76) and Corey Clarke (88) sealing the points.                                         

In the Camper UK Premier North Brodsworth Mainmoved up to second (if I’ve added the two halves on Full Time correctly) after a 4-0 defeat of AFCBentley. The first half produced no goals and very few chances but things changed in the last half hour. Callum Verhees broke the deadlock in the 61st minutebefore setting up Mo Diabagate ten minutes later.Verhees made it three on 82 minutes, completing his hat trick three minutes from time. Elite AFC picked up their first win in five. Phoenix took the lead with a goal from Otis Pyke but that was their high point as Elite recovered, Robbie Wood netted twice, one from the penalty spot, Dec Richards, Reece Jones and Jacob Swales also on the scoresheet. SJR Worksop put on a dominant first half display to see off RHP Sports 5-2. They built up a three goal lead with two goals from Aaron Redfern and one for Luke Tong, Harry Chapman pulling one back with a superb free kick from 30 yards before finding himself between the sticks for the second half. The second period proved more even, Jack Scott restoring SJR’s three goal lead, Sol Miller responding for the visitors, Kieran Johnson having the last word for the hosts.Having reached the basement last weekend, Ollerton Town straight back with a 3-2 win at Worksop Town Reserves. Leo Aka gave Ollerton a 23rd minute lead, but only held it for four minutes before Alex Russell equalised. Elliott Nunn restored the lead for the visitors five minutes before half time, Keegan Burton putting daylight between the sides in the 52nd minute. Russell reduced the lead with his second in the 74thbut Ollerton held on to pick up three invaluable points. 

One tie in the Buckingham Insurance League Cup resulted in a narrow win for Rossington Main Reserves against Division One Long Bennington, the final score 2-1. Scorers for Rossington were Joe Storey and Oscar Jones with Alex Clarkson netting for Long Bennington. 

Holbrook St Michaels reache the semi finals of the Derbyshire FA Divisional Cup South but only on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Mickleover Athletic. Richard Hanslip scored for Holbrook, Collins Ajayi for Mickleover before the shootout went to Holbrook 4-3.

That’s it for 2025, next episode will be on January 3rd4th

Richard Lane

Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division Roundup for December 13th

Two more Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup ties and one in the Derbyshire Divisional Cup South made up this week’s midweek action. After two attempts to play the match in Scunthorpe were foiled by the weather, the tie was switched to Blidworth, Division Oneopponents Appleby Frodingham making light of the journey, going into round three on the back of a 6-2 win. The visitors led by the odd goal in five at half time, Finn Brooks and Archie Ward           scoring for the hosts, Seb Glynn, Rossi Webster and Ben Hayward giving Frod the edge. The second half belonged to Hayward who took his personal tally to four with a hat trick in the final quarter. A much closer affair at Harworth Colliery where a dominant first half performance by the home side was almost overturned by visitors Teversal. Harworth appeared to have booked their place in the next round, Billy Stafford giving them a 21st minute lead, Rob Singerand Stafford again scoring in the last minutes of the half. Teversal upped their game after the break and were rewarded by goals in the 55th and 58th minutes from Ty Macaskill but couldn’t find the equaliser, the final score 3-2. The County Cup tie was anything but close, Mickleover Reserves going down to a 9-0 defeat at the hands of FC Sunnyhill, another episodein what might be termed a “challenging” season. Scorers for Sunnyhill were Kay Anderson with a hat trick, Lewis Benjamin who added a couple, Lewis Wilson, Leonel Baushi, Harry Stevens and Callum Mosley also on the scoresheet.

WEEKEND MATCHES, 

The bottom two in the Premier North met at Ollerton Town who faced local rivals RHP Sports. The home side took a 20th minute lead slightly against the run of play, Elliott Nunn the scorer but Rhuel Samuelslevelled the scores five minutes before half time.RHP then saw a 56th penalty well saved by the Ollerton keeper before taking the lead after 65 minutes through Harry Chapman, Seb Headley extending the advantage four minutes later. Ollerton applied considerable pressure and came close on several occasions, finally being rewarded two minutes from time Nunn credited with the goalwhich came too late, the result lifting RHP out of thebottom three, Ollerton taking their place at the bottom. Klnsley Boys took over at the top after a 3-1 win at home to Elite AFC. They built up a three goal lead in the first half James Bettison’s 12th minute opener followed by Kyle Rose on 24 and Jack White four minutes later. That proved to be enough despite Travis Gordon pulling one back for Elite in the second half. At the halfway mark in their seasons Kinsley lead Dinnington by two points, both teams having similar goal differences. Brodsworth Main are two points further back. With four games in hand Harworth Colliery are well placed, they took on neighbours Rossington Main Reserves, taking all three points after a 5-0 win. The game was scoreless until the 42nd minute when Declan Sipson-Heath broke the deadlock, Billy Stafford getting a second in added time. The goal tally increased at regular intervals in the second half, Jordan Simmons (57), Sipson-Heath again (76) and Callum Edwards (81) keeping Harworth well in the hunt. Burngreave United registered their fifth successive win, travelling to AFC Phoenix and returning with a 3-1 win. They led at half time with a goal from Muhammad Shebani, with Jamal Yussif and Joe Wood adding one each in the second half, Cole Whitham getting the goal for Phoenix. SJR Worksop entertained a Glapwell side short of match practice.A reasonably even first half brought just one goal, Matty Templeton giving the home side an 8th minute lead. Glapwell’s s hopes of reversing the scorelinewere snatched away after just one minute fifty seconds of the second half by Logan Liggins, a former Glapwell player, a double from Joe Beanensuring SJR took the points.

Just two games in the Premier South, with the living nightmare posing as Mansfield Hosiery Mills’ season reached another level as FC Sunnyhill blasted twelve past them, meaning that the hapless Mills haveconceded 25 in their last two matches whileSunnyhill have scored 21. Myles Sturgess was the main beneficiary scoring five times, Lewis Wilson and Harry Stevens each got a double and there were goals for Josh Walters, Ryan Yates and Ty Taylor. The latest Mickleover derby between RBL and Athletic finished all square at 2-2, Matthew Harding and Sam Lowe on target or the Legion, Kaelin Cole-Tonks and Cole Hassell replying for Athletic.

County Cup ties which were postponed last Saturday took precedence over league fixtures, several of our teams advancing to the next round of the variouscompetitions. Staveley Reserves won 4-0 at Cromford & Wirksworth Town in the Derby Divisional Cup North, Alex Coates, Ollie Cooper,Sam Davies and Michael Wilson sharing the goals. Rowsley 86 beat Sleetmoor United 3-1 while Wirksworth Ivanhoe squeezed past Dove Holes 4-3, Tom Mellor, Jack Higton, Dan Watson and Ewan Sutherill with a goal apiece. In the Divisional Cup South Melbourne Dynamo booked a semi final place with a 3-1 defeat of Punjab United thanks to Regan Bickerton, and Jack Goodband and Jack Bodill. Derby Singh Brothers beat Rising Stars 2-1. Two ties in the Notts FA Saturday Senior Trophy with Blidworth having a tough afternoon before eliminating Meden Vale Colts 2-1. The other tie is one which should demonstrate to those who have thenecessary authority to bring about changes in the set-up of this competition which would avoid scores like Selston’s 14-0 win against AJ Sports Reserves, sub Liam Taylor top-scoring with four.

Richard Lane

Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division Roundup for December 6th

A couple of Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup ties were played in midweek. An intriguing tie on Tuesday sawKinsley Boys, second in the Premier North Division, pull off an exceptional result against Graham Street Prims, top of the Premier South. The hosts certainly made home advantage count, the final score 3-0. Kyle Rose gave Kinsley the lead on 38 minutes, butwere dealt a blow as they were reduced to ten men before half time. Any hopes Prims had of making the numerical advantage count were dashed midway through the second half, Cory Woodward with the second. Kinsley rubbed it in with ten minutes left, Jack White making the long journey back to Derby even longer. For the second time in four days RHP Sports surrendered a two goal lead. letting their opponents back in the game and losing by the odd goal,  time to Stapenhill Reserves. After hitting the woodwork twice in the first half the home side finally scoring in the last minute of the first half through Seb Headley. Sol Miller doubled the advantage 22 seconds after the restart but it took onlyone minute for that to be halved again. Oliver Cooper on target. Stapenhill then began to dictate things and won through to the third round as Musa Jeng on 66 minutes and Diior Umaire after 80 minutes put the game to bed.

Usually it’s either the weather or County Cup ties that make holes in the fixture list, this Saturday it was both. Four games were played in the Camper UK Premier North. Kinsley Boys put a little distancebetween the top two and the rest with a narrow 3-2 win at Brodsworth Main in a fiercely competitive game in which there was no love lost, a 12th minute Lucas Stubbs goal put Kinsley ahead, Clayton Cherowbrier levelling with a penalty on the half hour. The home side then took the lead , LiamWilliam lobbing the keeper two minutes after the restart, but a second Stubbs goal, this one from the penalty spot with 75 minutes on the clock againmade it all square. The killer blow came in the 83rdminute as Brad Dockerty snatched the points for the visitors to round off a very successful week. With a game in hand and a point behind, Kinsley now have the advantage over Dinnington who played out agoalless draw with Staveley Reserves. No joy for RHP who went down 4-2 at AFC Phoenix. Three first half goals from Eshan Mohammed, Chris Hopkins and Danny Fisher put the hosts in a commanding position, Clownes Steele getting one back for RHP. There were second half goals from George Sheen for the visitors, Luke Moorhouse getting the fourth for Phoenix. Playing their first game for five weeks, Glapwell were definitely suffering from ring rust as they went down 8-2 at Burngreave United. They were overwhelmed by theirskilful and pacy opponents who were 5-1 up at the break, Glapwell restricted to a 41st minute Oscar Bannister goal. Louis Wright marked his debut with a 25 yarder straight after the restart, but that was as good as it got, Burngreave adding three more goals before the final whistle, their goals coming from Abu Sama, Danai Rhuel, and Muhammed Shebani who allscored twice, Abdulrahman Asad and 16 years old Mohamed Taher.

A single game in the Premier South saw Borrowash Victoria totally dismantle Mansfield Hosiery Mills 13-0, a scoreline which fortunately doesn’t appear too often. Borrowash were three up in 8 minutes and never looked back. Seven players got on the scoresheet, Ethan Watson with four, Labrada Domini with a hat trick, Jacob Hawksworth scored twice and Josh Lawrence, Oscar Supple, Mason Tudgay and Josh Lee added one each.

Two more Buckingham Insurance League Cup ties were resolved, AFC Bentley were pushed all the way by EVO FC before coming away with the win. The only goal of the game came in the 50th minute, the scorer Josh Kmiotek. Stapenhill Reserves ended asuccessful week with a 3-1 win at Mickleover Reserves. Rajan Chohan scored for Mickleover,Taylor Holmes, Elliott Gaunt and Musa Jeng forStapenhill, the last two in an extended period of added time after two lengthy stoppages due to serious injuries.

A couple of County Cup games were played, Linby Colliery seeing off Ollerton Town 3-0 in the Notts Senior Trophy. An own goal three minutes before half time was followed by Zach Hamilton header two minutes after. Mason Moore with the final strike with ten minutes left. Teversal won 5-1 against Notts City Rangers of what is effectively the fourth division of the Notts Senior League. Nathan Hadley and Rocco Hardy put them two up after 8 minutes, Josh Parfitt and Kurt Bamford making it four by half time.Parftt’s second on 52 minutes was followed by a consolation goal for the visitors midway through the half.

Richard Lane

Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division Roundup for November 29th

It’s a hat trick for the weather as once more there were more matches postponed than played in the Premier Divisions. Brodsworth Main came from two goals down to beat Harworth Colliery 3-2 and put some distance between them in their pursuit of the two leaders. Harworth took the first half honours with Billy Stafford’s 31st minute penalty followed by a second from Cory Goodwin six minutes later. Brodsworthmust have used the half time interval to full advantage as it took them just two minutes for Liam Williams to pull a goal back. Harworth were reduced to ten men after a ”last man” offence, Brodsworth drawing level through Callum Stockton on 68 minutes, the decider not arriving until three minutes from time, 16 year old Caleb Fajolu sealing the win. Burngreave United  beat AFC Bentley 3-1 with goals from Christian Nduegoe, Jamal Yussuf and Hasan Mohammed, Bentley finally getting one back two minutes into stoppage time, Haris Diabagate the scorer. 

In the Camper UK Premier Division South FC Sunnyhill and Cromford & Wirksworth Town got their game in before most of the rain arrived on Friday night. It turned out to be a close-run affair which finally went to Sunnyhill 4-3. Matt Wilkinson put Cromford in front after 9 minutes, a lead they held on to until two minutes before the break whenLewis Benjamin got a deserved equaliser. A quick double shortly after half time from Lewis Wilson and Benjamin proved the turning point. Scott Taylor halved the deficit on the hour but four minutes laterWilson doubled his tally, Ben Cartwright’s last minute goal for Cromford too little, too late. The only game to survive on Saturday saw Bakewell switching their game for the second week running,again without reward as Borrowash where the home side used up one of their games in hand profitably, a5-0 win taking them to within a point of Selston and six behind leaders Graham Street Prims with three games in hand. Oscar Supple got the opener with nine minutes played, Marcus Tudgay with a second on 17th. Bakewell then coming more into the game but undone by three goals in a seven minute spell around the hour mark, one from Josh Lee and a Mason Tudgay double finishing the match in style.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The two scheduled Buckingham Insurance League Cup ties did go ahead with Linby Colliery progressing after a 2-0 win over Division One Mayfield thanks to second half goals from Harry Thorne and Ben Stanley. Staveley Reserves won a closely fought game with RHP Sports. The visitors were quick off the