Saturday 31st October by Stan Wilton

AROUND THE COUNTIES
By STAN WILTON
Saturday 30th October 2020
The East Midlands Counties League will have only two representatives in the Second Round of the Buildbase FA Vase assuming that the competition is allowed to continue with the new Covid restrictions. The day’s best winners were RADFORD whose 4-0 win at Paget Rangers was achieved by first half goals from Callum Smith and Buba Ceesay and followed by two more in the second half from Calum Law. The other winners came from the all EMC tie at RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE where the home side progressed by the odd goal of five with Kyle Hempshall, Ryan Ingram’s penalty and Khyle Sargent’s goals. Richard Hanslow was amongst the BELPER UNITED repliers.
SHIREBROOK TOWN fell to a three goal attack from Midland Leaguers Boldmere St Michaels, and the Lions have certainly stopped roaring at HEANOR TOWN who lost their fourth game in the last six at Coventry Sphinx by a devastating 6-1 scoreline. Heanor were five down in the first 25 minutes and could not improve their situation when a home player was sent off on 35 leaving them to play almost two-thirds of the game with ten men. Sam Vickers was the Heanor scorer.
SHERWOOD COLLIERY’s game with GEDLING MINERS WELFARE was postponed but the other six scheduled fixtures were ahead despite Covid restrictions and the rotton wet weather. Indeed, EASTWOOD COMMUNITY took the opportunity thanks to Sam Moore’s stoppage time winner at HUCKNALL TOWN to jump to the top of the table. They had to work really hard for this win after Joe Butler had put the home side ahead on 33 minutes and Sam Moore’s first goal of the afternoon two minutes later had restored parity. The game attracted an attendance of 298 despite restrictions.
TEVERSAL fell to their first defeat in three games when KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE left Caernarvon Street with all three points thanks to an early eighth minute strike from Luis Parkes.
Biggest scorers of the day were rapidly improving BARROW TOWN who have put their early season failings right behind them. Three times they came from behind to defeat visiting CLIPSTONE 5-3. The Nottinghamshire side had taken a first minute lead through Charlie Dawes and then went ahead again on 22 through Curtis Birchall after Scott Smith had levelled on the quarter hour mark. Jordan Holmes brought the scores level again just after the half hour mark but Nathan Whitehead put Clipstone back in front for a third time eight minutes into the second half. Enter Scott Smith again, this time with two goals in two minutes, first to restore parity and then to put the Riversiders in front for the first time. Finlay Wilkinson completed the scoring in the 77th minute.
An equally topsy-turvy game at Lenton Lane where WEST BRIDGFORD took a second minute lead through Luis Rose. Home side DUNKIRK hit back and were level on 18 when Connor Wrenn’s own goal did the trick. This was followed by Jesse Vowles notching his first goal for the club to put them in front on 34 minutes. Luis Rose, who had the first say in this game, then had the last with a 70th minute equaliser.
OLLERTON TOWN didn’t find things easy at struggling GRAHAM STREET PRIMS and were only able to return home with all three points thanks to Josh Scully’s 18th minute strike. And 50 yards down the lane BORROWASH VICTORIA were also unable to improve their lowly position when they lost by the odd goal of three to visiting INGLES who went ahead through Jordan Sanders after just nine minutes. Joel Isaac levelled two minutes later but Mitchell Woodbine got the winner for the visitors.