Saturday 19th December

AROUND THE COUNTIES
By STAN WILTON
Saturday 19th December
On a day when the wet weather lent Covid a hand in postponing games, the seven East Midland Counties League games put a whole new sparkle on the impending Christmas Holiday with a mind-blowing 36 goals to lift any lockdown gloom which might just be lingering along the way.
It was, sadly, the end of the road for RADFORD though who conceded two goals in the first ten minutes and three more in the last 25 to Hellenic Leaguers Westfields in the Third Round of the Buildbase FA Vase. Had they cashed in a little more in the 25 intervening minutes things might well have been different, but if there is to be a bonus they should take heart from the fact that this magnificent run should earn them exemption until the First Round Proper of next year’s competition. For the record, however dismal the facts may be to the Pheasants faithful, Sedic Grant started the execution in the eighth minute followed by Richard Greaves on ten and again on 75. Keane Cooper on 65 and Henry Dyde three minutes from the end completed the visitors scoring.
Top of the class in League games goes to SHERWOOD COLLIERY who made it eight wins from eight games with a 6-2 victory over EASTWOOD COMMUNITY. Gareth Curtis opened the assault on seven minutes only for Kieran Knight to level on 20. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Eastwood as Curtis completed his hat-trick assisted by Jamie York, William Norcross and Bradley Wells before Knight managed a second for the Red Badgers.
BELPER UNITED lost top spot after being held to a draw by visiting BARROW TOWN. “Held” is hardly the right word to use as United came back from being three down after 35 minutes to snatch a point. Jordon Holmes from the penalty spot, Kamani Wilson and Jack Cockram had put the Riversiders firmly in control until John Guy got one back on the hour. Jack Tyson brought the game even closer on 72 and a point was saved by Richard Hanslow with ten minutes left.
But that wasn’t the most exciting finish of the day. This was reserved for OLLERTON TOWN in their home game against KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE. Sam Parker put the Stags ahead just before the hour and it stayed like that until 13 minutes from the end when Gav King restored parity. A point apiece for the crowd of 118 looked good value, but those who left early missed a treat! Lewis Bingham put Ollerton in front on 88, Robbie McNicholas levelled for the Stags a minute later. Parity lasted just a minute before Sam Stretton put Town back in front and two minutes into stoppage time Ben Partridge made it 4-2 to Ollerton. Phew!
New signing Tyrell Shannon-Lewis, previously with Newark Flowserve, now Newark FC, made it a goalscoring and winning start to his debut with BORROWASH VICTORIA who gained their second win of the season by 3-1 over TEVERSAL. Morgan Bell and Callum Clarke scored the other home goals with George Simpson’s 31st minute penalty being the Tevie reply.
Another glut of goals at GEDLING MINERS WELFARE where ten men SHIREBROOK TOWN were beaten 4-1 in front of a healthy gathering of 114. Niall Hylton and Greg Tempest gave Gedling a healthy interval lead, Tempest and Ruben Wigging-Thomas adding to that score in the second half. Joe Harris pulled one back for Town before Ryan Ordidge saw red eleven minutes from the end.
RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE went into Christmas with three more points in the bag thanks to Craig Mitchell’s brace. He opened the scoring in their home match with CLIFTON ALL WHITES in the 14th minute and then bagged the points for them with his second goal of the game on 65, just four minutes after Ryan Smith had brought the sides level.
The only shared result of the day was at The Dovecote where Billy Snaith put INGLES in front on 12 minutes only for Jack Oldham to level things up for WEST BRIDGFORD ten minutes before the break. The second half failed to improve on the scoring and the contestants settled for a point each.
Covid or no Covid, East Midland Counties League football is proving to be what the supporters want with five on the games today pulling in three figure crowds.