ST. ANDREWS, SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC and RADFORD, all with three games in hand, emerged from this week-end’s matches as serious challengers to leaders ASHBY IVANHOE for the League title.

The Saints showed their teeth with a remarkable 8-1 win at BORROWASH VICTORIA to halt the home side’s excellent run of seven wins on the trot. A brace from Leon Doughty and one each from Elliot Putman and Shay Brennan inside the first 18 minutes put Borrowash on the back foot. And although Ryan Fuller-Nadin pulled one back before half-time, Shay Brennan went on to complete the day’s only threesome in the second half with Callum Earls also nipping in with a pair of his own to complete the rout.

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC moved up into third place courtesy of their 2-0 home win over HOLWELL SPORTS given to them by a 38th minute goal from Tom Lewis and a second three minutes from the end by substitute Luke Crosby.

RADFORD though had to work a little harder to keep up with the leading pack. Phillip Hinton’s 36th minute strike was the only thing which separated them from visiting BARROW TOWN at Selhurst Street.

ANSTEY NOMADS stay in second place and keep their long unbeaten run going with a goal-less draw at GRAHAM STREET PRIMS. The game was a success for the Derby side in some ways – they are one of the few teams to prevent the free-scoring Nomads from finding the net this season.

Leaders ASHBY IVANHOE, meanwhile, lost their way again allowing the others to catch up. This after taking the lead on the stroke of half-time through Tom Rowell. But hosts AYLESTONE PARK hit back with two second half goals to take the points. Rich Lewis restored parity from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute and Scott Stevenson earned the home side the points seven minutes later.

ELLISTOWN & IBSTOCK UNITED moved out of the bottom two with a point from a 3-3 draw at table proppers GREENWOOD MEADOWS. Alexander Devey opened the scoring
on 24 minutes, but the lead lasted just five minutes before Zak Yusuf scored for United to square things up again. Ross McGarry put Ellistown in front for the first time on 39 minutes, which this time lasted less than a minute before Devey pounced again to put the Greens back on terms. An own goal put Greenwood back in the driving seat for a second time 14 minutes into the second half, then Perry McGrath’s goal twelve minutes from the end ensured that the points would finally be shared.

The final game to beat the weather saw GEDLING MINERS WELFARE host RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC in a five goal thriller at Plains Road. No goals in the first half but Jack Hopper started the goal feast two minutes into the second to put Gedling ahead. And it stayed that way for another 17 minutes until Jack Smith levelled. Smith’s goal started off a good run for Olympic who opened up a two-goal gap with Evan Sweeting putting them ahead on 70 minutes and Kieren Kenton-Bradshaw extending the advantage ten minutes later. Kelvin Mushambi pulled one back for Gedling near the end but they couldn.t find another which would have given them a share of the points.