There was a shock on the horizon for second placed RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC as they were humbled at home by BIRSTALL UNITED. They remain in second spot but are now three points adrift of leaders SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC who won a tight encounter at RADFORD by a Lee Fell goal half an hour in. Meanwhile, back at the Recreation Ground Sam Moore had given visitors Birstall a 33rd minute lead, and Dan Jelley doubled their advantage shortly before the hour mark. The Olympians only reply came from Liam Smallwood with eight minutes left, but it was not enough to salvage a point.

STAPENHILL remain in third position but with a healthy glut of games in hand, and they comfortably saw off the challenge of AYLESTONE PARK at Maple Grove. Steve Hart broke the deadlock six minutes before the break, and further goals from Jordan Stevens on 52 minutes and Nial Dawkins on 84 game them a comfortable 3-0 advantage.

The much-travelled Tom Cooper-Richards was one of the scorers for a HOLBROOK SPORTS side who moved clear of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win at WEST BRIDGFORD. Isaac Minott had given the Brookies a 13th minute lead before Cooper-Richards added the second after Carl Westcarr had brought the sides back level on 35 minutes. Labrada Domini put Holbrook two in front on 62 minutes but Tom Hopkinson pulled one back twelve minutes from the end but the Nottingham side couldn’t force a draw. There had been better fortune for WEST BRIDGFORD in midweek when a 44th minute Carl Westcarr had given them all three points against visiting BELPER UNITED in the league’s only midweek encounter.

BELPER UNITED though fought back from this defeat to record a 2-0 win at DUNKIRK on Saturday thanks to a first half goal from Sam Vickers and Dean Oliver’s strike on the hour. Unfortunately, this defeat still leaves United four points adrift in the relegation zone.

They have ELLISTOWN & IBSTOCK UNITED for company, and they are still looking for their first league win of the season having gone down to GREENWOOD MEADOWS who scored two second half goals through James Price on 48 minutes and Kamran Frost five minutes from the end to take them five points clear of the drop zone.

GEDLING MINERS WELFARE hit back from the jaws of defeat to take a point from their home game against BARROW TOWN. Jack Hopper had put Welfare ahead after just ten minutes, but Zak Ginvert levelled thirteen minutes later. It looked like another home defeat for Welfare when Sam Beaver put Barrow in front for the first time on 63 minutes. They dug deep into their resolve though and Joe Hopper gave them a most welcome point with an 80th minute equaliser.

HOLWELL SPORTS recorded their second successive away win when they won by the odd goal of three at KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE. Sandwiched between though was yet another home defeat and the reason why Sports are still in mid-table. They had to come from behind at the Stag Ground to claim the points because Adam Hassall had put the home side in front just before the turn-round. Two goals in the space of eight minutes midway through the second half turned the game in Holwell’s favour when Tom Harris and David Hazeldene found the net.
The biggest win of the day came at BORROWASH VICTORIA where BLABY &

WHETSTONE ATHLETIC were sent back to Leicester smarting under an 8-1 thrashing. Kirk Francis top scored for the Vics helping himself to five of the goals after Ryan Fuller-Nadin on 15 minutes and Alexander William on 32 had opened up the floodgates. Joe Plant got their other goal whilst Jack Lane got a late consolation for Blaby.
At the other end of the scale ASHBY IVANHOE and ARNOLD TOWN couldn’t find the net between them and shared the points in a goal-less draw.

Back to form though for ANSTEY NOMADS who saw off visiting GRAHAM STREET PRIMS to the tune of 5-1. Zak Harris opened the scoring after just four minutes; Joe Hartopp doubled their advantage on 29; Sam Marshall made it three five minutes later; and Chris Rudkin made it 4-0 at the break. Jack Bodill got one back for Prims five minutes into the second half, but Mark Foster completed the scoring midway through the final period.