For the third year running the final of the League Cup sponsored by Buckingham Insurance will be an all-South division affair as Selston and Hucknall Town emerged victorious from the afternoon’s semi finals.
Hucknall’s victory was the more clear cut as they inflicted North division pacesetters FC Bolsover’s third defeat of the season by four clear goals. Matt Brian opened the scoring on 25 minutes with Adam Nelson doubling the margin two minutes from the interval. The other two goals came in the closing stages, Ricki Saxby scoring after 88 minutes and Ashley Whitt wrapping things up deep into stoppage time.
The other semi proved closer, Selston coming from behind to beat Sherwood Colliery 2-1. After a goalless first half Sherwood went ahead on 64 minutes through Liam Theakstone. Selston were level three minutes later thanks to a Ben Moore penalty and clinched their final place nine minutes from the end with a Carl Moore goal. The final will be held at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena on Sunday 30th April.

In the Black Dragon Badges North division Clay Cross kept up the pressure on FC Bolsover, winning a tight game at Retford by two goals to one. Lee Clay’s 28th minute opener gave the Millers a half time lead, and after failing to convert a penalty, Retford equalised through Matthew Bryce with 50 minutes played. Clay got his second ten minutes from time to put Clay Cross a point behind the leaders, with the two teams due to meet on Easter Saturday.
AFC Bentley had little trouble in extending their fifteen match unbeaten run as they put eight past Thorne Colliery at Moorends. Brad Maddison, Graham Severn and a Zach King penalty gave Bentley a comfortable half time lead, the visitors adding another five after the break, Maddison and King each getting a second with Jack Varley, Luke Hogg and Matthew Hughes also getting on the scoresheet.
Tideswell United moved into fourth spot with a 3-2 win against visiting Dronfield Town Reserves. James Handley and Oliver Warren both struck in the first half, and although Dronfield fought back with goals from Adam Dobson and Jamie Damms, Jack Bradbury provided Tideswell’s winner.
Scott Neary and Clay Bryant were the scorers for Appleby Frodingham as they won 2-0 at Bilsthorpe and the other two matches were drawn.
Harworth Colliery and Phoenix shared six goals at Scrooby Road, Phoenix clawing back a two goal deficit in the second half. Tom Pick, Greg Archer and Gary Mundy gave the hosts a solid lead, Rikki Davidson scoring for Phoenix, the visitors mounting a comeback through Tom Crosby and Chris Hopkins to claim a share of the points.
At Station Road, Collingham and Dinnington Town also took a point apiece but failed to find the net.

There was only limited action in the Black Dragon Badges South division. The bottom four sides were in competition with each other, all ending the afternoon a point better off.
Holbrook St Michaels let a two goal lead slip against Keyworth United, Dom Hayes and Sam Williamson putting them in front before Keyworth’s Lemah Griggs and Matthew Antcliff salvaged a point.
Teversal Reserves and Pinxton got a point each but no goals.
The only winners were Swanwick Pentrich Road who had Jack Brown to thank for his 21st minute winner at Southwell City.

There was a welcome win for Belper Town in the Reserve division, Billy Morley’s goal giving them only their third maximum of the season against Radford.
Eastwood Community were the day’s top scorers, beating Belper United 7-1 at Coronation Park. There were two goals each for Callum McGarry, James Hallam and Tom Coupe, the other coming from Jake Pearson while Tom Curtis was Belper’s scorer.
It was much closer at Holbrook Sports where the home side came out on top 3-2 against Mickleover RBL. Scorers for Holbrook were Isaac Anderson-Raymond, Jordan Samuel and Ashley Roberts, Charlie Ward getting both of the Legion’s goals.
The third goalless draw of the day was at Inkersall Road in the match between Staveley and Harworth Colliery.

Report by Richard Lane.