Basford again conceded a poor early goal that made the afternoon another uphill challenge. Clifton scored within the first 10 minutes when Phil Bignall seized on some weak play to give Clifton the lead.

Clifton should have taken a 2-0 lead but for an outstanding point blank save by Scott Miles. Basford continued to knock on the door but it took till five minutes before half time when a Franny Green header somehow found its way past Dean Bonser in the Clifton goal, half time 1-1

Basford sent an unchanged side out for the second half and started the much stronger but again took a long time to get their noses in front but it took a piece of magic by James Jepson from a free kick 30 yards out that bent and found the top corner.

Within five minutes Basford got the third when some neat play found its way to Franny Green whose shot from outside the box was cleverly placed in the bottom left hand corner.

The game should have been dead and buried but Clifton were awarded a penalty after a late challenge by Dwayne Soar on ex Basford (retired) player Steve Carruthers, Bignall coolly slotted home the penalty to make the score 3-2.

What followed the penalty was a needless tussle between Soar and Bignall that ended with Soar seeing a second yellow and Bignall a straight red and both teams down to ten men.

Chances either end were wasted and the score ended with a 3-2 win to Basford that continued their unbeaten season.

Again the games come thick and fast with away games to Duffield on the 17 February and then home in the cup quarter finals v Gedling Southbank Freeman on the 24 February.

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Basford United U17s 8 Beeston Park Rangers 1

Another great stride towards the title and enormous credit to Basford United
facilities as this was the only league fixture to survive the weather

Basford were much too strong for Beeston with goals from Khayden Ellis (3) Jise Bankole (2)
Mikhia Walters, Tuschaun Kauser and Milan Daley McCrea the points were never in doubt.

A great penalty save from Daniel Goddard almost gave Basford their third clean sheet in a row but a late deflected goal gave the away side a consolation.

Man of the match...... Dante Lee.

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