First of all I would like to wish a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Successful New Year to all players, managers, backroom staff and supporters of the league. Have a good one.

Just the one midweek game this time round, Melbourne Dynamo finally managing to play under their lights, the game ending, as current form would suggest in a 5-0 win against Mickleover Reserves who are now eleven points adrift at the foot of the table. Scorers for Melbourne were Haydn Simpkins, Jack Goodband, Tyler Withers, Dylan Moore and Owen Nixon.
Mansfield Hosiery Mills will surely be glad to see the back of 2025 as they went down to a 9-0 defeat at Derby Singh Brothers, taking their goals conceded to 34 in the last three games. Tyler Johal got a hat trick for Singhs, Jagjeet Dhillon and Jagtar Dhanoa each scored two with one apiece for James Grewal-Pollard and Raza Mughal.
Gresley Rovers Reserves moved into the top five with a 6-2 defeat of Blidworth Welfare. There was at trick for Nathan Bowen, Tyler Cox and Cameron Briscoe making up the half dozen. Archie Ward and Henry Eastgate replying for Blidworth.
Three second half goals enabled Linby Colliery to move level with visitors FC Sunnyhill, Jacob Sucharewycz gave Linby a 20th mInute lead but the damage was done after the break, the hosts scoring three in the last quarter, Ewan Gibson (67), Mason Moore (76) and Corey Clarke (88) sealing the points.

In the Camper UK Premier North, Brodsworth Main moved up to second (if I’ve added the two halves on Full Time correctly) after a 4-0 defeat of AFC Bentley. The first half produced no goals and very few chances but things changed in the last half hour. Callum Verhees broke the deadlock in the 61st minute before setting up Mo Diabagate ten minutes later. Verhees made it three on 82 minutes, completing his hat trick three minutes from time.
Elite AFC picked up their first win in five. AFC Phoenix took the lead with a goal from Otis Pyke but that was their high point as Elite AFC recovered, Robbie Wood netted twice, one from the penalty spot, Dec Richards, Reece Jones and Jacob Swales also on the scoresheet.
SJR Worksop put on a dominant first half display to see off RHP Sports 5-2. They built up a three goal lead with two goals from Aaron Redfern and one for Luke Tong, Harry Chapman pulling one back with a superb free kick from 30 yards before finding himself between the sticks for the second half. The second period proved more even, Jack Scott restoring SJR’s three goal lead, Sol Miller responding for the visitors, Kieran Johnson having the last word for the hosts.
Having reached the basement last weekend, Ollerton Town bounced straight back with a 3-2 win at Worksop Town Reserves. Leo Aka gave Ollerton a 23rd minute lead, but only held it for four minutes before Alex Russell equalised. Elliott Nunn restored the lead for the visitors five minutes before half time, Keegan Burton putting daylight between the sides in the 52nd minute. Russell reduced the lead with his second in the 74th but Ollerton held on to pick up three invaluable points.

One tie in the Buckingham Insurance League Cup resulted in a narrow win for Rossington Main Reserves against Division One Long Bennington, the final score 2-1. Scorers for Rossington were Joe Storey and Oscar Jones with Alex Clarkson netting for Long Bennington.

Holbrook St Michaels reached the semi finals of the Derbyshire FA Divisional Cup South but only on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Mickleover Athletic. Richard Hanslip scored for Holbrook, Collins Ajayi for Mickleover before the shootout went to Holbrook 4-3.

That’s it for 2025, next episode will be on January 3rd/4th 2026.

Richard Lane