CMAL Roundup for January 6th

Thanks to Wirksworth Ivanhoe and Steven Murphy for the atmospheric photo of sunset at Wirksworth.

Central Midlands Alliance Roundup for January 6th

At long last something to write about as some pitches responded to a couple of days of relatively dry weather..

A couple of matches in the Black Dragon Badges Premier North Division with Dinnington Town just managing to hold on to their winning run which now stands. A revitalised AFC Phoenix pushed them all the way as the match was decided by a single goal from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, converted by Jordan Turner. Hatfield Town and Chesterfield Youth shared the points after a 2-2 draw. The Spireites led at half time, a James Simmonite goal in the 39th minute separating the sides. Harvey Smith levelled early in the second half and the home side scored what looked likely to be the winner in the 89th minute through Josh Miernick but a very late equaliser from Josh Millen made it all square.

It was 2nd against 3rd in the Premier South Division with South Normanton emphatically ending Melbourne Dynamo’s long unbeaten league run which stretched back to September 9th when they lost to, yes, South Normanton. The Shiners won 4-0 thanks to goals from Ryan Ordidge, Josh Parfitt, Ryan Hadley and Matt Crowe to put some space between the top two and the chasing pack. The New Year provided some cheer at long last for Holbrook St Michaels as they celebrated gaining their first points of the season with a 1-0 defeat of Graham Street Prims, Sam Smithurst scoring the all-important goal. Bakewell Town, playing only their second league game since mid-October went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of visiting Mayfield. Tom Hodkinson gave Mayfield the lead which was wiped out by Aaron Maunde after 70 minutes. Ten minutes later Jake Walklett scored the deciding goal for the visitors. Wirksworth Ivanhoe endured some nervous minutes before completing a 3-0 win at home to Linby Colliery. Ivanhoe took the lead in the second half lead through Jack Higton but the game was in stoppage time before Dan Gwyther and an own goal allowed them to breathe easily, Wirksworth consolidating seventh place in the table. A goal in each half, both scored from set pieces by Steve Mallinder gave Cromford & Wirksworth Town a 2-0 win over Mickleover RBL.

Armthorpe Welfare, leaders of the Macron Store Nottingham División One North remain unbeaten after a 3-1 defeat of Appleby Frodingham. All three goals came in the first half, Harrison Mercer opening the scoring on 8 minutes . Bradley Sparrow getting the second in the 32nd minute, Trevor Hindson with another just a minute later. Second placed Worksop Town won 5-2 at Bottesford Town. Rhys Butterworth bagged a hat trick for the Tigers with Shah Hassan and Finlay Watt scoring one apiece, Daniel Texeira and Oliver Rides with Bottesford’s reply. Dearne & District beat Crowle Colts 2-1, Flynn Reilly and Taine Clements with the goals
for Dearne, George Neil scoring for Crowle.

In Division One East, yet another blank Saturday for Blidworth, their sixth without a league game, allowed Kirton Brickworks to extend their lead to fifteen points, a chance which they grabbed with both hands, defeating Clipstone 4-1. Lewis Colley led the way with a hat trick, Jack March also finding the net, Lewis Smith replying for the visitors. Another 4-1 result at Linby Colliery but this time it was visitors Ollerton Town who left with the points. Will Knowles scored for Linby, while Kelton Ashby after 35 minutes, Sam Tunnard, a minute after the break, James Scothern (70) and Archie Ward on 78 secured the points for Ollerton. The bottom two met at Sleetmoor United, the home team beating Shirebrook Rangers, again with a 4-1 scoreline. Brad Flinn with two, Adam Gosden and Adam Potter also on the scoresheet to give Sleetmoor their second win of the season bringing them within a point of Shirebrook whose scorer was Connor Price. RHP also scored four, but this time the match ended 4-0, Sol Miller with two, Sebastian Headley and George Sheen with the goals which beat Pilsley.

Kilburn, the only club in the league with a 100% record, kept it intact as they saw off Holbrook Sports 4-1. Ryan Cumberland opened the account in the tenth minute, Jordan Mighty with the second five minutes before half time, Josh Jennison with two in the latter stages sealing the win. Belper United won 3-2 at Bargate Rovers with Darren Fotso (2) and Kieran Harwood the scorers, Brad Sadler with both for Bargate. Inter Belper were winners against Bakewell Town, Robbie Slinger with the only goal of the game.

Just one match in the South Division, Hemington Hammers drawing 2-2 with Burton Hornets.

In the PACS Drayton Division Two Ashland Rovers and Winster Darley Lions drew 2-2 at Kingsway Park. Daniel Camara proved deadly from the penalty spot, scoring twice for Ashland while Winster’s reply came from Robbie Musgrove and Jack Lathwood. At Willington the home side took a 13th-minute lead against Markeaton with a Mason Bannister goal but were overtaken by a penalty slotted home by Toby Bown after half an hour and a Ben Jones goal seven minutes later. Jones got his second with 76 minutes on the clock, Bannister’s 89th minute penalty being too little too late to give Willington a share of the points.

One outstanding tie in the División One Cup went the way of Heanor Town who beat Rowsley 86 on penalties. The match finished 1-1, Tom Baker’s third minute strike for Rowsley equalised by Heanor’s Jordan Whitehead on 32 minutes. Heanor winning the shootout 4-3.

Richard Lane