AROUND THE COUNTIES By STAN WILTON   Two season records were shattered last Saturday.  Hip-Hip-Hooray.  We’ve won one!  A first away win of the season for RADFORD in their last game of the season.  Harry Allen put them ahead after ten minutes and Danny Pownall doubled it just after the hour.  Chris Briggs pulled one back for GRAHAM STREET PRIMS three minutes before the break and neither side could find the net in the second half.  What I said in my column last week obviously drove the Selhurst Street club to greater effort!! The other record went to OADBY TOWN who entertained THURNBY NIRVANA before the best league attendance of the season.  A magnificent 351 saw the visitors spoil the party and the Poachers hopes of runners-up.  Ryan Walker gave Thurnby a half time lead and Ash Day doubled it ten minutes after the break.  Jack Lane on 72 and Michael Reeves four minutes later restored parity, only for Brett Marvin to put the visitors back in front on 82 minutes and Matt Melbourne to convert a spot kick three minutes later which spoiled the Poachers party. Thus BORROWASH VICTORIA seized the runners-up spot for the second time in the league’s short history.  Lee Sutton’s two goals in the first fifteen minutes of their visit to ANSTEY NOMADS gave them just the start they needed.  Andrew Mottershead added a third six minutes into the second half and then four goals in 13 minutes took the win from moderate to mouth watering.  David Hind rattled in a hat-trick, which wasn’t just quite perfect because Jamie Pawley got one in between.  A cup win on Wednesday will be some consolation for losing out in the title stakes. RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC go into Wednesday’s Cup Final with Borrowash following a last day home win over BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC.  Ryan Smith on 36 minutes and Tommy Kemp on the hour scored in their 2-0 success. No doubt about the best fight-back of the day.  That came from rock bottom ELLISTOWN who came back from 5-1 down at HOLBROOK SPORTS to snatch an unlikely point.  Sam Ridgard scored twice in the first twelve minutes for the Brookies before Ed Pitt pulled one back on the half hour.  Then goals from Rob Harrison (40), Darren Ruston (45), and Emeka Ejiofor (48) put Holbrook in a commanding position.  Then came the fight-back.  Carl Benson scored on 50 minutes and it still looked comfortable for the Brookies.  But when Jake Madden scored again with fifteen minutes to go there was a bit of panic.  Jim Smith pulled the score even closer on 80 minutes and then Carl Benson’s second of the afternoon brought the game all square again. There were plenty of thrills at Primrose Hill as well where BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE and visitors BARROW TOWN shared six goals.  Niall Prendervill put the visitors in front only for Steve Cox to score twice in sixty seconds tor Blackwell.  Michael Paparozzi levelled again before the break and an unfortunate own goal gave Barrow the lead back on 70 minutes.  Steve Cox though completed his hat-trick with five minutes remaining and the points were ultimately shared. BARDON HILL had to come from behind to claim the points in their home game with GEDLING MINERS WELFARE who went ahead through Rhys Jeffery on 35 minutes.  Second half goals from Paul O’Callaghan and Liam Hebberd gave the Quarrymen the points. ST ANDREWS clinched a top four finish with a 3-1 win at much improved GREENWOOD MEADOWS.  Jay Lee Hodgson got the Greens goal with Dan Hodgkinson, Elliott Wright and Kris Stevenson scoring for the Saints.

 AROUND THE COUNTIES By STAN WILTON   OADBY TOWN’s game at GREENWOOD MEADOWS having fallen victim to the wet weather leaves the runners-up spot still in doubt, but the Leicestershire side should now be favourites after BORROWASH VICTORIA dropped a surprise point on their trip to BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC.  Adam Blanchard gave Blaby a 17th minute lead which was not cancelled out until Jamie Pawley pulled the sides level ten minutes from the end. Both BARROW TOWN and HOLBROOK SPORTS have achieved their ambitions of a top six finish.  Barrow clung onto, and held, sixth spot with a 4-2 win at BARDON HILL where goals from Nial Prenderville and Jamie Allen gave them a good start in the first 14 minutes.  Connor Hardy and Karl Whymark scored further goals between which, Eli Jones and Mark Schulz found the target for the home side.  Meanwhile, HOLBROOK SPORTS were suffering a rare home defeat to struggling IBSTOCK UNITED for whom Lee Barton’s 80th minute spot kick ensured that the bottom rung in the table would be held by ELLISTOWN. Ellistown put up a spirited performance but it was HOLWELL SPORTS who took the points courtesy of a five goal game.  Jay Kirby put Holwell in front after 19 minutes but Jim Smith restored parity almost on the stroke of half time.  However, two minutes into the second half Michael Stevenson put the visitors back in front only for Smith to level up the scores again just three minutes later.  The goal which sunk the hearts of all the hard working people at Ellistown came from Jay Kirby on the hour and this, and Ibstock’s win ensures that if there is any relegation, it is they who will go down. The highest scoring game of the day was at GEDLING MINERS WELFARE.  Bradley Wells gave them the lead against ST ANDREWS inside five minutes only for Elliott Wright, Nick Brett and Dan Hodgkinson to put the Saints in command by the quarter hour mark.  Hodgkinson scored his 2nd  on 34 minutes and Will Robinson netted the 5th 2 minutes later before Keiran Wells pulled two back for Gedling before the interval interrupted a storming eight goal first half.  Tom Williams made it 6-3 for Saints on 71 minutes and Anthony Bedward scored for Gedling in the last minute of a second half which couldn’t match the first for goals. There was a welcome win for RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC, somewhat strangely for this club only their third home success of the season.  There was nothing between the teams at the break, then Ryan Smith put Olympic ahead six minutes into the second half.  Ben Middleton doubled their advantage with fifteen minutes left and a last minute effort from BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE’s Lanzel Reed couldn’t produce a grandstand finish for the Derbyshire visitors. The only team in the East Midlands Counties League without an away win this season are RADFORD, and they will now have to wait until next week to see if they can do it in their last game of the season.  They came close though in their visit to THURNBY NIRVANA, finally going down by the odd goal of five.  Reece Norris and Brett Marvin but Thurnby ahead in the first half hour, but goals from Mick Allen and Dan Powisall in the last five minutes of the first half sent the teams in tied at 2-2 at the interval.  Thurnby’s winner came courtesy of Brett Marvin in the 55th minute.  

 AROUND THE COUNTIES By STAN WILTON   The title race is finally over.  HEANOR TOWN clinched top spot and promotion with their worst display of the season in front on another healthy crowd of 154.  But visitors BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE pointed to Lions custodian Neil West brilliant display and their own lack of finishing power for not taking something out of a game they dominated for long periods.  Josh Royce got the Heanor goal on the stroke of half-time and League Vice Chairman Dave Holland presented the trophy after the game. Runners-up spot is still up for grabs though.  BORROWASH VICTORIA took the opportunity of OADBY TOWN’s turn to stand as the odd club out to return to the penultimate spot courtesy of a 4-0 home win over ANSTEY NOMADS.  Shane Newton’s brace in the first 26 minutes put them well on the way with Danny Martin scoring immediately after the interval and Lee Sutton nine minutes from the end. The biggest surprise of the day though came from the foot of the table when ELLISTOWN completed their first away win of the season in their penultimate away game of the season by some margin at fourth placed ST ANDREWS.  Carl Benson open the scoring seven minutes into the second half, and he added a second on 74 minutes.  Carl Timms completed the most unlikely scoreline of the week ten minutes from the end. Naby Doumbouya on 17 minutes and Carl Adams just a couple of minutes later gave BARROW TOWN an excellent start against visiting GRAHAM STREET PRIMS.  But they couldn’t add to it and Prims gave them a nervous finish by reducing the deficit through Danny James with five minutes to go. BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC recovered from the heavy Easter defeat to Oadby by sending improved GREENWOOD MEADOWS home smarting under a 4-1 defeat.  Adam Blanchard gave the home side an early lead only for Ricky Sheavills to level before the break.  But goals from Blanchard, Darren Wheeler and Anthony Allen lifted home spirits with a fine win. HOLBROOK SPORTS answered Manager Leigh Grant’s demands for a top six finish by moving into fifth place in the table with a 3-1 win over an HOLWELL SPORTS side whose recent form has been phenomenal.  It was two goals in the minute before half time which set this game alight.  Tom Bartram putting the Brookies ahead and Ben Smedley levelling almost immediately.  A further goal from Bartram early in the second half and a late strike by Sean Gummer sealed the points for the Brookies. The basement clash at the Welfare Ground saw GEDLING MINERS WELFARE win the day by the only goal against hosts IBSTOCK UNITED.  Bradley Wells getting the winner for the visitors five minutes from the end. RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC looked to be on course for a much needed home win until Matt Melbourne’s hit nine minutes from time pinched a point for THURNBY NIRVANA.  Ben Middleton game the home side a sixth minute lead which Reece Morris levelled before the break.  Mike Hartshorn, six minutes into the second half looked to have clinched the points until Melbourne struck late on. RADFORD ended the season as they started it with a home win.  On the opening day they defeated champions Heanor Town; their last parade in front of their own supporters saw BARDON HILL defeated by the odd goal of three.  And it was all down to the Allen boys.  Levi Ramsey gave the Quarrymen a 21st minute lead but Michael Allen struck the leveller eleven minutes later.  Then enter Harry Allen with the winner on 52 minutes.

 AROUND THE COUNTIES By STAN WILTON The Easter Monday programme was reduced by one game when ANSTEY NOMADS’ pitch was waterlogged thus postponing their game against IBSTOCK UNITED. Levi Ramsey gave BARDON HILL a good start to their Bank Holiday clash with neighbours ELLISTOWN after just nine minutes. Ryan Thornley increased the pressure on the league’s bottom club by doubling their advantage three minutes before the break. Tom Sansome pulled a goal back ten minutes into the second period only for Levi Ramsey to hit his second goal of the match in the last minute. BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE and visitors ST ANDREWS gave a healthy crowd of 62 a good first half for their money at Primrose Hill. Simon Wilkinson put the home side ahead on 12 minutes and skipper Jimmy Spiers added a second twelve minutes later. Then the Saints fought back. Kris Stevenson reduced the deficit on the half hour; Elliot Wright levelled things up on the stroke of half time, and Danny Henfrey pinched the points for the visitors ten minutes from the end. There was a shock in store for GEDLING MINERS WELFARE as they entertained GREENWOOD MEADOWS. Both sides had shown improved form of late but a 4-0 victory for the Greens was hardly what the home fans expected. Ricky Sheavils opened the scoring after just five minutes and Jaylee Hodgson made it two just before half time. Jordan Blair on 70 minutes and Jack Hopper five minutes later completed a good afternoon’s work for the men from Lenton Lane. HOLBROOK SPORTS enjoyed another good win and performance with three goals in a 13 minute spell midway through the second half accounting for all three points from their visit to GRAHAM STREET PRIMS. Niall Mather on 50 minutes, an own goal five minutes later, and Mather again on 63 minutes did the damage keeping the Brookies on track for a top six finish. HOLWELL SPORTS recorded the day’s biggest score with a 5-1 win over Cup Finalists RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC. Stuart Rose after 7 minutes put Holwell ahead. Ben Middleton equalised on after 21 minutes only for Jay Kirkby to restore home advantage a minute before the interval. Kieran Foster on 76 minutes, Jak Kirkby on 85 and Chris Hibbitt a minutes from the end put a late spure on the scoring much to the delight of home supporters. THURNBY NIRVANA enjoyed a 4-1 win over BARROW TOWN, all the goals coming in the second half. A brace from Matt Melbourne were added to by Ash Day and Jouel Potter after Beny Dowmbouia had levelled. OADBY TOWN took over second spot following their comprehensive 5-0 victory at BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC. Jon Stevenson, Michael Reeve (2), Jack Lane and Mason Brown getting their goals. The day’s top game between HEANOR TOWN and BORROWASH VICTORIA drew a crowd of 328 to the Town Ground to see the Lions come from behind to win 3-1 and leave themselves needing possibly only a point for the title. Dave Hind put the visitors ahead in the 27th minute but Nathan Benger and Gary Webster crafted out a leveller from Ash Grayston with the last kick of the first half. Played in torrential rain throughout both sides did well to provide the level of entertainment for the big crowd. Grayson got Heanor’s second on 70 minutes and substitute Jake Vernon put the issue beyond doubt with a classy lob in the 89th minute.

 AROUND THE COUNTIES By STAN WILTON   HEANOR TOWN took a step nearer the title with a 4-0 home win over BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC.   Carl Slater opened the scoring on 29 minutes and Nathan Benger added a second on 70.  Goals in the last five minutes from Stef Frost and substitute Jake Vernon gave the scoreline a flattering look. OADBY TOWN have not yet relinquished their title aspirations as was proved when Craig Attwood’s 35th minute goal sent fellow contenders BORROWASH VICTORIA spinning to their second consecutive 1-0 defeat.  With a superior goal difference the Poachers will have eyes at least on a second place finish. GRAHAM STREET PRIMS and HOLWELL SPORTS are two clubs who are ending their season with a real flourish.  Prims gave excellent performances to take points off both Borrowash Victoria and Heanor Town and James Slack’s late 87th minute leveller to Chris Rudkin’s 46th minute strike for ANSTEY NOMADS ensured that they gained another precious point from their visit to Cropston Road.  Two goals in the last two minutes of the first half from Ben Smedley and Ian Bitmead gave HOLWELL SPORTS their fifth win in six games, five of which have seen them not concede a goal, at ST ANDREWS.  The Saints have looked likely top four finishers for much of the season, but this latest defeat might well have seen that position be even more in doubt if BARROW TOWN could have brought something out of their game at GREENWOOD MEADOWS.  But it was not to be so.  Jack Hopper gave the Greens a 7th minute lead, added to by Kristian Stevens twenty minutes later.  Carl Adams brought the Quarrymen back into the game with a penalty converted on the stroke of half time and Ash White’s splendid 70th minute equaliser looked likely to see the visitors complete the turn round.  Enter Jay Lee Hodgson to put the Greens back in front again with ten minutes left, and with Barrow pushing hard in the final stages for another leveller Nathan Kelly struck a fourth for the home side two minutes into stoppage time. HOLBROOK SPORTS have set themselves a realistic top six finish to the season and they would have fancied themselves for the points from their visit to BARDON HILL, particularly after an unfortunate own goal gave them a 12th minute lead.  Levi Ramsey restored parity on the stroke of half time and neither side could find a goal in the second half to leave the points ultimately shared. Goals from Will Gonga twenty minutes into the game and Reece Morris on the hour sent BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE tumbling to another home defeat and THURNBY NIRVANA on their way home with another three points and an upwards rise in the table of another place. RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC raced away to their biggest away win of the season with a 4-0 success at rock bottom ELLISTOWN whose East Midlands Counties League tenure now looks to be in serious doubt for next season.  Tom Kemp opened the scoring for the visitors in the first minute and added a second seven minutes before the break.  Olympic’s leading scorer Ryan Smith made it three after 71 minutes and Neil Thompson added a fourth eleven minutes from the whistle. Only one goal at Plains Road in a tight game, but Danny Gee’s 70th minute pounce was enough to ensure another home win for GEDLING MINERS WELFARE over their city of Nottingham rivals RADFORD.  The win lifts Gedling into 14th place in the table, their highest position of the season.  

 AROUND THE COUNTIES By STAN WILTON   Leigh Natzel’s 68th minute goal for BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC opened the championship wide open once again for it caused BORROWASH VICTORIA to slip to their fourth home defeat of the season.  Vics pressed hard, particularly in the closing stages, but the visitors defence held firm. HEANOR TOWN, meanwhile, were gaining revenge for the 3-2 defeat they suffered at home to ANSTEY NOMADS by winning the return game at Cropston Road by 5-1. Shane Gibb gave Nomads the lead on fifteen minutes, but they were in front for only four minutes before Gary Webster levelled.  A storming four goal second half in which Carl Slater scored his first goal for the club, Jake Vernon struck at the death, and Nathan Benger grabbed a brace, saw the Lions home.  Benger’s two goals takes him to 34 for the season in the league and the highest scorer in the league short history beating the 33 netted by Thurnby Nirvana’s Jordan Smith last season. Two wins during the week saw OADBY TOWN keep their slim title hopes alive.  They  won 3-0 at ST ANDREWS in midweek courtesy of goals from Jake Duffy, Jermain Gordon and Matt Piper, and then defeated visiting BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE on Saturday thanks to Jon Stevenson’s 44th minute spot kick. There was good results for three of the clubs at the other end of the table last Saturday.  Three second half goals from Nathan Kelly, Kristian Stephens and a Jack Barton penalty earned GREENWOOD MEADOWS a 3-0 win at in form HOLWELL SPORTS who spilled their first goals in four games. RADFORD also claimed success from their basement clash with IBSTOCK UNITED at Selhurst Street.  Michael Allen put the home side ahead on the stroke of half time but Jack Lewis levelled 13 minutes into the second period.  The winner came from Patrick Siba a quarter of an hour from the end. GEDLING MINERS WELFARE also continued their good form with a 2-0 win over high flying BARROW TOWN  at Plains Road.  But they left it late.  Reece Campbell broke the deadlock with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, and Gareth Ellis put the issue beyond doubt with a second goal two minutes into stoppage time. There the good news stopped for those at the basement end of the table for RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC could not follow up their last minute winner against Heanor Town in the League Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening with three points to lift their gloomy league form.   Riddled with injuries after Tuesday’s momentous triumph Olympic allowed Aaron Dillon’s 25th minute goal to seal the points for visiting BARDON HILL. GRAHAM STREET PRIMS have hit some scintillating form right at the end of the season.  They have lowered the colours of Borrowash Victoria and denied Heanor Town three points. Last Saturday they were 3-1 winners over THURNBY NIRVANA at the Asterdale.  Matt Melbourne put the visitors ahead after 19 minutes.  James Slack levelled seconds before half time.  Then goals from Josh Mycroft after 65 minutes and Michael Williams four minutes into stoppage time sealed a Prims victory. HOLBROOK SPORTS suffered their third home defeat of the season despite taking the lead against ST ANDREWS.  Tom Bartram struck after three minutes but Sam Surridge on 29 and Kris Stevenson a minute later turned the game around.  Danny Cox’s header sent the teams in level at the break but a second Kris Stevenson goal twenty minutes into the second half saw the visitors take the points.