Sunday 6th April 2014

The NAPIT LEAGUE returned to action on Sunday and defending champions Hasland travelled to Creswell looking for a victory which would move them to within two points of leaders Killamarsh Juniors Athletic and second placed Renishaw MW. The mission was accomplished as James Goodison and James Senior netted to earn them a 2-1 win and they have three and four games in hand over first and second respectively. Had Killamarsh beaten Britannia they would have held a five point advantage over Hasland but they ended up losing a five goal thriller at FC Britannia by three goals to two. This was a great result for Britannia and they are indebted to Messer’s Sculley, Wiley and Keenan who scored the winning goals. Strugglers Hepthorne Lane have been in the doldrums for most of the season but the gained a very creditable draw with AFC Whitecotes as the teams shared four goals, Brown and Spencer scoring for Whitecotes, Buurows and Watson for Lane.

Former TWO leaders Barrow Hill MC were without a fixture and Tibshelf Town took full advantage by beating Brampton Rovers JMA 3-0 to replace them in pole position. Vardy scored twice in the win with Armstrong adding number three, Town’s ninth win in twelve starts. An excellent game between Silver Birches and FC Brimington produced only Silver Birches third win of the season as they came out on top in a nine goal game, just, 5-4. Grassmoor Sports made the short trip up the road to Wingerworth to take on home side Barley Mow and returned home happy with three points after they won 5-1, Naughton smashing a treble, Spencer and Walters chipping in with a goal apiece.

In THREE AFC Bolsover dropped two vital points as they try to chase down leaders West Killamarsh as they were held to a 2-2 draw by an impressive Hollingwood Athletic. Athletic have been in mid-table for most of the season and this was one of their better results, Boyden and Brown scoring their goals, Hulland and Taylor Bolsover’s.

NAPIT FOUR side Dronfield Miners squandered a glorious opportunity to go above AFC North Wingfield to top the division as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Steelmelters. From Steelmelters point of view if they can win their games in hand on the clubs above them they could possibly lift the title themselves. For now however they can reflect on an excellent victory achieved thanks to two Cameron Higginbottom goals. Lowgates Sports Club played for almost eighty minutes with ten men against Spartans after their goal keeper saw red and for long periods it looked as though they would come out on top as they led 3-1 but Spartans numerical advantage finally told and they came back to draw 3-3. Two sides in the lower reaches of the division, Newbold and Harleys Scarlets met and Newbold were the victors thanks in the main to Darren Wilkinson’s splendid treble, Wayne Gerrity and Gary Melen adding goals number four and five. Woodthorpe Inn trounced Chesterfield Arms 8-2 with Ben Bower and Ant Lynam being their chief tormentors with three and two goals respectively.

North Wingfield MW began the day in FIVE in second place four points adrift of leaders Clowne Wanderers Reserves who didn’t play and after the completion of their game at Brampton Brewery the four point gap stayed intact as Brewery beat them 3-0 thanks to Nowak, Roberts and Stone who scored the winning goals. Gate Inn North Wingfield fared slightly better as they took a point from a 2-2 draw with Newbold Sports. Brimington Utd took an early lead through Nathan Cope against Holme Hall, the latter levelling in the second half. However Utd upped the anti and further goals from Alex Howard, Martin Clarke and Darren Parkinson who scored twice secured them a comfortable victory.

Barlow Kingston Rovers consolidated third place in SIX with a steady 4-0 win at Holmehall 2nd with Nigel Emberton scoring half the goals, Ed Biggin and Jake Longdon the other two. Bottom side Hasland WMC lost for the tenth time in a difficult first season. Their latest reverse came at Dronfield Wanderers for whom Kingsley Nisbeth scored twice, Joe Stevens once.

In SEVEN Glapwell Gladiators made short work of Spartans 2nd. Dan Wainwright did score a couple for the losers but his goals were eclipsed by five strikes from Dave Canning who has now scored an amazing thirty-two goals this season, not bad when you consider that Matt Wild’s goal in the game was his fifth and he is second top marksman! Brampton Rovers Reserves eased to a 4-1 win over Boot and Shoe, Morris, Hadfield, Siddall and Montague on target. Britannia Tupton and Brimington Club shared the points in a 3-3 draw whilst finally Clay Cross Miners and Diners won 2-1 at Grassmoor Sports Reserves.