NCEL Weekend Review
16th April, 2007
Two second-half goals from Neil Harvey made it advantage Retford United in the title race.
The Badgers now go top of the Premier Division and have secured promotion to the UniBond League following their 2-0 win at home to the side they replace at the helm on goal difference, Sheffield.
And, the Cannon Park side now know that four points from their final four games will secure them the Championship.
The race for third place went slightly in Garforth Town?s favour after their 6-0 home win over Eccleshill United.
A brace each for Richard Carrick and Bret Williams plus one each from Duncan Williams and Jason St Juste claimed the easy victory for Simon Clifford's side.
Their nearest rivals, Carlton Town, were held to a 1-1 draw after Phil Bignall's opener was cancelled out by Danny Ryan at Liversedge.
Garforth are now three points ahead of Carlton but the Nottingham side have a game in hand.
Selby Town kept their promotion challenge alive and move up to fifth after a 2-0 win at home to Shirebrook Town, Adam Russell and Gary Jones with their goals.
However, Glapwell's UniBond ambitions were dented as they could only pick up a point in a 2-2 draw with Long Eaton United at Hall Corner.
Twice they were pegged back, first Mark Strzyzewski cancelled out an Ian Brown opener and then Colin Cockerill's effort was levelled by an own goal from keeper Neil West.
The day proved to be a goalfest in the Premier Division with fifty goals in the ten games played.
Top scorers were Armthorpe Welfare who produced the biggest victory for many years with an 11-0 home victory over next-to-bottom, Thackley.
Bruno Holden grabbed five whilst Liam Muirhead struck four times and Stuart Preston and Paul Ashton also found the scoresheet on an afternoon the visitors will want to forget.
Meanwhile, bottom side Brodsworth Welfare reached an unenviable target in their home clash with Sutton Town.
Their 7-0 defeat meant that their goal difference went past the -100 mark whilst the Snipes moved up to eighth with the victory.
The most dramatic game, however, came at Sandygate where Arnold Town came out 5-4 winners over hosts Hallam.
Frazer Thomas put the Eagles ahead on ten minutes but the lead lasted six minutes as John Drennan pulled the home side level.
Fabian Smith restored Arnold's advantage but Scott Bates restored parity before half-time and Billy Rowley put Hallam ahead for the first time in the opening minute of the second period.
The visitors then took the game by the scruff of the neck with goals from Andy Davies, Chris Peet and Mark Clarke to put them 5-3 up before Ben Leonard grabbed a consolation in the last nine minutes for the hosts.
And, over 200 people saw the debut of Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar in goal for Glasshoughton Welfare in their home game with Maltby Main.
Mark Newton and Stuart Dove had put Welfare two-nil up but Grobbelaar saw his clean sheet go when Daniel Payne found the net for Main with two minutes remaining.
Goals were, meanwhile, the order of the day as well in Division One with 29 in just six matches.
Top scorers were, unsurprisingly, the runaway champions Parkgate who were 8-0 victors over Teversal at Green Lane.
Brian Cusworth and Caine Cheetham claimed a hat-trick each whilst Ryan Johnson and Matt Telling also got off the mark.
Meanwhile, the battle for second place has taken a twist after Winterton Rangers were beaten 4-2 at Dinnington Town.
Rangers were 2-1 up after 23 minutes thanks to goals for Rob Northen and David Ricardo whilst Michael Blyton found the net for the hosts.
Liam Cartledge then added two whilst Kieran Gallagher grabbed the fourth for Dinnington.
The Phoenix Park side's joy, however, was cut short by the news that Cartledge, who picked up a horrific head injury when claiming his second goal, had suffered a fractured skull.
He is well on his way to recovery though and should be out of hospital on Tuesday.
Third-placed South Normanton Athletic have moved within three points of Winterton with a 1-1 draw at Hall Road Rangers.
They had gone ahead through Dean Whiley on 50 minutes before Adam Walker pulled Rangers back level on 67.
Four goals from Ben Kistell helped Staveley Miners Welfare move up to sixth with a 6-1 home win over Yorkshire Amateur.
Lincoln Moorlands were 4-0 winners against visitors Pontefract Collieries and a last-minute strike from Chris Lees saw bottom side Rossington Main pick up a point at Worsbrough Bridge in a 1-1 draw.