FOOTBALL - GLAPWELL SLIP/LOCAL NON-LEAGUE ROUND-UP

Like the side s last match at Hallam a fortnight earlier, Graham Gladwin s men did more than enough to earn the three points.

But, the fact that United scored from their only two efforts on target, and Glapwell hit the woodwork three times in their efforts to salvage something from the game, meant that from their last two matches the Hall Corner side have recouped only one point instead of the deserved six.

The game began badly for the visitors as sloppy midfield play allowed Ian Newey to feed the ball through for a suspiciously offside Vill Powell who advanced into the box and, although Neil Etheridge got a touch on the striker s effort, the ball rolled into the left corner of the keeper s net.

From thereon, Glapwell made the running and produced some of their most scintillating football of recent weeks.

Attack after attack of promise, however, petered out into missed opportunities before, at the beginning of the second-half, United doubled their advantage in the most fortunate of circumstances.

Lee Morris swung wildly at a corner from the left and, having sliced the ball with his right shin, his effort looped over the Glapwell defenders and into the net despite the finest efforts of far-post custodian Danny Scott.

The afternoon then became even more incredible when, on the hour, the finest move of the afternoon culminated in Scott crossing a ball from the left, Jamie Morgan volleying back across goal and Clarke unleashing a piledriver goalwards, only for his effort to come crashing back off the crossbar.

Clarke was unlucky again five minutes later, when he met another good cross from Scott with a fine header which left Steve Morfitt stranded, only to be this time beaten by the post.

Missed chances continued to flow for Glapwell, but the scoreline could have been much worse when Andy Hammond was found free in the Glapwell penalty area, however he guided his seven-yard effort wide.

Brendan Yates then became the latest to be denied by the woodwork when a fine piece of individual skill gave him space to strike but his effort rebounded off the bar.

Lady Luck, being a cruel mistress, then decided to grant Glapwell a great piece of fortune - but only when it was too late to rescue anything.

In the second minute of injury time, a pass from midfield found Jamie Morgan well offside, but the linesman s flag stayed down and the captain s left-sided cross floated over Morfitt and into the net via the far post, - an ironic gesture from the goalframe which had been so cruel all afternoon.

Central MidlandsPremier Division

Teversal 2 North Notts 0

If North Notts didn t know who Teversal were at the start of the season, they do now, writes Kevin Newton.

Teversal scored twice in the last five minutes, and have now taken four points off North Notts to keep their own promotion hopes on track.

The scoreline could have been so different in a game that had more twists to it than a Hitchcock thriller.

Teversal started playing the better football, but the Antlers rearguard, defended really well, stalwarts Marrows and Burton well supported by keeper Steve Brown, who made two really good saves to deny Cockerill and Betts in the opening exchanges.

In the first half Teversal always looked more likely to score with their pride, passion and desire looking far greater than that of North Notts.

The second half saw a different North Notts, who started to impose themselves on the game.

Shane Turner became instrumental in midfield and was at the heart of anything that North Notts did.

However, as in the first half the visitors defence stood up to the test, so did the Teversal back line with Roe, Ashford and Sheppard outstanding.

The only chance Dean Short had was when his neat run on 65 minutes saw Sheppard making a rash challenge to give away a penalty. Short got up to take it himself and fired a woeful effort against the bar.

Teversal took the warning on board and started to get back into the game and Brown saved brilliantly from Staziker and Ashford

Substitute Gary Mercer thought he had put North Notts in front on 79 minutes, when his cross-cum-shot went in at the far post, but it was disallowed for a foul by Short.

Unfortunately for North Notts they lost the impressive Marrows through injury and they also lost some of the defensive steel at the same time with Stu Betts and Steve Hutchinson causing the visitors even more problems than before.

Teversal finally got their reward for taking back the initiative when North Notts failed to clear Hollingworth s corner and Sheppard fired his first goal of the season from eight yards with five minutes remaining.

The result was then sealed two minutes later, when Betts held the ball up well before laying it off to Hutchinson who held of two weak challenges before firing home an unstoppable effort to make it 2-0.

Tonight (Wednesday, 7.30) Teversal travel to Blidworth Welfare, and on Saturday (2pm) they entertain Grantham Rangers.

North Notts have no game on Saturday, but on Tuesday night (7.30) they entertain Dinnington Town in another top-of-the-table clash.

Supreme Division

Kimberley T 1 Shirebrook 3

SHIREBROOK staged a late show to keep their title hopes on the boil, and were further boosted by leaders Lincoln Moorlands 2-0 defeat at Dunkirk.

A blank first half brought little goalmouth action at either end.

Steve Wells headed just wide for Kimberley, but the nearest to a goal was when Justin Burdett flicked on Dave Davies free kick. The ball deflected off keeper Scott Flinders legs onto the far post, and was cleared by Ashley Dyce.

Shirebrook stepped up a gear after the break, Davies going very close and Flinders saving brilliantly from Simon Johnson and Craig Charleworth, while Mark Hales also saved well to deny Robbie Wooldridge.

The deadlock was finally broken on 62 minutes. Tony Starkey fed Simon Johnson whose shot on the turn from the edge of the box was parried at full stretch by Flinders, but the ball still rolled over the line.

Five minutes later Lee Widdowson threaded the ball through to Burdett, who neatly chipped the keeper, and Simon Johnson ran in to knock it into the empty net.

The Stags grabbed a lifeline on 76, Wooldridge flicking on James McDonagh s corner for Paul Tomlin to head in at the far post.

But their hopes wer short lived, for two minutes later Widdowson received Jordan Johnson s long throw, stylishly shrugged off his marker, rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net.

Within seconds Simon Johnson had a fourth disallowed for offside, and Steve Hill headed a free header wide in the closing seconds.

Premier Division

Radford 1 Blidworth 1

BLIDWORTH failed to make their first half superiority tell despite facing only 10 men for most of the second half, reports Alan Whitworth.

Mickey Clarke put Welfare ahead in the 20th minute, running on to keeper Wayne Atkins long clearance, outpacing the home defence and firing under the keeper.

Baughan and Clarke both went close as Blidworth continued to dominate the first half.

Radford were reduced to 10 men three minutes into the second half, but they raised their tempo and missed a good chance three minutes later.

Whitworth was denied by an excellent save as chances were created and wasted at both ends.

Radford equalised midway through the half, and numerical parity was also restored when Blidworth s Robertson was sent off, then it was left to Atkins to preserve the point with two good saves late in the game.

Blidworth follow tonight s home game against Teversal (7.30) with another home fixture on Saturday (3) when Greenwood Meadows are the visitors.

Supreme Division

Long Eaton 2 Welbeck 0

WELBECK could not hold improving Long Eaton United, conceding two second half goals after a scoreless first half.

Mable and Barnes both had good first half chances for the home side.

Glen Nattriss was dangerous for Welbeck, but his best chance was cleared by Hutchings.

The home side were the more positive in the second half, Stacey rattling Neil Campion s bar from all of 30 yards.

And Heath also saw his effort kept out by the woodwork after Campion lost the ball following Bowler s free kick.

However, Welbeck s resistance was finally broken when Stacey headed in a Heath centre at the near post.

And Stacey struck again seven minutes from time to end any hopes of a Welbeck comeback.

Premier Division

Ollerton Tn 2 Forest Town 2

A LATE free kick by Ollerton man of the match Lee Walker found the head of Don Gethfield, whose bullet header gave Forest Town keeper Fabio Gardella no chance and ensured Ollerton a share of the spoils, writes Colin Gibson.

The equaliser was no more than Ollerton deserved, and they could have won if they had pressed home their advantage after Walker had given them an 11th-minute lead with a wind-assisted angled shot.

Gardella saved brilliantly from Chris Booth, and Scattergood headed against the bar as Ollerton continued to press.

But an error by Chambers allowed Lee Wain to coolly lob Lee Jordon for Forest Town s 35th-minute equaliser.

The goal boosted the visitors who took a grip on the midfield for the remainder of the half.

Ollerton returned to the attack for the first 10 minutes of the second half, but it was Forest Town who scored on the hour. Robbie Moore fell to the ground with a twisted ankle while challenging Shaun Coope, who took full advantage to slot past the exposed Jordan.

There were chances at both ends after Gethfield s equaliser 10 minutes from time, but Forest Town had the best chance to win it when Kelly failed in front of a gaping goal.

Clipstone Welfare have moved up to sixth in the Surpeme Divison.

They convincingly defeated visitors Blackwell 4-1. Matthew Hogg 2, Simon Munnings and Gary Smedley for the home team, Cook the Blackwell scorer.

TEVERSAL have been drawn away to Notts Alliance Wollaton in the quarter-final of the Notts Senior Cup, and will be hoping to succeed where their local arch-rivals North Notts were dumped out of the competition in the last round.

Welbeck Welfare also travel to face Notts Alliance Senior Division opposition, in this case bottom club Notts Police.

And if Selston managed to win at Gedling Town in last night s delayed third round tie, they, too, may be up against Alliance opponents - last night s winners are at home to the winners of the outstanding tie between Dunkirk and IDP Newark.

The round s top tie pitches together the two most senior clubs remaining in the competition, an all-UniBond League clash between Hucknall Town and Eastwood Town.

Ties are due to be played on 10th February, but those at Hucknall and Gedling/Selston are likely to be switched to midweek.

Notts Alliance

Clifton 0 Rainworth 3

RAINWORTH went a point clear at the top of the Senior Division - but only thanks to some hard work by the Clifton officials to get the game played, writes Les Lee.

Their pre-match efforts were rewarded by an entertaining game, and both sides are to be congratulated for providing such an absorbing encounter in the difficult conditions.

Clifton made the early running, and it was not until the 18th minute that Rainworth engineered their first real chance, Mark Hodgkinson firing over after being put through by Ant Shaw.

Rainworth finally took the lead at the end of an even first half when Shaw turned his marker and played the ball into the penalty area. Hodgkinson was quickly off the mark to gather, but he was brought down by the home keeper, and Shaw struck a well-placed spot kick to keep up his goal-a-game average.

Rainworth had keeper Jon Wilson to thank for preserving the lead two minutes into the second half. With the defence caught square, Wilson just managed to get a foot to the ball and clear a dangerous situation.

Immediately a long clearance put Shaw clear down the right. He rounded the keeper but was forced wide and his shot went over the bar.

Clifton replied and forced Richard Dunn into an error which put Lager clear in the Welfare area, but he shot straight at Wilson.

The second and killer goal came on 75 when substitute Lee Mainwaring was put clear by a defence-splitting forward ball from Clint Guy. Mainwaring calmly slipped the ball past the advancing keeper to notch his first goal for the club.

Rainworth finished in style with their third. Guy headed Dean Sweeney s far post cross back across goal, the keeper fumbled, and Hodgkinson capitalised with an easy goal.

Ruddington Utd 0 Abacus 1

ABACUS made it three wins and three clean sheets in a row with another determined display at lowly Ruddington, writes Steve Bingley.

The visitors did not begin well, and were let off the hook by a glaring 15th-minute miss by Lewis.

The escape stung Abacus into action, and Paul Bingley volleyed them in front after good work by Peter Jones.

Ruddington continued to press after the break, but were kept at bay by effective defending.

At the other end Jones went close with a header, and Paul Bingley thought he had headed Abacus second, only to have the goal mysteriously disallowed.

Attenboro 0 Southwell C 0

SOUTHWELL agreed to a switch from Attenborough s home ground to Chilwell Leisure Centre to enable this game to be played.

Although they had to settle for a point from a goalless draw, City remain well in contention in the title race, with games in hand.

Donal Flynn had two early chances, but one was saved and the second just cleared the bar.

Attenborough were working hard to try and contain City but were reduced to clearing their lines with long balls, which their strikers were only able to watch fly over the goal line due to the small pitch.

However, from a poor clearance the right wing back let fly with a vicious shot which screamed wide.

Again Flynn was twice unlucky, his cross shot flashing the wrong side of the far post, and then his back post header from Peter Campbell s cross being palmed away.

Attenborough started the second half much more positively with Blasdale prepared to leave his man to man role on Turner in order to create more opportunities for his colleagues.

The game turned into a real midfield battle with neither side able to create a good chance, consequently neither goalkeeper had a shot to save in the second half.

City lost the services of Dan Foster with a bad ankle injury after coming on as substitute, but Gavin Cotterill looked a good prospect on his introduction

In fact he could have stolen the points with the last kick of the game when he was left unmarked for a quick free kick, but referee Carl Leame ordered the kick to be re-taken because he had not blown for the first kick.

l Thoresby Colliery consolidated second place in Division One with an important 3-0 win over fellow-contenders Beeston Town.

Elson Wathall and Savage struck for Thoresby.

Second-placed Southwell City Reserves were the only local Division Two side in action, and they won 5-1 at Pelican Reserves.

Another Jamie Saunders hat-trick was added to by Gould and Nichols.

In Division Three, Thoresby Reserves won 1-0 at Linby Reserves thanks to a single goal by Buchanan.

But improving Rainworth Reserves let the lead slip at home to Radcliffe Olympic Reserves and settled for a 1-1 draw.

Tony Rolland had provided Welfare with the interval lead, but Richards notched a second-half equaliser.