The games are coming thick and fast as the Nottinghamshire non-league scene crashes towards its eventual conclusion, and it was good news for the county’s clubs at the top of their game, favourable results going the way of Worksop Town and Basford United in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and to Carlton Town in the NPLs East Division.

It may have just been a draw for Basford United, when away to champions Radcliffe Borough, and they left it late to get that, but the away following (of a strong 2351 crowd) were the ones celebrating as it was a hard-earned point which kept Martin Carruthers’ side up.

Basford needed to get something from the game, their final away trip of the season, hoping not to have rued chances as the sides went in goalless at break; midway through the first half Basford should have led following a quick-fire pair of efforts.

First Matt Thornhill slipped the ball through for Remaye Campbell, but home defender, Rick Smith, was back in the nick of time, and seconds later Josh Barnes played in Thornhill on a cut-back pass, but the effort was sliced agonisingly wide.

Chances continued after the break also, the hosts coming close early on with Toby Ritzema stopping a twisting Jordan Hulme from progressing, whilst Thornhill volleyed wide of the home goal minutes later.

It was Hulme that shuddered visiting hearts though, on the hour, home substitute Isaac Modi sending the Borough man through on-goal and he proceeded to fire the opener past visiting shot-stopper Kieran Preston.

With twenty minutes left on the clock the hosts should have been two-up, and out-of-sight, but Jamie Morgan fired over Preston’s bar from a couple of yards, Maynard following suit ten minutes later as the visiting goal led a charmed life, before stoppage time brought drama.

First the hosts suffered (head) injury to Modi which led to a lengthy hold-up in play and, with time running out, and minutes ticking down quickly, the equaliser, and safety, arrived, Prince Mancinelli was on-hand to fire home in a scramble, following a deep free-kick – watch highlights here

Basford United – Kieran Preston, Victor Nirennold, Henri Wilder, Jack Lewis (Jordan Fankwe, 68), Toby Ritzema, Kieran Fenton, Rev James, Prince Mancinelli, Remaye Campbell (Jack Thomas, 59), Matt Thornhill, Josh Barnes (Kane Richards, 84)

Worksop kept their play-off aspirations alive when ending visitors’ Warrington Rylands’ unbeaten away record in a battling, 2-1 win.

The hosts found themselves forced into making an early change, George Taft coming on for Josh Wilde inside fifteen minutes, and it took until the hour before the deadlock was broken, a header from Liam Hughes coming back off the upright and Jordan Burrow tapping home the opener.

Within minutes though, the visitors had equalised when Sam Burns tapped home after a Rylands free-kick had also struck the upright; a flurry of changes, for both sides, looked to changed the direction of the game, and it was the hosts who snatched a late winner when Jay Rollins out-paced the visiting defence and laid the ball off for Paul Green to calmly slot home.

Carlton Town meanwhile are on the verge of confirming a play-off spot after they won 2-1 at home to mid-table Consett, in the NPL East, Belper Town the only side who can overhaul them due to games in hand.

Alex Hardwick afforded the Millers the lead eight minutes before the break, with Niall Hylton doubling it four minutes after the restart; Will Shaw halved the deficit with seven minutes left to make for a nervy finale, but Town held on for victory.

In the United Counties League, Sherwood Colliery suffered a rare defeat when losing the Presidents Cup clash with Premier South champions, Wellingborough Town, Kieran Knight having netted in a 2-1 reverse, whilst Eastwood CFC was the only Notts club in action in the Premier North, losing 3-1 away to Heanor Town.

The UCL Division One play-offs sees three Notts clubs involved with Clipstone having finished as runners-up, wrapping up their league campaign with a comfortable 4-0 win away to Holwell Sports, Ryan Ingram with a brace for the free-scoring Cobras.

Newark Town are at the end-of-season dance and they drew 1-1 at home to Blackstones, Sam Wright netting, and they are joined by Dunkirk, who won 2-1 at home to Kirby Muxloe thanks to goals from Jack Thatcher and Jack Harrison.

The play-off semi-finals take place this coming Saturday (27 April) and will see Clipstone host Harrowby United, and Newark Town welcome Dunkirk.

Other, standout results in Division One, 3-0 wins on the road for Clifton All Whites as Asfordby, and for Southwell City at Gedling Miners Welfare, Wayde Hines with a brace for the former, and Calum Law two for the latter, whilst Radford edged hosts Selston 2-1, Joseph McLaughlin with a second half winner.

In the Northern Counties East Division One, Retford United were beaten 1-0 at home off Shirebrook Town, Retford drew 1-1 with visitors Horbury, and Ollerton Town continue to limp over the finish line, beaten 7-0 off visitors Wakefield.

Mixed fortunes in the Central Midlands Alliance saw draws in the Premier North as Woodhouse Colts and Harworth Colliery finished 2-2, and SJR Worksop goalless with Chesterfield Youth, whilst in the South Mason Moore scored twice as Linby Colliery Welfare edged a five-goal game with visiting Melbourne Dynamo, Charlie Tassi with the opener on his debut for the hosts, and Teversal won 2-0 away to Cromford & Wirksworth.

Finally, Stapleford Town are closing in on the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division title, they holding an eight-point lead on second place Collingham, with Wollaton sitting third; Collingham was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Cotgrave, and Wollaton, thanks to a brace from Jarrod Westcarr, edged a seven-goal thriller when home to Keyworth United.

Southwell City Reserves bagged five when winning 5-1 at home to Gresley Rovers Reserves, and six goals were scored in the 3-3 draw between West Bridgford Colts IIs and Basford CFC.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Basfordutdfc Prince Mancinelli’s last goal rescued Basford a vital point.