Arnold Town moved into the top ten of the Central Midlands Alliance Premier South on Saturday afternoon as they, and title-chasing Linby Colliery Welfare, both picked up wins.

For the Eagles it was the second successive big win on the road, and their fifth victory this year (so far), this time travelling to face a Mansfield Hosiery Mills side sitting just above the drop-zone.

Goals from Jake Ogden and Jamie Crawford put the visitors two goals to the good, before the hosts halved the deficit through Luke Greaves, Town leading 2-1 at the break.

In the second half, Toby Francis netted direct from a free-kick to restore that earlier, two-goal cushion, before goals from Akeem Campbell and Lenny Jenkins completed the rout.

With less than ten games to go though, the top five may be just out of reach for the side from Eagle Valley, but, a home win over high-flying Melbourne Dynamo, in their next win, would add further momentum to the cause.

Arnold Town – Danny Rigley, Delane Hylton, Kurt Hallam, Kyme Mason, Jamie Royle, Max Elliott, Jamie Crawford, Akeem Campbell, Toby Francis, Gerrard Hallam (Tobias Anderson-Kemp, Samuel Freeman, Antonio Wedderburn, Connaire Seery)

As for Linby, in second place, there’s now a little breathing space of three points between themselves and third place Graham Street Prims, the former winning 1-0 at home to Cromford & Wirksworth to maintain that valuable, unbeaten home record, and the latter lost 2-0 away to Mickleover RBL.

For Linby, Zach Hamilton would net the only goal of the game, late in the first half, he finishing off a move that involved a number of home stars in Spencer Pollitt, Ewan Gibson and Mason Moore, before Hamilton caught the ball, swivelled and volleyed home, into the bottom corner, off the post.

Leaders South Normanton Athletic may have a fifteen-point advantage on Linby, but the Notts club have not only five games in hand, but have the knowledge they face each other in the run-in – Jonathan Wass’ side have it all to do.

As for the leaders, they won under the Friday Night Lights, seeing off bottom club Teversal, 4-1 at home – a result that only tells part of the story.

Nathan Hedley netted for the visitors inside fifteen minutes, from the penalty spot, before goals from Perry Richards, Josh Devereux, and George Morris, had the hosts 3-1 to the good at the break.

Richards doubled in the second half for the hosts, with Tevie holding their own for most of the second forty-five, however, unable to find a way through the mire.

There was success in the Premier North for the Notts-based clubs, both Blidworth Welfare and SJR Worksop picking up wins, whilst Ollerton Town drew 1-1 at home to Elite AFC.

Blidworth are seventh following a 3-2 win away to Kiveton Miners Welfare, whilst SJR Worksop are four points and two points back in ninth after they eased to a 3-0 home win over Rossington Main Reserves.

Both Linby Reserves and Kirton Brickworks progressed to the next round of the Division One Cup after both sides picked up home wins; Linby battled to a penalty shoot-out success against visiting Mickleover Athletic, Harry Thorne netting in the 1-1 draw, whilst the Brickies enjoyed a 4-1 success over Pilsley Community thanks to goals from Jack March, Louis Colley, Dan Ware and Dean Rogers.

Meanwhile, of the games played in Division One East, RHP Sports shocked leaders Shirebrook Soldiers to move into third place following a 2-0 win, Sebastian Headley and Solomon Miller with the goals.

Ashland Rovers, in second, eased to a 6-1 success away to Mansfield Hosiery Mills Blue as Nathan Harrison bagged himself a hat-trick, whilst the game between Blidworth Reserves and Long Bennington finished in a 1-1 draw.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @TheOfficialATFC a good weekend for Arnold who won at Mansfield Hosiery Mills.