Newark Alliance Second Division : Grove 16 one victory away from title

Leaders Grove 16 are one victory away from clinching the championship after they continued their unblemished league campaign.

Despite an under-par performance, they beat Newark Cavaliers 4-1 — their 18th league victory of the season.

The teams were locked together until midway through the first-half when Elliott Combes took advantage of indecision by the keeper to stab home from close range.

A searing effort from Combes barely left the ground, but flew in past the keeper to double the lead.

Rhys Stanley shot across the keeper into the bottom corner for the third, before Cavaliers pulled one back through Richard Lamb, who scored after being left unmarked eight-yards out.

The final goal fell to Grove’s Tom Jordan, who headed in a cross from James Morris.

Grove won on Thursday of last week with a resounding 8-0 success over RHP A.

Ben Lyons struck a hat-trick while Luke Woodrow and Sam Willis scored two apiece and James O’Leary one.

Muskham are favourites for second place after a 7-1 success over Sutton-on-Trent.

Jack Davies produced a long throw into the box, met by Ricki O’Connell to head into the net to open the scoring on ten minutes.

Davies also provided the second for Ashley Squance, who headed into the top corner.

Harry Brown rolled the ball in for the third, before Olly Meakin scored at the second attempt after forcing the keeper into an initial save.

In the second-half, Sean Gray slotted in after a cut-back, before Sam Sharpe whipped in a cross for O’Connell to add a second.

Laure Smith rounded off the scoring for Muskham as he blasted a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

With five minutes remaining Sutton scored a consolation through Will Gregorick.

They dropped points on Thursday of last week in a 4-4 draw with Newark Cavaliers.

O’Connell struck twice while Connor Thompson and Luke McGuiness also scored.

Two from Ashley Mersh and strikes by Connor Wileman and Ryan Foster secured a point for Cavaliers.

The biggest win of the weekend was secured by Collingham Reserves, who overcame a depleted RHP A side 11-1.

Josh Cooper scored a hat-trick and there were two apiece for Dan Evans and Sam Atkins.

Matt Evans, Rory Grantham, Ben Baldwin and James Holland also found the target.
Billy Barnett scored the only goal for RHP.