Around the Counties
Boxing day roundup by Stan Wilton
26/12/20
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Saturday 5th December, the return to football part2
AROUND THE COUNTIES
By STAN WILTON
Saturday 5th December
It’s hardly a case of getting back to normal but at least we did get three games played today and both Radford and Belper United had cause to celebrate although both in different ways.
RADFORD engineered themselves a nice little harvest of £900 for winning their Buildbase Second Round game against Bewdley Town at Selhurst Street. It was tight and competitive in the first half and the teams turned round with nothing between them – not even a goal. Then, ten minutes into the second half Calum Law broke the deadlock in favour of the home side, and on 74 minutes Joseph McLaughlin added a second and it was almost – almost – game over. The Third Round beckoned when Callum Smith hit a third for Radford five minutes from the end. And although Luke Morris pulled one back for the Worcestershire visitors just a minute later it is Radford who are comfortably through to the next stage.
In the league, BELPER UNITED also had good cause to celebrate because their 5-0 demolition of visiting SHAREBROOK TOWN at Christchurch Meadow took them to the top of the table. United were two goals to the good inside the first twenty minutes through Jack Tyson and Martin Smyth. Richard Hanson added a third seven minutes into the second half and there followed further goals from John Guy and a second from Martin Smyth. Heady days indeed for United and a bonus for playing the game behind closed doors.
Also playing behind closed doors were KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE who came from behind to beat Leicestershire visitors INGLES 3-2 at the Stag Ground. Mitch Woodbine had put the visitors in front from the penalty spot in 22 minutes and they retained this lead until the break. Then, nine minutes into the second half Sacha Markelic restored parity with Isaac Stones putting the Stags in front for the first time on the hour. Jordan Sanders restored parity within two minutes but Luis Parkes grabbed a home winner with just four minutes of the game left.