United 1sts recorded an excellent victory in a really good game at home to title chasing Worksop Parramore in a Tool-station NECL premier division encounter.

Basford still also harbouring hopes of a high placed finish put in a fine shift, and won the game via a great strike by the returning Greg Simmons on the stroke of half time.

With defensively this being as good as it has been for a long time, then United were good value for the 1-0 victory. The visitors came really close to snatching the early advantage via a brilliant lobbed effort from Sam Smith that came back off Alessandro Barcherini's far upright.

United though moved the ball very well and Blair Anderson carried on his fine efforts against Garforth with another excellent showing. The only goal in 1st half injury time was a culmination of a really good team move involving David Boafo and Theo Smith who set up Greg Simmons to finish high past a top keeper in Hernandez.

In the 2nd period despite alot of aerial deliveries the United backline was rock solid with the normal back 5 back together and fine games for all. Barcherini was a big calming influence on his team mates inspiring confidence dealing with many dangerous crosses.

With gaps at the back United should have put the game to bed with Theo Smith and TJ Nightingale having great opportunites to build an advantage from great positions. The slender lead though kept the game on a knifeedge right until the finish with United prevailing, and a fine victory for the home side that ranks right up there with the better ones for this campaign.

The only major disappointment on this game was a relatively low gate of 60 for what would be viewed as a local derby.

Elsewhere this week the Under 19s kicked off the week with a tough 1-0 victory at home to Blidworth in the cup, to progress to the quarter finals via a Rhys Plackett effort.

This was followed on the same day by our academy side who play under our alliance with Chesterfield FC taking the much renowned Ilkeston Academy all the way, before the home side secured a 3-2 victory. Despite the lads holding a 2-1 HT advantage they couldn't hold on and lost 2-3 despite efforts from Kieran Ferguson and Josh Lee. It is ironic that in both league games with the powerful Ilkeston unit the lads have not been able to convert strong half time advantages into points with them leading 3-0 at the break earlier in the campaign.

And so too Saturdays games and the Sat under 13s got the weekend off to a great start with a fine 2-0 away victory at Ruddington Colts, who play a league higher than our boys. 0-0 at the break with the lads winning the game 2nd period to book a place in the next round.

Sunday saw two victories and a loss. The Under 12s came away from Moorgreen Colts with a 3-1 victory. Max Taylor, Issac Weatherall and Lloyds Searcy registered the goals to keep United 3rd in the Under 12s top division. Not such good fortunes for the Sunday under 13s who would always have a tough task away to Hucknall Sports Reds in the cup ,who play in the league above. The home side progressed to the next round with a comfortable victory.

And so onto the final game of the weekend and our title challenging Under 15s who made the long trek to Newark for a Notts Youth league fixture. Delighted for the group that the lads came away with a hard fought 3-2 victory. Marcus Dickenson set United on the way with a great run that saw him up ended in the box converted by Eman Fadeyi. Dickinson who is now beginning to show a resembling style of play to that of his father Mark who had a long spell at Carlton town finished brilliantly for 2-0.

With the home side converting the game remained close. Close to full time Fadeyi took advantage of a slip by the home keeper for 3-1. However any thoughts of a routine victory were undone as the home side netted to set up a tense finish. Keeper Will Munroe though would not be denied and pulled off a string of brilliant stops to play his part in what was a great team victory earning the mom in the process.

United midfielder Steven Taylor once again put in a big shift although it was a total hard working display by the whole squad. The Under 15s now have the title in their own destiny with max points from their last 3 games, although the next one is the biggy against 2nd placed NG United.

Well done to all our teams on a great week.