Sleaford Town lose at South Normanton in a Division One playoff-race meeting

South Normanton Athletic edged out fellow playoff contenders Sleaford Town 2-1 at the Transcare Arena in United Counties League Division One. Josh Devereux struck after five minutes for the hosts, before Jonathan Timmins levelled with a header from a corner just after the hour mark. William Whitehead then bundled in a second for South Normanton on the break eleven minutes later.

Jamie McGhee, the Sleaford manager, said afterwards: "I actually thought it was one of our better performances." He added: "The defining moments were those final passes and the final touches where it didn't quite drop for us." The visitors' goalkeeper Ryan Kamm made a string of saves in the first half, according to the club's report.

Sleaford had arrived after a 2-1 home win over Stapleford, sealed by a Kyle Onyon free kick, and McGhee had said before the game that the club needed to improve its away form. The club also confirmed the arrivals of Calum Law and Kareem Abouraia, and the short-term availability of Fin Armond, who returned from Lincoln United for the Stapleford game. South Normanton, who the club said were fourth and unbeaten at home, had signed Jordan Lemon and Leo Preskey in recent days.

Elsewhere, Clifton All Whites won 3-2 at Pinxton, with goals from Wade, Randall and Wiggins-Thomas. Dunkirk won 3-1 at Maltby Main, having earlier gone through to the third round of a cup on penalties, 5-3, against Collingham after a 2-2 draw. Louth Town beat Selston 1-0, with Freddie Walker named man of the match, and club captain Alex Aldrich made his 300th appearance for Louth.

At Selston, a midweek 2-2 draw with Shirebrook Town came after the floodlight issue was resolved, with Ty Short and Logan Green scoring the equalisers. Dronfield Town took a point at Shirebrook, though they lost Ryan Oxley to an ankle injury expected to keep him out for several months. Cotgrave lost 7-0 at Eastwood in a county cup tie and 7-4 at Staveley Miners Welfare, where captain Ryan Smith scored a hat-trick.

League leaders Clipstone have signed Jack Moore-Billam from Clay Cross Town, while Jake Buck has departed for the Mansfield Town academy. Chairman Mike Staton said the club did not want to stand in the way of the move.