A successful weekend saw the miners head back to the top of the table, albeit with plenty of teams with games in hand as a home win, coupled with other results going their way meant Kimberley ascended to the summit for the second time this season so far.

Clay Cross have begun life in Step Five really well and find themselves in seventh spot, just three points behind the league leaders, having played the same amount of matches. After winning Division One last season, Clay Cross have continued a superb recent few years as they achieved a second of two recent promotions last season.

On Saturday, Kimberley welcomed Belper United to their temporary home at Basford United's Greenwich Avenue. Kole “The Goal” Lambert, on his return after holiday opened the scoring after just two minutes, volleying in from close range after a great cross from Finn Ryder. Kole doubled the lead twelve minutes later after latching onto a neat through ball from Dan Tuck to finish from close range at the near post. Belper grabbed a goal back on the stroke of half time as Jay Bruce scored with a bicycle kick from twelve yards out after a good cross into the box. The half time goal gave Belper some confidence and they came out and dominated much of the second half as Kimberley seemed to take the foot off the gas somewhat. It took until the 85th minute for Larell King to give Belper what they thought was a point until Kole struck again for his hat trick and the winning goal just three minutes later. New signing, the returning Dan Davy played Kole through, for the striker to grab his seventh of the season from eight yards out. Full time 3-2 to Kimberley.

Clay Cross hosted second bottom AFC Mansfield on Saturday. A first half Nathan Moss brace gave Mansfield a 2-0 half time lead. Tim Gregory bagged twice in the second half for Clay Cross before Kaylum Mitchell took all three points for AFC Mansfield in the ninety first minute. Full time score Clay Cross Town 2-3 AFC Mansfield. The result see’s Clay Cross sitting in seventh spot at this early stage of the season.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Formed in 1989 as Parkhouse F.C., the club joined the Central Midlands Football League in 2007. They won promotion from the Premier Division to the Supreme Division in 2010, and upon the league's restructuring a year later were placed in the North Division.

In the summer of 2012 the club was renamed Clay Cross Town F.C., meaning they would be the third club to take such a name - the first and second had both played in the FA Cup over a century earlier.

In 2016, the club made its debut in the FA Vase. On 8 November 2016 the newly formed club reached the third round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup Competition for the first time after beating Pinxton at Mill Lane 5–2. The third-round tie played on 6 December 2016 saw them host Evo-Stik club Buxton. Before a crowd of 150 the Millers lost 2–1 to the Bucks.

In 2023, the club was promoted to the Northern Counties East League for the 2023-24 season.

Honours
United Counties League - Division One Champions: 2024–25
Central Midland League South - Champions 2022–23

FINALLY

With a full league programme over Tuesday and Wednesday night, both sides will want to maintain their great starts to the season by taking all three points. Kimberley will want to hold onto their unlikely top spot in the division, while Clay Cross will relish the chance to take the points and move into the playoff places again.

Special thanks go to the Ultras, who were amazing with their support on Saturday. We hope to see them again on Tuesday night, along with many more of our fantastic supporters.

Please come along and support the lads.