Newark Alliance Premier Division : Law scores seven in Wheatsheaf United win

Calum Law struck seven goals as third-placed Coddington Mill were beaten 9-3 at home by Wheatsheaf United.

Law’s personal goal spree, including two fine strikes, secured only Wheatsheaf’s second win of the season that manager Rob Haigh hoped would kick-start their league season.

Adam Allsopp, who scored five in the Willie Hall Trophy the previous week, and Freddie Danby were also on target as Wheatsheaf built on a 4-1 half-time lead in a well-refereed match that was played in a fine spirit.

Coddington matched the visitors in the opening stages before Law took over with a quickfire hat-trick.

He tapped in the first, finished into the top corner to make it 2-0 and completed his treble with a superb free-kick over the defensive wall.

The home side pulled a goal back with a header, but Allsopp flicked in a cross to restore Wheatsheaf’s three-goal advantage before the interval.

Law took over again after half-time with another hat-trick, including a 20-yard volley from a defensive clearance into the top corner.

Danby started and finished a move from right-back to also get on the scoresheet.

Wheatsheaf manager Rob Haigh said: “It was a good performance. All three substitutes came on before the hour and played well too.

“We have played well all season but struggled to turn the performances into wins — we have been in winning positions and drawn and been drawing and then lost.

“We hit seven the previous week against (Second Division) Bleasby in the cup and perhaps this sort of result has been building for a while.

“Hopefully we can kick on and start to get some league points under our belt.”

Coddington, who pulled two back in the second-half from breakaways, have yet to draw this season, having won four and lost four of their eight matches.

Wayne Ord struck twice and Ric Leighton was also on target as Grove 16 claimed their third successive win — a 3-1 success at Barkestone-le-Vale, who have won just once.

Grove boss Matthew Wade was delighted with the victory, which he thought was his first at Barkestone in 25 years as a player and manager.

“It is a tough place to go, but we put in a great battling performance,” he said.

“Not many teams go there and win. They never give in.

“Hopefully now we have got a bit of momentum.”

Ord struck two early goals to give the visitors the advantage. In the 10th minute Lewis Chambers cut in from the right and squared to Ord, whose sliced finish spun in.

Wade said: “If he had caught it sweetly it would probably have been saved by the keeper, but as he sliced it the spin took it back in to the goal.”

Five minutes later Grove won a controversial penalty for handball after an on-target shot was driven at a defender’s hand from close-range.

Ord placed his clever finish from the spot down the middle after the keeper committed himself.

Barkestone, who always looked a threat at set-pieces and throws, piled on pressure and pulled a goal before half-time when a long ball was flicked on to set up a close-range headed finish.

Grove went on to dominate the second period, however, and struck the post and had one effort scrambled away that the visitors thought had crossed the line.

They clinched victory midway through the second-half when Leighton and Alex Hales combined well before Leighton’s good 25-yard strike moved in the air and could only be touched in by the keeper.

Bottom-of-the-table AFC Farnsfield went down 2-1 at home to RHP Social as Adam Boddy and Robson Worthington scored to cement the visitors’ hold on fourth place. Callum Atkinson replied.