Blackstones beat Pinxton in the United Counties League

Blackstones began the new year with a bang after a four-goal home success in the United Counties League on Saturday.

Stones scored three times in the opening period and then added another goal in the 4-0 home win over Pinxton in the Division One clash.

The match was one of only three games in the division to beat the inclement weather and started a run of three successive home clashes for Jon Harrison and Ryan Wood's side.

Johan Coughlan had fired an early opening wide for Blackstones who then saw a penalty appeal turned down when Nathan Rudman went down looking to round off some fine play from Josh Barrett.

Stones then struck the opening goal in the 20th minute as Will Bestwick burst clear to fire home past the advancing goalkeeper.

Two further goals in six minutes then cemented Stones' grip on the contest as Coughlan doubled their lead with a fine first-time finish into the far corner of the Pinxton net from Rudman's lay-off.

Barrett made it three seven minutes before the break when he collected a Coughlan pass before surging forward and whipping his finish beyond the dive of the Pinxton goalkeeper.

The win was wrapped up just before the hour mark when Rudkin tapped home from close range after Pinxton had rebuffed a series of attempts on their goal.

The victory moved Stones up into sixth spot in the table, five points away from the play-offs with three games in hand on fifth-placed Gedling Miners Welfare.

They host Clifton All Whites at the Seven Bespoke Joinery Stadium on Saturday before entertaining West Bridgford the following weekend.