PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE | TUESDAY REVIEW

All of the action

Tuesday’s action in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South saw Merthyr Town fail to strengthen their position within the play-off places as they went down to a 2-0 defeat at Winchester City.

The home side took the points courtesy of a goal midway through the opening period from Daniel Jones and then another at the very start of the second half from Sam Ashton.

In-form Dorchester Town continued their march up the table with a 2-0 victory at Tiverton Town as Shaquille Gwengwe and Marus Daws got the goals in the first half. Dorchester are now up to ninth place.

The other two games ended level as Sholing, despite having to put an outfield player in goal due to injury, shared the spoils with Hendon in a 2-2 draw. Billy Leonard put the visitors ahead only for Lee Wort to level straight away as half-time approached. There was still time for Shaun Lucien to regain the lead for the visitors in first half stoppage time before Bradley Targett equalised in the opening exchanges of the second period.

It was the same scoreline at Poole Town where Alefe Santos put them ahead against Plymouth Parkway early in the second period. Shane White levelled just past the hour but his side fell behind again as Billy Lowes found the net with just over ten minutes to go. It took a last-minute leveller from Reece Thomson to make it honours even.

There were two games in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central as Stamford kept their hopes of snatching a play-off place alive with a 2-1 away triumph at Kettering Town.

They had to come from behind to do it as Bruno Andrade gave the hosts a first half lead before Tendai Chitiza and Jon Challinor turned the scoreline on its head.

The evening’s other game ended goalless between Coalville Town and Stourbridge.

In the Pitching In Southern League Division One South, Wimborne Town now hold a three-point advantage at the top after they came from behind to beat Evesham United 2-1.

Aaron Heap fired the visitors in front midway through the first half and the home side had to wait until ten minutes into the second period to draw level through Harry Morgan. They then went on to win it thanks to Sam Griffen’s goal with nine minutes left on the clock.

There was an even later winning goal at Mousehole where the home side prospered 3-2 against Tavistock to keep their play-off hopes on track. Charlie Cummins put them ahead in first half stoppage time and then Mitch Beardmore got his name on the scoresheet once more early in the second period. Liam Prynn soon reduced the arrears and then when on to level matters with 20 minutes to go before Hayden Turner popped up in the 91st minute to win it.

Another team bagging a 91st minute winner was Melksham Town as they beat Bideford 2-1. Henry Sady put the home side in front during the opening period before Finn Roberts equalised for the Devon outfit with eight minutes to go. A point was snatched from them when Elliot Haffenden hit the winner in stoppage time.

Bishops Cleeve’s penultimate game of the season ended in a good 2-0 victory on the road at Bashley as Toby Holland and Archie Haskayne scored a goal in each half.

The night’s other game saw Paulton Rovers let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Malvern Town. Leighton Thomas and Jamarni Langlais put them in command within the opening quarter-of-an-hour only for Samson Hewett and Jack Watts to earn a share of the spoils for the Worcestershire club who may have just given themselves a bit too much to do to make the play-offs now.

Over in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, a fascinating battle continues.

Leaders, Biggleswade Town, had a goal deep into stoppage time at the end to thank for salvaging a point from a 2-2 home draw with Hadley, who went into a two-goal lead with a second half brace from Luke Alfano. Marcus Gouldbourne pulled a goal back within minutes of the second going in and it gave the momentum to go and get a dramatic leveller from Charlie Briggs.

Meanwhile title rivals, Bedford Town, were once more well amongst the goals. Not content with bagging seven at the weekend, they hit another five to dispose of Welwyn Garden City 5-1. Leon Lobjoit opened the scoring early on and by the 50th minute he had a hat-trick. Kyle Connolly then got in on the act with another goal and whilst Brad Wadkins pulled one back for the visitors, Liam Dulson added a fifth for the hosts late on to leave his side three points off the leaders.

At the other end of the table, Kidlington gave their survival hopes a massive boost with a 4-1 away win at Barton Rovers. They now sit on the 40-point mark after two goals from Conor Taylor, a corner that curled straight in from Jack Gardner and a late effort from Mekhai Bessasa-Grant made it a night to remember. The hosts hit a consolation through Taylor Rhiney.

IMAGE: Sholing FC