Date: Sat 18 Feb 2023

By Steve Whitney

Saturday's Premier Division Central Round-Up

Tamworth returned to winning ways on Saturday by beating Barwell 2-0 at the UK Flooring Direct Stadium in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central.

Luke Brown scores his first goal for the Marketmen but it's only a consolation in the end

Luke Brown scores his first goal for the Marketmen but it's only a consolation in the end

The Lambs made the relatively short trip down the A1 to take on a Barwell side who are sitting just below mid-table.

And the hosts did well for the majority of the game in front of a crowd of 479, but the final 10 minutes or so let them down.

Eoin McKeown broke the deadlock to give the visitors the lead in the 86th minute and then substitute Alex Jones was given far too much time and space on the edge of the box to double the Lambs` lead and seal the points.

Not too far away, the game of the day in the division saw Coalville Town, in fourth-place at kick-off, entertain second-placed Leiston at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium.

But the crowd of 781 saw a game that fell a little flat and arguably one of the highlights of the afternoon was a tremendous clearance off his own goalline late on by Coalville striker Billy Kee to keep the scoreline blank.

The Ravens` keeper Paul White and the visitors` Sam Donkin had a couple of saves to make but it was generally a game played in midfield against two well-matched teams.

Leiston now trail Tamworth by five points with three games in hand, while Coalville have dropped back to fifth after Rushall Olmypic edged a seven-goal thriller at Dales Lane against third-from-bottom Stratford Town.

The first half was real end-to-end stuff and the Pics raced into a 2-0 lead with two goals in 4 minutes, starting in the 21st minute, from Andre Carvalho-Landell.

Jack Turner reduced the deficit 4 minutes later when he was on hand to turn the ball into the net after an initial header had come back off the crossbar.

But in the 31st minute, Carvalho-Landell completed a quickfire hat-trick with a fine half-volley to make it 3-1.

Back came the Bards, however, and Andre Wright pulled another back 4 minutes later and, amazingly, just 3 minutes later, Lewis Ludford-Ison headed Stratford back on level terms!

As is often the case after a half like that, the second half was much quieter and it wasn’t until the 75th minute that Alex Cameron restored Rushall’s lead – a lead they held on to.

That was a big win for Liam McDonald’s side as they now trail third-placed Nuneaton Borough by just three points after Boro were held to a 1-1 draw at Top Field by mid-table Hitchin Town.

A decent crowd of 558 saw Isaiah Osbourne put the visitors in front right on the stroke of half-time.

A neat near post finish by Bradley Bell pulled the Canaries back on level terms after 68 minutes.

Nine minutes from time, Boro came close to winning it, but Scott McManus’ effort was cleared off the line.

If the game at Coalville was the game of the day, close behind it was the `six-pointer` at Hayden Road where bottom side AFC Rushden & Diamonds welcomed second-from-bottom Hednesford Town.

Both teams needed a win as they are rapidly being cut adrift.

And it was the Pitmen who claimed the points, courtesy of a goal from their player-manager Danny Glover with 10 minutes remaining, following up after Diamonds` French keeper Loris Marcimain could only parry Max Brogan’s initial effort.

The win takes Hednesford four points clear of Diamonds, having played two more games, and five behind third-from-bottom Stratford.

Indeed, the only other side in the bottom seven to win were Alvechurch, who moved up to 16th as a consequence of a 4-1 success at Lye Meadow against mid-table St Ives Town.

And Ian Long’s team got off to a great start when they were awarded a penalty after just 3 minutes which Danny Waldron duly converted.

Ten minutes later, Waldron was put through, only for his shot to be blocked by Saints` keeper James Dadge and Remi Walker followed up to make it 2-0.

The visitors pulled one back in the 34th minute through Kellan Hickinson, but less than 2 minutes later, Waldron cut in and smashed the ball home to restore the home ’ide's two-goal cushion.

It got worse for St Ives when, in the 53rd minute, forward Nabil Shariff was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card.

Three minutes later, the ten-men were punished further when Waldron completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1 after being set up by Walker.

The win lifted Alvechurch above Kings Langley, Bedford Town and Needham Market, who all lost on Saturday.

Kings are now in fourth-from-bottom spot after losing 2-0 at the Victoria Ground to a Bromsgrove Sporting outfit who are now 12th.

Another decent crowd of 605 saw the home side take a 13th minute lead when a scramble in the box was tapped home by Mike McGrath.

Then, in first half injury-time, Ammar Dyer gave the Rouslers a two-goal cushion.

Ollie Taylor in the home goal wasn’t tested too much, although he was forced into one good save to deny Andronicos Georgiou in the second half.

Bedford lost 2-1 not too far away at the War Memorial Athletic Ground against Stourbridge, who are now a place above Sporting in the table.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes in front of 540, the deadlock was finally broken after 56 minutes, and it was the visitors who got it when their experienced striker Rene Howe poked the ball home after a parry from Glassboys` keeper Charlie Price.

But just past the hour-mark and it was a double whammy for the Eagles as they had Charley Sanders dismissed for handball in the area – his second bookable offence - and Stan Anaebonam smashed home the resulting penalty to make it 1-1.

And on 77 minutes, the hosts sealed victory when, from a corner, Joe Hull headed home to make it 2-1.

Needham Market failed to follow up their midweek win against AFC Rushden & Diamonds by going down to a 3-1 defeat to Ilkeston Town at Bloomfields.

The Robins are now eighth after their veteran forward Leroy Lita rolled back the years with a hat-trick.

Lita almost scored in the 2nd minute but for a fine double save by the Marketmen’s Marcus Garnham.

But it was the hosts who scored first through Luke Brown – his first for the club - after 20 minutes.

Lita equalised just 4 minutes later from close range and Garnham again prevented Ilkeston from going in front with another great save to deny Jordan Hallam.

Nine minutes into the second half, Lita made it 2-1 with his second and in stoppage time, the well-travelled striker completed his hat-trick to seal a 3-1 win for the Robins.

Royston Town and Redditch United, sitting eighth and ninth in the table respectively, battled out a rather disappointing 0-0 draw at Garden Walk.

And the other game on Saturday between the two teams switched from the Northern Premier League at the end of last season, Barwell and Mickleover, saw the visiting Sports side triumph 2-1 at Greenwich Avenue and remain in sixth place, six points behind Coalville.

Experienced forward Stuart Beavon gave the visitors the boost of an early 3rd minute lead.

But Brad McGowan pulled Basford back on level terms in the 15th minute.

George Nunn popped up with Mickleover’s winner on the hour-mark.

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