PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL | TUESDAY REVIEW

Six of the best for second-place Needham Market

After leaders Mickleover won for the tenth game in a row at Barwell on Monday evening, nearest challengers, Needham Market, were in good form on Tuesday as they swept aside St. Ives Town 6-1 to remain second in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central table.

Luke Ingram and Kyle Hammond both helped themselves to two goals apiece whilst Keiran Morphew and Tevan Allen hit the others. Charlie Johnson scored a consolation goal in first half stoppage time.

In front of a crowd of 1,346 at Bromsgrove Sporting, there was a first defeat of the season for Halesowen Town as they lost 3-1 despite taking an early lead through McKauley Manning. The equaliser came from Miro Pais and then within five minutes, Conor Tee had put the home side ahead. The victory was sealed late on by Callum King-Harmes.

Another side coming from behind to win was Stamford as they recovered from Kieran Cook giving Coalville Town a 13th minute lead to win 2-1 as Ashton Offier equalised at the end of the opening period before Joe Burgess netted a late winner.

Hitchin Town had a good 4-0 away win at Kettering Town as Bradley Bell, Dan Idiakhoa, Finley Wilkinson and Isaac Galliford all got their names on the scoresheet to leave their host three places off the bottom as they find the early going tough following relegation at the end of last season.

There were two away teams who recovered from being two goals down to draw 2-2. Firstly, Berkhamsted found them trailing to two Matt Bateman goals within the opening seven minutes but recovered to take a share of the spoils thanks to a Conner Toomey goal on 17 minutes and then a Lewis Johnson leveller late on.

Meanwhile AFC Telford United trailed at Stourbridge thanks to Jack Fletcher’s opener and a goal just before the half-hour from Luke Benbow. But Orrin Pendley got them back into the game early in the second period before Ricardo Dinanga levelled for the visitors.

Honours were also even at AFC Sudbury as they played out a 1-1 draw with Leiston, whilst Alvechurch had a Ben Cassidy goal to thank for a hard-earned triumph over Leamington.

On Monday evening, as well as Mickleover’s success at Barwell, there was also a 2-0 triumph for a Redditch United outfit who remain amongst the leading pack after beating Long Eaton United.

IMAGE: Needham Market FC