Saturday`s Division One Central Round-Up

Despite being only three games into the new Pitching In Southern League Division One Central season, there are no clubs with a 100% record!

Saturday saw first defeats of 2022/23 for Berkhamsted and Ware.

Berko became FC Romania’s first victims of the campaign to date, losing 2-1 at Theobalds Lane.

And that despite leading through a 25th minute Ryan Blake effort until the 75th minute when Mitchell May equalised.

And then May popped up with his and the home side’s second with 6 minutes remaining.

Ware were beaten by a Waltham Abbey side also recording their first win.

The Abbots took a 26th-minute lead through Ace’A Laurent an eventually doubled that through new signing Edwin Mensah on 63 minutes, with Osa Otote adding a third in the 89th minute.

Welwyn Garden City were another team earning a first win of the new season, inflicting a second defeat on fancied switched side Cirencester Town at the Corinium Stadium.

The Centurians led at the break, thanks to a goal in injury-time from Levi Irving.

Cheyce Grant equalised just past the hour-mark and then Max Jessop scored what turned out to be the winner just 3 minutes later.

As well as Cirencester, another fancied side Biggleswade Town, Barton Rovers, promoted Hadley and Harlow Town are also still yet to record a win – the latter two having only played two games though.

Biggleswade lost 1-0 at the Loop Meadow Stadium to Didcot Town.

Connor Barrett scored the only goal after 23 minutes and both teams finished with ten-men – the Waders losing Luke Middleton in the 90th minute to a straight red card and 4 minutes into stoppage time, Didcot’s Ben Putland followed him off the pitch for a second booking.

Barton were beaten 2-1 at The Meadow by Aylesbury United – the Ducks being only one of four teams yet to be beaten.

Jamie Rudd gave the hosts a 16th-minute lead that Ezra Forde doubled 11 minutes later.

Rovers `won` the second half through new signing Urijah Gordon-Douglas in the 72nd minute but they weren’t able to find a leveller.

Hadley were beaten 2-1 at home by Kidlington, whose Declan Peart after 27 minutes and Tom Moore in first half injury-time, gave them a cushion.

Jordan Edwards pulled one back on 64 minutes, but the visitors held firm for a second win.

Harlow haven’t lost yet this term – but have failed to win after sharing the spoils for a second time.

The Hawks drew 2-2 at The Eyrie against Biggleswade FC – the hosts battling back from being two-down to goals from Hani Berchiche after 22 minutes and Aleko Aliaj just before the break.

But 2-0 half-time leads can often prove dangerous – and so it proved for Harlow as Adam Hunt after 71 minutes and then Charlie Hayford on 82 minutes pulled the Greens back on level terms.

Kempston Rovers and AFC Dunstable are the two other teams yet to lose, although the latter had their game at Creasey Park against Hertford Town abandoned around the hour-mark due to a serious injury to a visiting player.

The Walnut Boys were held to a 1-1 draw at Hillgrounds by Highworth Town – and that after taking a first-minute lead through Ben Baker.

Ashley Edenborough eventually pulled the Worthians level just shy of the hour-mark.

Thame United were the day’s other winners, beating newly promoted Walthamstow 2-0 at Wadham Lodge.

Dave Pearce broke the deadlock to give the Red Kites a 53rd-minute lead that Jack Gardner added to 12 minutes from time.