Saturday`s Premier Division South Round-Up

Clubs in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South finally managed to complete a full fixture list on Saturday and it saw the lead at the top of the table reduced to a single point.

Long-time leaders Weston-super-Mare attracted an excellent crowd of 1,314 for the big game at the Optima Stadium against second-placed Truro City.

The White Tigers have managed to play a couple of games during the recent bad weather, while the Seagulls took to the field for the first time since January 7th.

And it was Truro who drew first blood when they went ahead 3 minutes before half-time when Rocky Neal headed home Tyler Harvey’s cross.

Weston came close to equalising 8 minutes after the break when Lloyd Humphries` 30-yard free-kick was well saved by James Hamon in the visitors` goal.

And then on 57 minutes, the hosts had a great chance to level matters when they were awarded a penalty after Reuben Reid had been brought down.

However, Hamon guessed right and saved Dayle Grubb’s spot-kick.

It got worse for the Seagulls as, with 7 minutes of normal time remaining, they had Humphries sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Third-placed Chesham United lost ground as they suffered a 5-2 defeat at Holloways Park against neighbouring Beaconsfield Town, who are now ninth.

It was the Generals who took a 6th-minute lead when Liam Ferdinand set up Brad Clayton to score.

Then on 16 minutes, Clayton went down in the area under pressure after a brilliant through ball from Omar Rowe.

But Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick's penalty was saved by Beaconsfield’s new loan keeper Kie Plumley.

The Rams equalised on 35 minutes with a low drive from Callum Webb and then went ahead 2 minutes later when Kyel Reid converted a penalty.

Seven minutes later, it was 3-1 to the hosts with a far post finish from Elliot Buchanan.

The next goal was crucial – and it was Beaconsfield who got it when Buchanan grabbed his second, firing firmly past Sam Beasant.

The well-travelled striker then completed his hat-trick to make it a nap hand for the Rams just past the hour-mark.

Eoin Casey reduced the deficit 10 minutes from time, but Chesham were well beaten on the day.

The top three possess a nine-point advantage on the chasing pack, with Metropolitan Police now fourth after they beat Hanwell Town 2-0 at Imber Court and both Poole Town and Dorchester Town lost.

The Met left it late, finally breaking the deadlock in the 85th minute through substitute Louis Degand.

And to round off a good day for him, he made sure of the points with his and the Met’s second in stoppage time.

Poole suffered a 4-0 defeat at Bolitho Park against a Plymouth Parkway side who moved two points above the drop zone.

In front of a crowd of 688, Jack Crago gave the hosts a 9th minute lead that he doubled 7 minutes later.

Then on 39 minutes, Poole `keeper Luke Cairney pulled Ben Seymour down and Seymour got up to make it 3-0 from the resulting penalty.

A quieter second period saw Crago complete his hat-trick in the 51st minute to leave the final score 4-0.

Dorchester were beaten by the odd goal in seven at The Avenue Stadium by Swindon Supermarine, who are now tenth.

The Magpies were up against it after going down to ten-men as early as the 16th minute when Harvey Bradbury was adjudged to have raised his hands at Sam Turl.

But it was the ten-men who took a 23rd-minute lead through veteran Keith Emmerson.

The visitors finally got themselves back on level terms 7 minutes after half-time through Harry Williams, who quickly bagged his second less than 2 minutes later.

Shaquille Gwengwe equalised 4 minutes later, only for Henry Spalding to make it 3-2 to `Marine just 4 minutes after that.

Conor McDonagh put the visitors 4-2 ahead in the 86th minute, with Kieran Douglas pulling a third back for the Magpies a minute into stoppage time.

Bracknell Town are now just a point and a place behind Dorchester, with four games in hand, after beating Winchester City 3-1 at The SB Stadium.

Ben Harris put the Robins in front after 10 minutes and the same player notched his second to give Bracknell a two-goal advantage in the 37th minute.

George Knight added the home side’s third after 67 minutes, with Archie Willcox having netted a consolation 5 minutes earlier.

Merthyr Town are eighth, a point behind Bracknell, after beating Salisbury 5-0 at the Met Coaches Stadium – thus completing the `double` over the Whites.

A crowd of 811 saw Salisbury fall behind as early as the 4th minute through Ricardo Rees.

Curtis Jemmett-Hutson doubled the Martyrs` lead on 20 minutes, and 6 minutes later, Rees added his second and the hosts` third.

And just 5 minutes after that, Tom Handley virtually ensured victory when he made it 4-0.

The only goal of a much quieter second half came from Lewis Powell 9 minutes from the end.

At the other end of the table, joy for bottom-markers North Leigh, who secured just a third win of the season to date and first since 4th October by beating Hartley Wintney 3-0 at Eynsham Park.

Aaron McCreadie gave the Millers a 17th-minute lead that Lance Williams doubled 5 minutes later.

And a third from Jordan Thomas 5 minutes from time gave Eddie Odhiambo’s men something to celebrate, leaving The Row now second-from-bottom.

Harrow Borough are now fourth-from-bottom, having lost 3-0 at Silver Jubilee Park against a Hendon side who moved above them into 17th spot.

The Greens took a 23rd-minute lead through Dave Diediou.

It wasn’t until the hour-mark that they doubled their advantage, thanks to Liam Brooks.

And then on 62 minutes, Joe White made sure of the points with number three for Lee Allinson’s side.

Yate Town are a point and a place above Hendon after sharing a 0-0 draw at home against Tiverton Town.

And that allowed Gosport Borough to move above the Bluebells into 15th after a 3-2 Privett Park victory over mid-table Hayes & Yeading United.

But the visitors will be kicking themselves all the way back to Middlesex as they threw away a 2-0 lead, courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Fischer on 34 minutes and Moses Emmanuel 2 minutes later.

Gosport finally pulled one back on 77 minutes when Abdulai Baggie was brought down in the area and Bradley Tarbuck converted the resulting penalty.

Then on the 90-minute mark, Dan Wooden pulled Boro back on level terms.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Wooden pounced to score the home side’s winner.