Saturday's Premier Division South Round-Up

The Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South title race took another twist on Saturday, with only second-placed Truro City managing to obtain three points.

Weston-super-Mare still head the table by four points with a game in hand on Truro, but were held to a 1-1 draw at the Optima Stadium by eighth-placed Metropolitan Police.

A good crowd of 932 saw the Met take a 13th minute lead when a throw-in found Ollie Knight inside the area, and he fired past Luke Purnell.

The Seagull were level just 8 minutes later when Rueben Reid set up James Dodd to smash past Met `keeper Liam Beach.

The Met, notoriously tough to beat, held firm and finished the game with ten-men when they had Kwaku Frimpong shown a straight red card for the follow through on Scott Laird’s challenge.

The big game in the division took place at The SB Stadium between third-placed Bracknell Town and second-placed Truro.

And it was a pivotal 3-0 win for the White Tigers, who moved eight points clear of the Robins, who do have three games in hand though.

A Harvey Greenslade header put the visitors in front after 33 minutes and it was the same player who doubled Truro’s lead 6 minutes into the second half.

And 15 minutes from time, victory was confirmed when Rocky Neal was put through and he slotted the ball past Michael Eacott.

The two other teams currently in the play-off places, Chesham United and Poole Town, both drew, as did sixth-placed Swindon Supermarine, leaving Hayes & Yeading United moving up to seventh – 7 points behind the top five - after beating Dorchester Town 4-0 at the SKYex Community Stadium.

Chesham were held to a 1-1 draw by Winchester City at The Meadow.

A crowd of 403 saw the home side lead at the break, thanks to a 35th minute Ricardo German effort.

Five minutes after the interval, City levelled through Warren Bentley.

And the visitors` chances were given a boost in the 69th minute when Chesham had Frankie Sutherland dismissed for a second yellow offence for a challenge in the middle of the field.

Poole were also held to a 1-1 stalemate at the Memorial Playing Fields by second-from-bottom side Hartley Wintney.

After a goalless opening half, it was Poole who broke the deadlock just 6 minutes after the restart when Toby Holmes was brought down in the box and Tony Lee duly converted the resulting penalty.

The visitors` player-coach Wes Fogden hit the post in the 81st minute but just 2 minutes from time, Max Mullins grabbed a crucial equaliser for The Row.

It was an entertaining afternoon at the Webbswood Stadium where Swindon Supermarine shared a six-goal thriller with Tiverton Town, although it is doubtful `Marine boss Lee Spalding would be happy with just a point!

But they trailed to a Tom Purrington goal after just 8 minutes and it got worse for the home fans as 2 minutes later, Chuk Iseguan doubled the Yellows` lead.

Two goals in 6 minutes midway through the half from James Harding pulled `Marine back on level terms as the first half finished 2-2.

Tiverton eventually found a third with 10 minutes remaining through Niall Thompson, but the lead lasted barely 3 minutes as Zak Kotwica pulled the hosts level once more.

It was Moses Emmanuel’s day at the SKYex as he scored all four of Hayes & Yeading’s goals against Dorchester.

He opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he converted a penalty after Jamie Hanlon was hauled down in the area.

Emmanuel then added a second from open play in the 32nd minute before Hayes & Yeading were awarded a second spot-kick, this time Emmanuel was the victim after being brought down by Magpies` keeper Harry Dillon, and the top scorer made no mistake for his hat-trick and makes it 3-0.

Emmanuel and United’s fourth goal eventually arrived 5 minutes from time.

At the other end of the table, Hartley Wintney were the only team in the bottom four to gain a point, with Hendon moving three points clear of fourth-bottom Harrow Borough after recording a crucial 2-1 win at Merthyr Town.

Bottom side Yate Town lost 3-2 at Holloways Park against Beaconsfield Town, who are now a very creditable ninth.

Luke Neville gave the Rams a 13th minute lead that new signing Lucas Tomlinson cancelled out 8 minutes later.

Nathan Minhas restored the hosts` lead on the half-hour mark.

But 5 minutes into the second half, the Bluebells were level, thanks to Ben McLean.

The home side grabbed all three points in the first minute of stoppage time with a lovely curling effort from Dan Bradshaw.

Third-bottom North Leigh suffered a 4-2 loss at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium to Salisbury – and they did so after finishing the game with only nine men!

The Whites took a 23rd minute lead when Dan Fitchett was brought down in the box and Brandon Goodship converted the resulting penalty.

But Latrell Humphrey-Ewers pulled the Millers back on level terms 5 minutes later, and then went in front through Jordan Thomas 2 minutes afterwards only for Salisbury to equalise just 2 minutes later through James Plant.

Fitchett made it 3-2 to the hosts on the hour-mark but Salisbury then had Bouwe Bosma shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge in the 77th minute and 5 minutes from time, Brian Dutton’s side went down to nine men when Nassim Kherbouche was shown a second yellow for a deliberate handball.

However, the home side sealed victory in the 89th minute with a fourth from Devon Arnold.

Fourth-bottom Harrow suffered a 4-0 defeat at Bolitho Park by Plymouth Parkway.

Dan Rooney gave the hosts a 25th minute lead they held at the break.

Harrow held out until the 72nd minute when Ryan Lane eventually doubled Parkway’s lead.

The returning Adam Carter came off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 78th minute and 4 minutes into stoppage time, Sonny Hart scored an outrageous own goal as sliced the ball into his own net.

A crowd of 585 saw inconsistent Merthyr lose at the Met Coaches Stadium to Hendon.

Dave Diedhiou put the Greens in front after just 7 minutes, only for the Martyrs to equalise within a minute through Ricardo Rees.

But Hendon grabbed three crucial points when Diedhiou scored his second of the afternoon with less than 3 minutes remaining.

Gosport Borough will now be looking over their shoulder at the relegation battle after losing 2-0 at Privett Park to Hanwell Town.

Despite their indifferent form, Gosport continue to attract decent attendances, with 705 at this one.

But the majority of them left disappointed as the Geordies scored second half goals from Matt Mackenzie 5 minutes after the break and Tom McElroy in the 62nd minute.