Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Review

Five-star Mickleover remain in pole position

Bank Holiday Monday saw plenty of action in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central where leaders, Mickleover, had a big win to maintain their perfect start.

Their latest victims were Long Eaton United who have now suffered six straight losses since moving up into this level. Mickleover hit five goals without reply as Oliver Greaves and Andre Wight both grabbed braces in between an own goal from Ross Durrant.

The chasing pack are led by Stourbridge who were held at home by Bromsgrove Sporting. The Rouslers took the lead through Miro Pais on the stroke of half-time before the evergreen Luke Benbow popped up with an equaliser just past the hour-mark.

New-boys Stamford (pictured) remain unbeaten, although they conceded a last minute equaliser in their 3-3 home draw with Nuneaton Borough. Jack Duffy gave them the lead only for Matt Stenson to level for Boro.

Quick-fire goals right on half-time saw Oliver Brown-Hill restore Stamford’s lead only for Kane Richards to level matters again straight away. A second goal on the hour from Duffy looked like claiming all three points until Stenson popped up at the death.

There was another entertaining draw at Alvechurch, this time eight goals were shared against Redditch United.

The home side raced into a two-goal lead within the opening quarter-of-an-hour through Josh Dugmore from the penalty spot and Dylan Allen-Hadley. Redditch were given a lifeline through Brad Burton only for Dugmore to give his side a 3-1 advantage at the break.

After the restart, Burton notched another and the Reece Flanagan levelled the scores with just ten minutes to go. There was drama in the last minute when Liam Armstrong put Redditch ahead for the first time but there was still time for Kobe Chong to level from the spot deep into stoppage time.

There was also late drama at Kettering Town who grabbed only their second point of the season when a stoppage time strike from Tyrone Lewthwaite gave them a 1-1 draw with St. Ives Town for whom Tiago Nassunculo found the net.

More late goals came at AFC Sudbury where visitors Berkhamsted thought they had nicked it with an 88th minute goal from Jordan Frederick, only for Joe Neal to equalise in the first minute of added time.

It was a cagey affair at AFC Telford United as they played out a goalless draw with Halesowen Town in front of a crowd of over 1,700. Leamington and Stratford Town also shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw and there was a goalless stalemate at Leiston as they played host to Needham Market.

The day’s other games saw Coalville Town return to winning ways with a 3-1 triumph over Barwell, whilst Royston Town came from behind to secure a good 2-1 away win at Hitchin Town.