Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Review

An action-packed night of football

There was an action-packed night in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central.
Mickleover won for the eighth time in a row with an excellent 2-1 triumph at AFC Telford United. Andew Dales gave them the perfect start, ironically in the eighth minute, before the home side were able to get back on level terms early in the second half.

It didn’t take Sports long to regain the lead, though, as just two minutes after being pegged back, Andre Wright popped up against one of his many former clubs to notch what proved to be the winning goal.

A fantastic crowd of just under 2,200 were present to see an entertaining local derby between Stourbridge and Halesowen Town, which ended in a 4-3 victory for The Yeltz as they extended their unbeaten start to the season, and in doing so moved up to second place in the table.

They took the lead through Kieren Donnelly just past the quarter-hour mark only for home skipper, Reece King, to level shortly afterwards. Deep into first half stoppage time, Nathan Hayward put Halesowen back in front but Luke Benbow hit back on the hour-mark to make it 2-2.

Parity lasted barely four minutes before Miracle Okafor continued his impressive start to the season to put the visitors back in front and then Jack Holmes gave them a two-goal cushion. But Stourbridge weren’t giving up and a second from Benbow set up a grandstand finish as The Yeltz held on to secure the bragging rights – and three points.

There was late drama for Needham Market who took the lead at Kettering Town with just five minutes to go through Jacob Lay only for Ben Toseland to equalise in stoppage time.

It was a crazy game at Alvechurch where they raced into a 4-0 first half lead against Barwell only for the visitors to score four goals of their own in the second half to share the spoils. Dylan Allen-Haldey broke the deadlock in the fifth minute before Kai George, Kobe Chang (penalty) and Jaanai Gordon put Church firmly in the driving seat (pictured).

Brady Hickey pulled a goal back on the hour and then Dan Holman added a second on 77 minutes before Hickey hit two more, in the 85th and 97th minutes, to complete his hat-trick and claim a point for his side.

The clash between Stamford and Stratford Town saw another six goals as The Bards prospered 4-2. Callum Ebanks put the visitors in front only for Jack Duffy to cancel out his strike on the quarter-hour mark. Alex Worley’s goal three minutes from the break put Stratford back in front but Ashton Offer made it 2-2 with 20 minutes to go.

Then Kasonga Ngandu and Daniel Lafferty popped up to win it for Stratford and take them up to sixth in the table, whilst for the home side, it was their second defeat in a row.

Four second half goals gave Leamington a 4-0 triumph over struggling Berkhamstead, whilst Long Eaton United lost 1-0 at home to Bromsgrove Sporting as Conor Tee hit the all-important goal late in the first half.

Coalville Town left it late to overcome the challenge of Redditch United as Tom McGlinchey and Tim Berridge struck in the final three minutes to secure a 2-0 win for their side.

The other two games ended with honours even as Joe Neal’s stoppage time goal saved the day for AFC Sudbury in their home clash with Royston Town, for whom James Brighton found the net. Leiston also left it late to salvage a point at home to St. Ives Town. Ross Crane hit the leveller after Tiago Nassunculo had given the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time.