PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH | WEEKEND REVIEW

Wimborne Town in pole position

It’s Wimborne Town who are the Christmas Number One in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South.

They had an early goal from Sam Griffen to thank for their single-goal victory over Bishops Cleeve as they leap-frogged Cribbs who went top briefly following their own 1-0 win, over Frome Town, on Friday night. David Duru scored the all-important goal but was later sent off.

Bideford AFC hit the 30-point mark in fourth place as they beat Malvern Town 3-1. Jordan Ewing gave them a first half lead before Ryan Turner doubled the advantage at the start of the second period. Ewing went on to notch his second and whilst the visitors pulled one back soon afterwards through Jordan Annear, the points stayed in Devon.

Sitting in fifth place are Bemerton Heath Harlequins as they battled out a 2-1 victory over Tavistock. Daniel Young set them on their way with a goal on ten minutes as Ed Harrison levelled midway through the opening period. The winner was an own goal from Sam Joce on the hour-mark.

There was joy at the bottom of Exmouth Town who won 4-2 at Evesham United for only their second triumph of the season. Aarron Denny and Thomas Bath put them two up early on and whilst Aidan Clark pulled one back before the break, it took Denny less than a minute after the restart to hit a third. Ethan Moran made it tense for the visitors with a goal for the hosts but Louis Morison sealed three precious points with just under quarter-of-an-hour to go.

It was a five-star show from Melksham Town to sweep Paulton Rovers aside by five goals to nil. Goals from Robbie James, Sam Hendy and recent arrival, Ben Bament, saw them race into a three-goal lead within the opening quarter-of-an-hour. Jaiden Pearce added a fourth before the half-hour and then Albert Hopkins completed the scoring in the second half.

Another side to win convincingly were Mousehole who beat Westbury United 4-0. It was a bad day for the visitors as four of their players were involved in a car crash ahead of the game, with three of them unable to take part in the action. All four goals came in the second half; Morgan Lewis and Tim Nixon scored in quick succession and then Callam McOnie made the points safe with a third before Hayden Turner rounded things off late on.

It was away day joy for Bristol Manor Farm as goals from Dan Dodimead, Jayden Nielsen and Owen Brain put them in the driving seat at Larkhall Athletic, for whom Archie Ferris hit a late consolation effort.

The day’s other game ended goalless between Yate Town and Bashley.

IMAGE: Martin Cook