PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH | WEEKEND REVIEW

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In the Pitching In Southern League Premier South, leaders Chesham United were held to a 1-1 draw at Basingstoke Town.

An early goal from Alex Lafleur set them on their way, but the home side levelled matters on the stroke of half-time through Elliott Bolton and that’s how the scoreline remained.

Up to second-place are Gosport Borough who were able to come home from Didcot Town with all three points from a 4-0 success. Gerson Da Costa Ramos helped himself to a hat-trick, with Antonio Diaz weighing in with the other goal.

There was a 1-0 defeat for Salisbury at Dorchester Town where Olaf Koszela’s strike midway through the opening period proved to be the difference.

In front of a crowd of over 1,200, AFC Totton secured a commanding victory over Beaconsfield Town. Tony-James Lee continued in his rich vein of scoring form by giving them the lead on 21 minutes and the evergreen Scott Rendell doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time. Ethan Taylor secured the win late on.

Our Star Game between the two teams on the fringes of the play-offs ended all square as Merthyr Town and Walton & Hersham played out a 1-1 draw. Gethyn Hill gave the home side the lead during the opening period before the visitors were rewarded for their pressure after the break when Arsen Ujkaj equalised. It leaves the Welsh outfit just inside the play-off zone.

There were victories for two other teams chasing the top five as Bracknell Town beat Plymouth Parkway 2-0 thanks to first half efforts from Haydon Vaughan and Joseph Grant, whilst Hungerford Town went to Harrow Borough and recovered from going a goal down to win 6-1.

It was Reece Deakin who put the hosts ahead just before the half-hour before Elis Watts sent the teams in level at the break. The second period saw Joe Shepherd and Luke Softley put the visitors in the driving seat before three goals in the closing stages as quickfire strikes from Watts saw him complete his hat-trick and then Elliott Dugan complete the scoring deep into stoppage time.

Down in the danger zone, Tiverton Town gave themselves a big boost by beating Hanwell Town 2-0 thanks to a Joe Parker brace. The Devon club now sit just one point and one place behind their opponents.

There was a big win for Sholing as they secured a 3-0 success at Poole Town. Jake Hesketh put them ahead in first half stoppage time before the long-serving duo of Lee Wort and Daniel Mason added further goals to take their team onto the 40-point mark.

Hamza Bin-Semakula hit a goal in each half as Hendon beat Winchester City 2-1 with the visitors grabbing a late consolation goal from Daniel King.

The day’s other game saw drama as Hayes & Yeading United played out a 2-2 draw with Swindon Supermarine. A goal from Ayo Faniyan set the hosts on their way with just eight minutes on the clock but an own goal from Will Salmon right on half-time knocked them off their stride and saw them fall behind early in the second period to a goal from former player, Michael Fernandes. They managed to grab an equaliser in stoppage time at the end through Charlie Owens.

IMAGE: Anthony Mills