PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL | REVIEW

Needham Market crowned Champions

The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central saw Needham Market crowned Champions.

Their 3-1 victory over Royston Town combined with Mickleover’s loss at Stourbridge by the same scoreline saw history made as they claimed the title.

A hat-trick from Jamie McGrath saw the Marketmen on their way. He opened the scoring just past the half-hour mark only for Kian Harness to cancel it out on the hour. But McGrath restored the home side’s advantage on 81 minutes before adding a third shortly afterwards to seal the win.

Over at Stourbridge, Brendon Daniels wasted little time in putting the home side ahead against the club that he served on loan earlier in the campaign. Aaron Forde doubled the advantage but Ethan Fitzhugh restored hope as he pulled a goal back before the break. The Glassboys made the points safe through Joel Shambrook.

AFC Telford United secured their play-off spot by battling out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leamington in our Star Game. A Remi Walker goal with 20 minutes to go proved to be the difference.

There was a big win for Redditch United as they went to fellow play-off hopefuls, Stratford Town, and made a welcome return to winning ways thanks to Alex Cameron’s strike midway through the second period. It leaves just two points separating the Bards in fourth place with Redditch who are sixth and one place out of the play-off zone.

In the lower reaches of the table, AFC Sudbury kept their survival hopes alive as they beat Coalville Town 2-1. Josh Allen set them on their way early on before Joe Neal doubled the lead in first half stoppage time. A Scott McManus goal for the visitors early in the second half made for a nervy second period.

Just above them, Hitchin Town went down to a single-goal defeat at Leiston, for whom Adam Bailey-Dennis bagged a 19th minute winner.

Already-relegated Berkhamsted shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Kettering Town. Max Bustamante MacAire got the visitors’ goal, whilst Kobe Chong was on target for the hosts. Meanwhile Long Eaton United lost 2-0 at Stamford, where Jack Duffy found the net early on and an own goal from George Atwal completed the scoring at the death.

There was plenty of drama at Barwell as they home side lost 4-3 at the hands of St. Ives Town. Brady Hickey struck early for the hosts as Jonny Edwards levelled matters soon afterwards. Isaiah Osbourne restored the lead for the home side only for Michael Richens to equalise. Amaru Kaunda gave the visitors the lead for the first time with a quarter-of-an-hour to go but parity was restored by Leroy Lita with just five minutes to go. The stage was set for Edwards to snatch a stoppage time winner for the away side.

It was less dramatic at Alvechurch as a Dylan Allen-Hadley goal early in the second half was enough to beat Bromsgrove Sporting.

IMAGE: Needham Market FC