PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH | WEEKEND REVIEW

Top five fail to win

There was defeat for the top three in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South at the hands of opponents who are battling for their lives near the bottom.

Champions, Chesham United, went down to two goals in the final 20 minutes at Tiverton Town who managed to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. Alfie Moulden set them on their way before Jack Rice-Lethaby added a second.

Another team pulling themselves out of the bottom four was Hayes & Yeading United who went to Gosport Borough and prospered 2-1. Sanmi Odelusi put the visitors ahead early in the second half and it wasn’t long before Ayo Faniyan added a second. Dan Wooden pulled a goal back but the visitors managed to see out a big win.

Also slipping to a rather surprising defeat was Salisbury who went down 2-0 at the hands of Harrow Borough who got both of their goals in quick succession during the opening period from Toby Nnadozie and Harry Seabrook.

Fourth-place AFC Totton also lost, as they went down to a single-goal defeat at the hands of Hungerford Town, for whom Conor McDonagh scored on 25 minutes to keep their play-off hopes alive for another week.

None of the top five were able to win as Merthyr Town were held to a 1-1 home draw by Hendon, who forged ahead through Daniel Matsuzaka. The equaliser came ten minutes from time from Ricardo Rees on an emotional day as the main stand at Penydarren Park was renamed the Anthony Hughes Stand in memory of our much-loved Chairman and friend.

Just outside the play-off zone, Bracknell Town picked up a 3-1 victory over Winchester City. Ralph Vigrass set them on their way before Great Evans doubled the advantage before the break. Daniel King pulled a goal back soon after the restart before Jordan Espirit settled the nerves with a third.

There has been a lot of change at Walton & Hersham over the past week or so but a Josh Tobin goal with just over ten minutes to go was enough to see off the challenge of Sholing.

In-form Dorchester Town secured another victory as they beat Hanwell Town 2-1, coming from behind to do so. Jacob Bancroft put the visitors ahead only for Shaquille Gwengwe to level matters on the stroke of half-time. Will Fletcher turned the scoreline on its head just past the hour-mark and that is how it remained.

A Tobias Holmes hat-trick gave Poole Town a commanding 3-0 victory over Beaconsfield Town. He opened the scoring early on from the penalty spot before adding a second as half-time approached and then a third early in the second half.

It was an entertaining encounter at Didcot Town where the home side found themselves two goals down at the hands of Plymouth Parkway within the opening seven minutes after Reece Thomson and Dyland Jones found the net. A brace from Robbie Gallagher put the hosts level before the break and the winner then came from the penalty spot on 86 minutes as Tobias Brenan kept a cool head to win the game.

The day’s other game saw Swindon Supermarine run out worthy 3-0 winners over Basingstoke Town. David Sims-Burgess opened the scoring and then Michael Fernandes doubled the advantage before the break. A late effort from Ryan Campbell added further gloss to the scoreline as the hosts moved four points clear of the bottom four.

IMAGE: Poole Town FC