NEW YEAR'S DAY | REVIEW

Despite the weather, the action that did survive didn't disappoint

The New Year’s Day fixture schedule was hit by the wet weather with a number of postponements across our four divisions.

That said, there was still plenty of drama to herald in 2025, none more so than at the top of the Pitching In Southern League Premier South where our Game of the Day saw leaders, Merthyr Town, grab a stoppage time leveller at home to Gloucester City.

It was the visitors who took the lead just before the half-hour mark through Ben Richards-Everton. That was eventually cancelled out by Ricardo Rees with 15 minutes to go before Joe Hanks looked to have given the away team victory when he found the net with just three minutes to go. However, deep into stoppage time, Noah Smerdon made it 2-2.

Second-place AFC Totton saw their tasty home encounter with Havant & Waterlooville postponed, one of four games in the Premier South to fall victim of the weather.

There were a couple of impressive away wins. Hungerford Town were given a boost as they won 3-1 at Swindon Supermarine. Joseph Marquez Espada gave them an early lead, which was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Olly Mehew. They were able to regain the lead early in the second period thanks to George Smith before Anthony Dwyer sealed the victory with a third goal just past the hour-mark.

A brace from Jordan Edwards saw Hanwell Town secure a 2-0 triumph at Marlow. It was a result that leaves them tucked in the mid-table pack.

Gosport Borough recovered from going a goal down early on to beat Sholing 4-1. Another goal from Michael Folivi gave the away team a sixth minute lead, but that was soon cancelled out by Asher Yearwood. The scoreline was turned on its head just before the interval through Dan Wooden, who then went on to get another early in the second half. Yearwood weighed in with his second to seal the three points.

A Shaquille Gwengwe strike just a couple of minutes into the second period was enough to give Dorchester Town a 1-0 win against Winchester City, whilst the remaining games ended level as a last-gasp own goal from Jack Ball saw Bracknell Town earn a point from their home encounter with Basingtoke Town, for whom Liam Ferdinand had given them a first half lead. It was goalless between Plymouth Parkway and Tiverton Town.

Over in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central, our Game of the Day saw Stratford Town romp to an excellent 4-0 victory over fellow high-flyers, AFC Telford United. Lewis Ludford-Ison and Dan Lafferty put them in command with first half goals and the same two players repeated the feat after the break. The Bards are now second.

Leaders, Kettering Town, went down to a 2-1 set-back at Harborough Town as a Ben Stephens brace ultimately secured the win, with his second goal coming just a minute after Kai Fifield had levelled matters with half-time approaching.

There was a good 2-1 away win for Bedford Town at Bishop’s Stortford. Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite set them on their way early on as Ryan Blake doubled the advantage just before the interval. Brad Russell’s second half strike was not enough to get anything out of the game for the hosts.

Also winning away were a resurgent Bromsgrove Sporting who took the honours at local rivals, Halesowen Town, in front of a big crowd. James Meddows broke the deadlock ten minutes after the restart, with Fin Holmes completing the scoring to bring his side in touch with those clubs in the middle of the table.

There was also a welcome 2-0 win for Hitchin Town as they beat Barwell. Daniel Stokoe and Ciaren Jones got the goals, one in each half. Spalding United came from behind to beat St. Ives Town 3-1. Josh Allen had put the visitors in front in the 11th minute but then a blast of three goals in quick succession from Abduramane Sano Sani, Joseph Nyahwema and Bartosz Cybulski turned things around before the break and that’s how the scoreline remained.

The remaining games ended level as Royston Town and Leiston played out a 1-1 draw, as did Stourbridge and Redditch United. Three games were postponed.

Four games succumbed in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South, including our Game of the Day, the Cornwall derby between Mousehole and Helston Athletic.

Of the action that did go ahead, Bishops Cleeve came from behind to beat Malvern Town 4-1 and now sit just outside the play-off places. Joe Bullock put the visitors ahead but it was cancelled out before the break by Ross Langworthy. Taking the momentum into the second half, Matt Bower soon put the hosts in front for the first time and then late efforts from Ethan Dunbar and Langworthy added extra gloss to the scoreline.

Also scoring four were Bristol Manor Farm who comfortably beat Cribbs with George Dowling and Louis Britton finding the net in the first half and a brace from Joshua Bissett after the break making it 4-0. There were four goals for Shaftesbury as they beat Melksham Town 4-3 in an entertaining encounter. Harry Baker put the visitors in front but that was cancelled out by Remus Nixon, who then went on to put his side ahead just before the hour-mark. Brett Pitman extended the lead and then Nixon completed his hat-trick before late goals from Elliot Haffenden and a Luke Ballinger penalty almost saw the away team get something out of the game.

A Bradley Selwood hat-trick saw Westbury United chalk up a commanding 3-0 triumph over Larkhall Athletic, whilst Rubin Wilson was on target with just under 20 minutes to go to give Falmouth Town another precious three points at Willand Rovers as they start to pull away from the danger zone.

In the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, the rain caused five postponements and an abandonment at leaders, Berkhamsted who were 2-1 down to Beaconsfield Town when the conditions meant that the game was unable to continue.

Of the action that did survive, it was a Happy New Year for Leighton Town who won 5-1 away at Enfield. Godlove Oppong set them on their way early on only for Matt Hurley to restore parity on the hour. Four goals in the final 18 minutes, from Lynton Goss, Luke Pyman and two more from Oppong to complete his hat-trick, gave the visitors the perfect start to 2025.

There was a good win for Biggleswade FC as Rio Martucci-Bedingfield, a Dan Bond penalty and Temilola Akinbusoye strike in stoppage time saw them home by three goals to nil at the expense of AFC Dunstable.

Meanwhile Hadley beat Kings Langley 2-1. A quickfire double at the start of the second half set them on their way as a Cian Moore own goal and Hedley Ogbebor effort put them in the driving seat and whilst Jon Lawson pulled one back, it proved to be not quite enough.

The other action ended level as Johnny Allotey’s equaliser earned a point for Ware from a 1-1 home draw with Hertford Town, for whom Sudayisi Sendege opened the scoring right on the stroke of half-time.

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