BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY | PREMIER SOUTH REVIEW

Title sealed as the battle for one play-off spot and to avoid relegation continues

Bank Holiday Monday and it’s fair to say that there has been a lot going on across all four of our divisions!

In the Pitching In Southern League Premier South, it’s congratulations to Merthyr Town as they clinched the title with a 3-0 victory over Hungerford Town. All of the goals came in the second half with Kane Simpson bagging a brace and Ricardo Rees hitting the other in stoppage time.

There was also victory for their nearest challengers as AFC Totton triumphed 2-0 over Winchester City with an early goal from Tony Lee setting them on their way before a Callum Buckley own goal sealed the win. The result means that the visitors take their battle to avoid the drop to the final game as they currently sit one place out of the relegation places.

Walton & Hersham had a good 5-1 away win at Bracknell Town as they get ready for the play-offs. There was a brace for Anis Nuur alongside further strikes from Johl Powell, Ralph Vigrass and Dawid Rogalski. A late goal from Remy Coddington proved to be mere consolation for the hosts who go into the final weekend just two points above the drop zone.

Another team who warmed up for their involvement in the play-offs with a commanding away win was Gloucester City as two goals from Joe Hanks and a further strike from Elis Watts put them in command at Swindon Supermarine, for whom Michael Elias-Fernandes grabbed a consolation effort. The defeat means that the home team go into the final weekend in the final relegation place.

The battle is on for the last remaining play-off place. At the moment it is held by Dorchester Town who picked up their second successive 3-2 victory of the Easter weekend to beat neighbours, Poole Town, in front of a crowd of over 2,600. Matt Buse opened the scoring for the hosts, but it was cancelled out by Ezio Touray, who went on to put his side ahead midway through the second half. Marcus Daws wasted no time in restoring parity before Olaf Konzsela won it with just over ten minutes to go. It means that Poole are still not safe from being dragged into the relegation zone on the final weekend.

Also vying for that last play-off spot are Havant & Waterlooville who were 2-1 victors at Gosport Borough thanks to a brace from leading scorer, Ryan Seager. He opened the scoring in the tenth minute only for Asher Yearwood to level matters a couple of minutes later. Seager then notched a second with 12 minutes to go to leave his side a point off the top five.

An impressive display from Tiverton Town saw them play out a goalless draw at Taunton Town to leave them in the mix to avoid the drop with a home game to come against bottom of the table, Marlow, to complete their season. Basingstoke Town won 4-1 at the aforementioned already-relegated Marlow as they too hope to make home advantage count next weekend as they host the title winners, Merthyr Town. Two goals from James Clark and further efforts from Robbie Gallagher and Connor Barrett gave them victory here as Naheer Nawaf replied for the hosts.

A 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Hanwell Town means that Chertsey Town are still looking over their shoulder. First half strikes from Will Hall and Elliot Benyon saw the away team strengthen their position in the top half of the table.

Elsewhere, Frome Town enjoyed an impressive 3-0 away success at Plymouth Parkway. With relegation confirmed, they played with a lot more freedom here and won it with early goals from Matt Wood and Albie Hopkins before Archie Ferris added another in the opening exchanges of the second period.

Finally, Wimborne Town and Sholing shared the spoils from a 1-1draw. Brad Targett put the visitors ahead early on before Will Fletcher levelled matters just past the hour-mark and that’s how it remained.

IMAGE: John Smith