THE ROUND UP | EASTER MONDAY ACTION

Dramatic Bank Holiday in the sunshine

The sun was shining for the Easter Monday action and there was drama across all four divisions, as you would expect at this stage of the season.

In the Premier South, five of the top six lost, including leaders, Walton & Hersham, who despite going down to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Chertsey Town, were crowned champions.

Second-placed Gloucester City slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to Taunton Town, who have had an excellent Easter weekend in their quest to get out of the bottom four. There was a 3-1 loss for Farnham Town in their home encounter with Bracknell Town, whilst Poole Town succumbed 2-1 against Wimborne Town.

Moving into the play-off places are Berkhamsted after they beat Hungerford Town 4-1 as Sholing suffered a 1-0 set-back at Basingstoke Town.

The leading clubs fared better in the Premier Central where leaders, Harborough Town, were commanding 5-1 victors over Banbury United. Hot on their heels, Spalding United came home from Barwell with a 2-0 success.

Real Bedford got back into winning ways with a 4-0 triumph over Bishop’s Stortford as Halesowen Town claimed the local bragging rights with their 2-0 win at Bromsgrove Sporting, who sit one place above the drop zone.

It was derby day defeat for Redditch United as they lost 3-1 at Worcester City to leave them just inside the play-off zone as Kettering Town dropped out with their 2-0 reverse at Stratford Town. There was a 1-0 loss for Quorn at Stamford AFC, but they remain in the top five hunt, as do Needham Market, who won 3-1 at AFC Sudbury and the aforementioned Worcester City who are only four points adrift in ninth place.

Relegation was confirmed for AFC Sudbury with their defeat and also Royston Town, who were 2-0 home losers at the hands of St. Ives Town.

Over in Division One South, Frome Town took the title as they broke through the 100-point barrier with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Shaftesbury. Second-placed Malvern Town worked hard to beat Worcestershire rivals, Sporting Club Inkberrow, 1-0.

It was a rather more straightforward success for Portishead Town as they swept aside already-relegated Tavistock AFC 7-0. Meanwhile Winchester City were held to a 2-2 home draw by Bashley, who are fighting for points at the wrong end of the table, and Bishops Cleeve extended their cushion just inside the play-off places as they beat Hartpury 3-1.
Division One Central saw leaders, Leighton Town, win 3-0 away at Barton Rovers. There was a hard-earned 1-0 away success for Hitchin Town at Stotfold, whilst Biggleswade FC moved up to third spot following a convincing 5-1 victory over Ware.

They leapfrog Biggleswade United who lost 3-1 at MK Irish, whilst Thame United fell to a 2-0 home reverse at the hands of a revitalised Aylesbury United. It means that having beaten Welwyn Garden City 3-0, Hertford Town are only three points off the top five.

Three of the four relegation places are now taken as Northwood’s 4-4 draw at Beaconsfield Town was not enough to save them. They joined AFC Dunstable and Rayners Lane in having the drop confirmed.

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IMAGE: Walton & Hersham FC