How`s it Looking? (Part Two)

How the season looks in the Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division South as it went into the second lockdown.

When the first lockdown occurred back in March, Truro City and Chesham United looked set to have a thrilling battle for the Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division South title.

The White Tigers led the table by a point but possessed two games in hand on the Generals. However, the pair held a healthy nine-point lead over third-placed Hayes & Yeading United.

Forward virtually nine months and Truro are currently fourth, three points adrift of leaders Poole Town, who suffered massively last season through having many home games postponed due to their notorious pitch at the Black Gold Stadium.

But a great deal of work was done to the pitch during the lockdown period and hopefully it will not be an issue through the winter months once the new lockdown period is over.

Tom Killick`s Dolphins are one of only two teams still holding an unbeaten league record – Steve Claridge`s Salisbury being the other in third place.

Poole went into the enforced break on the back of a 4-1 Buildbase FA Trophy win over league rivals Hartley Wintney, with Claridge`s Whites being the only team to have prevented them from winning, sharing a 2-2 draw at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on October 10th.

Killick (left) made quite a number of signings ahead of the 2020/21 campaign and the return of Tony Lee on a more permanent basis is paying dividends, with the former Gosport Borough striker leading the club`s scoring charts.

Marvin Brooks and Harry Baker have formed a useful partnership up front for Salisbury, both having done likewise at Poole last season before moving to the RayMac in the summer.

Poole`s 2020/21 signings

Mark Childs Weymouth
Sean Wright Dorchester Town
Luke Burbidge Wimborne Town
Thiago Caze da Silva Latina Calcio (Italy)
Charles Medway Weymouth
Declan Rose Yeovil Town
Luke Delaney Lichfield
Ben Greenwood AFC Bournemouth (Loan)
David Jerrard Bideford AFC
Will Fletcher Wimborne Town
Tony Lee Wimborne Town
Luke Pardoe AFC Bournemouth
Bailey Rowe Weymouth
Christian Saydee AFC Bournemouth (Loan)

It didn`t look quite as bright for Steve Claridge`s men when they were held to a draw at home by Hendon on the opening day of the season and then booted out of the Emirates FA Cup just four days later by Southern Division One Central side Kidlington, who won on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Yarnton Road.

But the Whites haven`t lost since – the 2-2 draw with Poole being their only other dropped points to date as well as progressing through in the Trophy after hammering Tiverton Town 6-0 at home in their last game before the latest lockdown.

Salisbury`s 2020/21 signings

Harry Baker Poole Town
Sam Roberts Gosport Borough
Charlie Davis Gosport Borough
Antonio Diaz Wimborne Town
Dom Jefferies Newport County
Jack Ball Hartley Wintney
Charlie Kennedy Gosport Borough
Liam Armstrong Bristol Rovers (Loan)
Yemi Odubade Weymouth
Kaid Mohamed Afan Lido
Vaughn Covil Forest Green Rovers (Loan)
Alexis Andre-Jr Bristol Rovers (Loan)

Marvin Brooks Poole Town (right)

That defeat for Martyn Rogers` Tivvy side, however, was in contrast to their league form which has seen them win six out of their seven games to date.

The Yellows only defeat in the league came, surprisingly, at struggling Dorchester Town, who edged a 1-0 home win on October 10th.

What makes their Trophy hammering by Salisbury all the more surprising is that their previous match saw them hammer Walton Casuals 5-0 at Ladysmead.

Tiverton`s 2020/21 signings

Ed Butcher Paulton Rovers
Alex Fletcher Plymouth Argyle
Craig Woodman Exeter City
Dan Hayfield Calgary Foothills (Canada)
Jordan Lam Cardiff Metropolitan University FC
Louis Morison Exeter City (Loan)
Check Diabate Exeter City (Loan)

Truro began the 2020/21 season as they finished the previous campaign – winning their opening three games – two in the league and one in the FA Cup.

The White Tigers suffered a bit of a blip in October, losing at Poole and Hayes & Yeading United in the league and at Taunton Town in the FA Cup.

However, Paul Wotton`s side entered the latest lockdown with three successive wins, including gaining a bit of revenge on West Country rivals Taunton by beating them 4-2 – the same scoreline as in the FA Cup defeat – in the FA Trophy last time out.

Metropolitan Police, who were 11th when the 2019/20 season came to a premature end, currently occupy the final play-off spot.

Gavin Macpherson`s side went into the latest lockdown on the back of a 1-0 Imber Court win over Hendon and that will help heal the wounds of being the victims of a Trophy `upset` at the hands of Isthmian League North side Felixstowe & Walton United.

Chesham, who were looking so good for a promotion charge last season before the season was halted, are currently seventh but James Duncan`s men have only lost once in the league.

The Generals` main problem this term has been scoring goals. Indeed, they have only scored two more goals in the league than bottom-markers Beaconsfield Town.

In contrast though, their defence has been extremely solid, conceding just four times in seven league outings.

If Duncan can find a regular scorer, then there`s no doubt that Chesham will be challengers again this season.

Dorchester Town were one club extremely grateful that the 2019/20 season was declared null and void!

The Magpies were virtually certain to be relegated, sitting bottom of the table on 18 points – 9 adrift of third-bottom Walton Casuals.

Beaconsfield were second-from-bottom when lockdown occurred, 7 points better off than their Dorset rivals.

Forward to November 2020, and the bottom two teams are once again the Rams and the Magpies.

Indeed, Gary Meakin`s (left) Beaconsfield side have yet to register a league win after seven attempts and have only picked up points in back-to-back draws with Hartley Wintney and Hayes & Yeading in October.

Since then they have lost to fellow strugglers Farnborough and Harrow Borough – both times to a 4-1 scoreline – and on both occasions it was the victors` first – and to date only - win of the season.