Saturday`s Division One South Round-Up

Five matches managed to dodge the bad weather on Saturday in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South.

And they included the top two, who both won to leave Cinderford Town still holding a two-point lead over Frome Town.

The Centurians were made to fight hard for their 2-1 win on the 3G at the Corinium Stadium against bottom side Barnstaple Town, who came into the game on the back of a run of three games without defeat under Craig Laird.

Conditions were difficult but again Barnstaple showed they were a much better team than their league position suggests.

But the damage may already have been done for the Devonians, who have only 11 games left to claw out of trouble.

They held John Brough`s high-flyers until 5 minutes into the second half when Josh Parsons broke the deadlock.

However, it looked as though Barum would be heading back down the motorway with a point when Owen Howe equalised with only 7 minutes remaining.

But 5 minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game saw the home side awarded a penalty which Jake Lee converted to leave the Devonians devastated.

Frome had a much more comfortable afternoon at Badgers Hill against third-from-bottom Cinderford Town, running out 5-2 winners.

In front of a crowd of 388, the hosts got off to a good start when Jon Davies opened the scoring after just 4 minutes.

Matt Smith added a second with 8 minutes of the first half remaining.

Davies then went on to complete his hat-trick with a quickfire brace just after the interval to make it 4-0.

The Foresters gave the Robins a scare when they pulled two back from Will Morford after 57 minutes and then Dylan Jones on 78 minutes.

But an Archie Thayer fifth ensured the win for Frome.

Both Bideford AFC and Mangotsfield United eased their relegation fears after picking up points on Saturday.

Bideford are 16th, now ten points clear of Cinderford, after a 1-0 verdict at home to fifth-placed Bristol Manor Farm.

Manor Farm`s Mike Bryant struck a post in the first half but just as it looked as though the points would be shared, Charlie Hanson grabbed a winner for Bideford 5 minutes into time added on at the end of the game!

Mangotsfield fought back at Melksham Town to earn a 3-3 draw in front of a crowd of 346.

The hosts raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Aaron Parsons after 20 minutes and Jay Malshankskyj 12 minutes later.

Mircea Illea reduced the deficit on 39 minutes, only for Albie Hopkins to restore the home side`s two-goal lead a minute before half-time.

But battling Mangos grabbed a point with two goals in the final 9 minutes from Joe Cattermole and Kyle Simpson to make it a decent start for experienced new boss Phil Bater.

Slimbridge moved up to 13th with a 3-2 away victory over a now 15th-placed Lymington Town.

Harrison Cable put the home side in front after 27 minutes and within a minute, the Swans were back on terms through a Callum Davies own goal.

Freddie Bullard though gave the Hampshire outfit a 2-1 interval lead with a goal after 37 minutes.

Ethan Dunbar equalised 15 minutes from time, and just as though it looked like finishing all-square, Raiyan Ahmed popped up with Slimbridge`s winner.