Bank Holiday Monday's Early Kick-Offs Reviewed

There were several early kick-offs on Bank Holiday Monday in the Pitching In Southern Football League.

The 1pm games in the Premier Division Central saw Coalville Town maintain fifth spot, albeit maybe only for a short time, after winning 2-0 at Greenwich Avenue in front 571 against Basford United.

A Chris Robertson header right on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors an interval lead.

A fine finish from Tom McGlinchey doubled the Ravens` lead 8 minutes after the break, and they could have made it 3-0 when McGlinchey was brought down in the box by Ben Starkie. However, Ash Chambers` penalty was saved by Kieran Preston.

Royston Town moved above Bedford Town in mid-table after beating the Eagles 3-2 at Garden Walk.

The Eagles, under new manager Paul Davis for the first time, fell behind after 11 minutes when Royston’s recent recruit, Shomari Barnwell, headed home.

Bedford pulled themselves back on level terms just before half-time through Joe Butterworth.

And then just 6 minutes after the break, the visitors took the lead through Connor Tomlinson.

Royston, in front of a crowd of 604, equalised in the 67th minute when Kian Harness was on hand to net the rebound after Matt Bateman’s initial effort came back off the crossbar.

Bateman wasn’t to be denied though, and he made the points safe when he got on the end of a Cole Da Silva free kick to make it 3-2.

Leiston slipped above Nuneaton Borough into second spot but had to be content with a point from a 1-1 draw at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium against Kings Langley, who are 18th.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Kings took only 2 minutes of the second half to break the deadlock with a 30-yard beauty from Alex Lafleur.

But the Suffolk side pulled back on level terms on 65 minutes when Rossi Jarvis scored from a free kick.

The home side came close to winning it in the 73rd minute, but Caine Keller’s effort hit the post and bounced clear.

League leaders Tamworth were involved in a 2pm kick-off at the CR MOT Community Stadium against Alvechurch.

And the Lambs moved six points clear at the top after a 3-0 success.

A crowd of 1,058 saw 2023 start brilliantly for Eoin McKeown, who netted a hat-trick with goals in the 13th, 77th and 82nd minutes.

Another 2pm kick-off saw Needham Market beat Hitchin Town by the same scoreline at Bloomfields.

Jamie McGrath gave the Marketmen a 17th minute lead that Ross Crane doubled from the penalty spot 8 minutes before half-time.

Seth Chambers made sure the points stayed in Suffolk when he added a third 20 minutes from time.

In the Premier Division South at 1pm, North Leigh begin 2023 bottom of the table after losing 3-2 at Eynsham Park to third-placed Chesham United.

The Millers gave it a real go, however.

Adam North saved a Karl Oliyide penalty early on before the visitors did manage to take the lead through Jeanmal Prosper in the 32nd minute.

The Generals doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half with a goal from Luton Town loanee Toby Braney.

The home side fought back though and Amer Awadh pulled one back in the 74th minute.

Another on-loan player, striker Liam Ferdinand, made it 3-1 with just 2 minutes remaining, but a Will Owens effort in the 2nd minute of stoppage time made for a nervy finale.

Two mid-table teams, Hanwell Town and Beaconsfield Town, shared a 1-1 draw at the Powerday Stadium min their 1.30pm kick-off.

The Rams took an early 6th-minute lead through Elliott Buchanan.

A minute before half-time, Dwayne Duncan pulled the Geordies back on level terms, and although both sides had chances to win it, a draw was just about right on the day.

In the Division One Central, Biggleswade FC began proceedings with a 12.30 kick-off against bottom-markers Barton Rovers at The Eyrie.

And a cracking seven-goal encounter saw the hosts edge it by 4-3 and stay in second place.

But it was Rovers who started the better and took a 16th-minute lead through Jemale Olayinka.

Tom Coles equalised 4 minutes later, only for Olayinka to net his second to restore Barton’s lead.

That also didn’t last long as Alex Marsh levelled within 6 minutes.

The second half became a bity feisty and then the home side were stunned when Josh Adeyileka made it 3-2 in the 83rd minute.

It got worse for Biggleswade 3 minutes later when they had Pat McCafferty sent-off for a late lunge.

However, Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip’s battling side equalised 2 minutes into stoppage time and then the ten-men won it in the 97th minute through Adam Hunt.

Fourth-placed Didcot Town were looking to put pressure on those above them when they welcomed lowly Highworth Town to the Loop Meadow Stadium.

But Jamie Heapy’s side were thwarted by the Worthians in a 2-2 draw.

After a goalless first half, Didcot immediately broke through a minute after the restart through Sam Barder.

But the visitors equalised with a goal from Ed Harrison on 54 minutes and then led through Will Davidson in the 67th minute.

Taylor-Jay Bedwell rescued a point for the Railwaymen 9 minutes from the end.

Hadley moved up to ninth after a 3-1 home win against Hertford Town.

A Billy Hayes penalty gave the hosts a 9th minute lead that Sudayisi Sendege cancelled out in first half injury-time.

Eight minutes after the restart, Shehzad Anwar restored Hadley’s lead which Luke Alfano added to on the hour-mark.

In the , Frome Town kicked things off at 12.30 when they took on neighbours Larkhall Athletic in front of 485 at Badgers Hill.

A lively local derby saw the hosts look home and dry after leading 2-0 with goals from George Rigg in the 31st and 72nd minutes.

But the Larks battled back to snatch a point with Harley Prior on 84 minutes and Max Williams 4 minutes later.

Frome went into seventh after the result and Larkhall are 14th.

Westbury United moved into ninth after a 1-1 draw against visiting Melksham Town, who are 12th.

A terrific crowd of 824 saw Ryan Bole give the home side a 12th minute lead that Sam Hendy cancelled out in the 34th minute.

A 2pm kick-off saw Exmouth Town move into fourth-place, despite being held to a 3-3 draw by Willand Rovers, who are 13th.

Lewis Hill put the visitors ahead after 35 minutes but a goal deep into first half injury-time from Ben Steer gave the hosts parity.

Just 2 minutes after the restart, Jordan Harris made it 2-1 to Town and Harry Walford looked to have won it for the home side when he made it 3-1 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

But Ollie Bray pulled one back for Rovers 8 minutes later and then a penalty in stoppage time, converted by Doug Camilo, earned the visitors a point.