Saturday's Premier Division One Central Round-Up

One issue was settled on `Non-League Day` in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central today and that was the relegation of bottom-markers AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Chris Nunn’s side needed to beat title-challengers Leiston at Hayden Road to extend their tenure into another week. However, despite a spirited performance from Diamonds in front of a decent crowd of 429, they were unable to achieve the win but prevented the Suffolk side from scoring in a 0-0 draw.

But much of that was down to a tremendous performance by home `keeper Dean Snedker, who also saved a penalty on the hour-mark from Will Davies after Ben Fowkes had been fouled in the area.

Leaders Tamworth made no mistake, winning 2-0 at Garden Walk against a Royston Town side who started the afternoon in eighth place.

The Lambs opened the scoring after 28 minutes when Dan Creaney headed home.

Then, just shy of the hour-mark, Tamworth doubled their advantage when Eoin McKeown kept his nerve to beat Crows` keeper Dimi Kyriatzis one-on-one.

Coalville Town maintained their challenge with a 2-1 win over fourth-bottom Kings Langley in front of a crowd of 970 at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium.

The hosts took a 1-0 lead into half-time, courtesy of a 9th minute Luke Shaw penalty after a foul on Lee McGlinchey.

The visitors were far from being out of the contest and gradually got themselves a foothold and it came as little surprise when they equalised in the 72nd minute when a fine ball from Sami Bessadi was finished off well by Cain Keller.

However, just when a draw looked on the cards, 5 minutes into stoppage time, Shaw grabbed a crucial second for the title-chasing hosts.

Rushall Olympic in fourth edged a 1-0 win against a St Ives Town side now looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone after an eighth game without a win.

With former Premier League striker Leon Clarke starting for the first time for the Pics, the crowd of 462 saw the hosts take a 27th minute lead when Andre Landell managed to beat Ives` keeper Ed Brearey from an acute angle from the edge of the box.

The visitors battled hard and made it tough for the play-off chasing hosts, but in the end, Landell’s goal proved enough.

Fifth-placed Nuneaton Borough were held to a 1-1 draw at Bloomfields by in-form Needham Market.

It was the visitors who took the lead after 22 minutes when a deflected Kane Richards effort found its way past Marcus Garnham in the Marketmen’s goal.

A nasty injury to the home side’s Patrick Brothers held up play for a considerable time and in the 13th minute of first half injury-time, Needham Market equalised when Ross Crane was brought down in the area and Luke Ingram smashed home the penalty.

The second half was a bit of a non-entity and a draw was about right on the day.

Sixth-placed Mickleover are nine points behind Nuneaton after winning 3-1 at Bromsgrove Sporting in front of a crowd of 768 at the Victoria Ground.

Andy Dales headed the visitors in front after 15 minutes but in the 2nd minute of time added on in the first half, Sporting were level through Brandon Smalley.

Five minutes after the break, Mickleover were back in front with a second for Dales and a minute from the end of normal time, Elliott Reeves made it 3-1 to John McGrath’s men.

Needham Market and Diamonds were the only teams in the bottom half of the table to take a point today, so it’s as you were in the race to avoid joining the Northamptonshire side in going down.

It’s looking grim for second-bottom Hednesford Town, whose confidence won’t be helped by a 5-1 drubbing, albeit by an in-form Barwell side who have gone from being relegation candidates to ninth place in the table!

Brady Hickey gave the Canaries an early 4th minute lead that Beck-Ray Enoru doubled after 20 minutes.

Jordan Graham pulled the Pitmen back into the contest in the 39th minute.

But 11 minutes into the second half, Layton Ndukwu made it 3-1 and 3 minutes later, he grabbed his second and Barwell’s fourth.

Jahvan Davidson-Miller made it a nap hand in the 77th minute and it could have been worse for Hednesford as, 7 minutes later, Hickey’s penalty hit the bar and he headed home the rebound but the goal was disallowed.

Third-bottom Bedford Town’s poor run continued with a 2-0 loss at an Alvechurch side who are now 13th and probably now safe.

But it could have been different if the Eagles hadn’t have squandered the chance to take the lead in the 38th minute when they were awarded a penalty when Connor Tomlinson flicked the ball on to Lucas Kirkpatrick, who was bundled over. But Tomlinson slipped as he took the spot-kick and the ball went agonisingly wide.

The deadlock was broken 7 minutes into the second half when, following a free-kick, Tom Edge smashed home a loose ball after Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton’s initial shot had been blocked by Bedford `keeper Lewis Elsom.

And then 5 minutes from time, Alvechurch made sure of the points when substitute Jack Concannon showed some neat footwork before sliding the ball past Elsom.

Stratford Town remain in 18th place after losing 1-0 at Top Field against a Hitchin Town side who needed the win to settle any late fears of getting involved in a relegation scrap.

A crowd of 553 saw Luton Town loanee Josh Allen score the only goal of the game after 27 minutes when Stratford `keeper Liam O’Brien could only parry Layne Eadie’s powerful drive from 25 yards out, and Allen followed up to net the rebound.

Hitchin came close to adding a second 8 minutes from time but Finley Wilkinson’s 25 yard free-kick came back off the foot of the post.

Basford United are 16th and far from safe after losing 1-0 at Greenwich Avenue to a now eighth-placed Redditch United.

A goalless first half was followed almost immediately by Basford almost taking the lead but Courey Grantham’s effort came back of the foot of the post.

Redditch sealed the points though when Bernard Mensah grabbed the only goal in the 75th minute.

A crowd of 770 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground saw Stourbridge lose 2-1 against seventh-placed Ilkeston Town.

The visitors took a 42nd minute lead when Kieren Fenton headed home from a corner.

The Glassboys came close to levelling 10 minutes after half-time but Jason Cowley’s overhead kick bounced back off a post.

But 5 minutes from time, an Ethan Vaughan cross was headed home by Cowley.

However, just 4 minutes later, Remaye Campbell headed Ilkeston back in front, and despite the impressive Cowley having a last-gasp effort cleared off the line, the visitors held on for the win.