Saturday's Premier Division Central Round-Up

Just four games into the 2023/24 season and there is only one team in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central possessing a 100% record!

And that’s John McGrath’s Mickleover, whose experienced striker Stuart Beavon scored the only goal of the game at Your Co-op Community Stadium against a Leamington side for whom this was a first defeat.

Kettering Town, relegated from the Vanarama National League North with Leamington, are off the mark after a crowd of 905 at Latimer Park saw them held to a 2-2 draw by promoted Halesowen Town.

Miracle Okafor gave the Yeltz a 23rd minute lead that new signing William Mellors-Blair cancelled out 11 minutes later.

McKauley Manning restored the away side’s lead just shy of the hour-mark, but it was another new Poppies arrival, Dan Jarvis, who restored parity in the 71st minute.

The other side relegated with the Brakes and the Poppies, AFC Telford United, went goal crazy at the New Bucks Head against Nuneaton Borough at the New Bucks Head.

Little was seen of what was to come as the Bucks went into the break 1-0 ahead with a goal from Jordan Piggott in first half injury-time.

However, the second half saw former Nuneaton boss Kevin Wilkin’s side smash six without response.

Montel Gibson bagged a brace in 4 minutes, Orrin Pendley made it 4-0 on the hour-mark, Ty Webster, Tre Mitford and Ricardo Dinanga added three more to make it a tough afternoon for Boro fans.

Promoted Stamford join the team that came up with them from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Halesowen, in being the only other side in the division with an unbeaten record.

The Daniels though were held to a 0-0 draw at the Zeeco Stadium by another promoted outfit, Berkhamsted.

Stourbridge and Hitchin Town complete the early top five after both teams won for a third time in four games.

The Glassboys had a crowd of 612 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground to see them beat Barwell 2-0.

Brendon Daniels was the home hero, bagging a brace in the 30th and then in first half injury-time.

There were 468 at Top Field for the visit of St Ives Town, who found themselves a goal down in the 2nd minute to the Canaries` Isaas Galliford.

Diogo Gouveia made it 2-0 to Mark Burke’s hosts on 36 minutes.

On 65 minutes, Ives had a chance to get themselves back into the game when they were awarded a penalty which Charlie Horlock saved.

Brandon Njoku did manage to reduce the deficit in the 76th minute, only for Finley Wilkinson to restore the Canaries` two-goal advantage in the 86th minute.

The visitors did manage to score a second, courtesy of a Ciaran Jones own goal 2 minutes later.

Still yet to record a point at this level are Long Eaton United, while Royston Town recorded their first three-point haul of 2023/24 – and it was at United’s Grange Park.

Tsagium Florian gave the visiting Crows an early 6th minute lead that Adam Murray doubled after 31 minutes.

Ed Cook reduced the arrears a couple of minutes into the second half, only for Olu Akintunde to make it 3-1 to Steve Castle’s side on 66 minutes.

Perhaps the most eye-catching result of the day came at the Mander Cruikshank Solicitors Stadium where much-fancied Coalville Town were hammered 6-1 by a rampant Needham Market.

Just 1-0 to the visitors at half-time through Dan Morphew’s penalty after an initial shot had been handled, the Marketmen went 4-0 up through Callum Page with two and Jamie McGrath before the hour-mark.

Tim Berridge pulled one back on 64 minutes only Jacob Lay to make it a nap hand just 2 minutes later.

Seth Carroll-Chambers added a sixth for the visitors 11 minutes from time.

Promoted AFC Sudbury are still searching for that first win after losing 4-0 at the MEL Group Stadium against Redditch United, who have made a decent start to the season.

Danny King after 21 minutes, an Aram Soleman penalty on 36 minutes and a goal from AJ George in first half injury-time had the game almost done and dusted in Redditch’s favour.

Matt Clarke’s side scored just once in the second period through Alex Cameron in the 66th minute.

Alvechurch won for the second time to date, beating Stratford Town 1-0 at Lye Meadow, courtesy of a Kobe Chong effort in the 64th minute.

And there was a good win for Bromsgrove Sporting, who edged a 3-2 verdict at Victory Road against Leiston.

Normally so strong at home, the Rouslers ended Leiston’s 19-game unbeaten run, taking a 20th minute lead through Aaron Roberts. Jamar Loza equalised just 4 minutes later.

Keanu Cooper restored Sporting’s lead 8 minutes into the second half and Tui Sanches added a third in the 79th minute, with Kieran Higgs replying 5 minutes into stoppage time.