Pitching In Southern League Premier South Review

Chesham United win the battle of the top two

There can only be one place to start the Pitching In Southern League Premier South round-up and that’s at Penydarren Park where Merthyr Town and Chesham United, the two teams with 100% records, went head-to-head (pictured).

In front of a crowd of just under 1,300 it was Chesham who prospered by three goals to one with Ricardo German the hero as he notched a hat-trick, with his first two goals coming within the opening 17 minutes.

His third just before the hour-mark put his side into dreamland and whilst Ricardo Rees pulled a goal back late on, it was to be the visitors’ day as they made it seven wins out of seven to hit top spot.

The first dropped points of the season saw Merthyr slip to third place as Gosport Borough now sit second after they extended their unbeaten start to the campaign courtesy of a commanding 4-0 triumph over Hungerford Town. Daniel Wooden hit a first half brace before Harvey Rew and Corey Jordan sealed the win.

Salisbury leapfrogged Walton & Hersham after they battled out a hard-fought 1-0 win courtesy of Aaron Simpson’s goal seven minutes from time. The loss was The Swans’ first of the season.

There were goals aplenty at Hayes & Yeading United as Matt Tubbs made a losing start to his reign as Poole Town manager with a 5-3 defeat.

Things looked good for The Dolphins when Tobias Holmes gave them a third minute lead, but that was cancelled out less than 120 seconds later by Sean O’Brien and then a Sam Ashton penalty turned the scoreline on its head. A penalty for Poole was converted by Tony-James Lee to level matters ust past the hour, but they went on to concede two minutes later once more as Ashton hit his second of the afternoon.

The home side further extend their lead on 88 minutes through Jamie Hanlon and then Omar Rowe bagged their fifth goal 11 minutes into stoppage time. There was still time for Lee to notch a consolation in the 103rd minute to make it 5-3.

At the foot of the table, Swindon Supermarine remain pointless as they let an early lead slip to lose 2-1 at Dorchester Town. Ryan Campbell opened the scoring in the tenth minute for the visitors but Dorchester hit back after the break with Leighton Thomas and Shaq Gwengwe giving them the points for their first home win of the campaign.

Beaconsfield Town remain without a win after they lost 3-2 at home to Basingstoke Town, whilst Plymouth Parkway remain just above them as they slipped to a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Hanwell Town.

Elsewhere, Bracknell Town had a commanding 3-0 victory over Tiverton Town to make it four straight home League wins. Joseph Grant gave them an early lead which Nana Owusu doubled just under ten minutes from the break before Liam Ferdinand completed the scoring late on.

A Wayne Robinson double was not enough for Sholing as they lost at Harrow Borough for whom Reece Mitchell bagged a brace of his own and Harlem Hale hit the other in a 3-2 success. Seth Humphries’ goal was the difference as Didcot Town beat Winchester City 1-0.

There was only one draw and that came at the rather inappropriately named Snows Stadium given the day’s weather conditions as AFC Totton shared the spoils with Hendon. An own goal from Ethan Light gave AFC Totton the lead which was cancelled out just three minutes later by Niko Muir-Merchant.