PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH | WEEKEND PREVIEW

A round-up of all the drama

In the Pitching In Southern League Division One South, the game of the day between the top two finished all square as Wimborne Town and Frome Town played out a 1-1 draw.

It means that, with a game in hand, the ball is very much in Wimborne’s court as they close in on the title. But they had to come from behind here after James Ollis put the visitors ahead just before the hour-mark. The leveller eventually came with eight minutes to go from Harry Morgan, in front of a crowd of over 2,300.

Third-place Cribbs had two stoppage time goals to thank as they played out a 3-3 draw at Yate Town as their play-off hopes came to an end. Calum English-Brown put the hosts ahead but it was cancelled out ten minutes later by David Duru. The hosts regained the lead just before the break thanks to Nick McCootie, who then made it 3-1 in the last minute. There was plenty of drama to follow as Sonny Harnett-Balkwill pulled a goal back and then Harris Feltham’s last-gasp free-kick somehow found its way home to equalise.

Both Bristol Manor Farm and Larkhall Athletic occupy the other play-off places. Manor Farm enjoyed a commanding 3-0 victory over Melksham Town as goals in quick succession from Oliver Woodhouse and Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist put them in the driving seat before George Kellow completed the scoring late on.

Over at Larkhall, they were involved in an entertaining and dramatic contest with Bideford which ended in them winning 4-3 despite finding themselves two goals down in the opening half-an-hour thanks to a Ryan Turner brace. Archie Ferris pulled a goal back before the break and then levelled early in the second half. Ferris completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes only for Turner to repeat the feat with quarter-of-an-hour to go. However, up stepped man of the moment Ferris to get the winner – and his fourth of the afternoon – in stoppage time.

Mousehole still have play-off hopes after they secured a 2-1 away triumph at Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Tim Nixon set the Cornishmen on their way and then Callam McOnie doubled the lead as the interval approached. The home side were able to reduce the arrears through Ronan Clancy on the stroke of half-time but they were unable to find a way back after the break.

At the bottom, Paulton Rovers were relegated despite a good 2-1 win at Exmouth Town where they recovered from going behind to Tom Bath’s strike thanks to second half strikes from Leighton Thomas and Milo Murgatroyd.

Westbury United secured their survival with an impressive 3-0 victory away at Malvern Town as Ben Griffiths, Harvey Flippance and Aaron Cockerill got the goals in the second half.

A 3-2 triumph saw Evesham United secure another three points at the expense of Willand Rovers, who opened the scoring through Douglas Camilo. Levi Steele was able to level before the break but the early stages of the second half saw the visitors regain the lead through Tom Chastey. The hosts drew level again through Ethan Moran and then Aaron Heap went on to win it as he put them ahead for the first time.

The day’s other game saw Bashley and Tavistock share the spoils in a goalless draw as the curly-topped Ross Casey kept a clean sheet.

IMAGE: Bashley FC