PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL | WEEKEND REVIEW

The latest drama

In the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, the battle for the title will go down to the wire after the top two both won away.

Leaders, Biggleswade Town hold the upper hand, three points clear, and they had a commanding 4-0 triumph at North Leigh where Harry Draper helped himself to a hat-trick and Liam Brooks notched the other.

Meanwhile challengers, Bedford Town, fought out a 1-0 success at Leighton Town thanks to Kyle Connolly’s goal early in the second period.

Behind them, both AFC Dunstable and Ware have secured their play-off spots and they faced each other with visitors, AFC Dunstable, playing out a 2-1 win. A brace from Arnold Matshazi won the day with Richard Ennin notching a stoppage time consolation for the home side.

Completing the play-off picture is Waltham Abbey, who were without a game.

Down in the lower reaches of the table, Thame United are fighting and they ran out 3-0 winners over Kings Langley thanks to a goal in each half from Ryan Knight with a strike from the impressive Harry Alexander in between.

A late equaliser salvaged a point for Aylesbury United in a 3-3 draw at Welwyn Garden City. Brayden Daniel and David Pearce put the visitors in the driving seat during the opening period but a brace from Brad Wadkins levelled things up. Dernell Wynter then put the hosts ahead until Pearce popped up in the final minute.

Over at Barton Rovers, Lucas Kirkpatrick enjoyed his day with a four-goal haul to give the home side a 5-2 triumph over Hadley. It was the visitors who went ahead in the opening minute through Josip Jevdjic and that’s how the scoreline stayed at the break. Kirkpatrick soon turned things around with two quickfire goals and although Jay Rolfe equalised soon afterwards, it didn’t take long for Kirkpatrick to complete his hat-trick and then hit a fourth two minutes later. Jaden Brown completed the scoring late on.

There were away wins for Cirencester Town and Stotfold. For Cirencester they played out a 3-2 triumph at Hertford Town. Reegan Messenger delivered their first goal only for the hosts to turn things around through Brian Garzon and Wilson Palomeque Bernal. The equaliser came from Aidan Bennett before Felix Miles found the net to clock up the three points.

Meanwhile Stotfold were 4-1 victors at already-relegated Kempston Rovers. Henry Snee put the away team ahead only for Leo Farruch to equalise. Snee then hit another before Codi-Lee Spavins and Callum Kane rounded things off.

The day’s other game saw Biggleswade FC and Kidlington play out a 1-1 draw. Charles Bacon gave the visitors the lead but it was cancelled out by Alex Marsh early in the second half.

IMAGE: James Smith