A review of the weekend fixtures in the Southern Premier League written by Steve Whitney.
Puritans & Poppies March On With Four Successive Wins
Banbury continued their 100% winning start to the season with a hard-fought win over relegated Bishop`s Stortford, who have yet to record a point, at the Spencer Stadium.
Bishop’s Stortford took the lead after 29 minutes when Jason Williams brought the ball in from the right-hand side of the area before striking the ball from a narrow angle past Jack Harding.
Banbury drew level on 38 minutes when Jefferson Louis picked up a through ball before bustling his way through to the edge of the six-yard box and knocking the ball home.
Banbury had the better of the early play in the second half and got what turned out to be a deserved winner on 70 minutes with a sensational overhead kick goal from Ravi Shamsi.
The Poppies also made it four from four with a 5-2 hammering of Kings Langley on their own patch.
The visitors led 2-0 with goals from Rhys Hoenes after 25 minutes and Aaron O`Connor 12 minutes later.
Kings` Dean Hitchcock was shown a straight red card 4 minutes into the second half.
However, Gareth Price reduced the deficit for the ten-men in the 80th minutes to give them hope – which evaporated within a minute when Rene Howe added a third and then Matt Stevens bagged a brace in the 86th and then 2nd minute of stoppage time.
That was Kings Langley`s first defeat of the season too.
King`s Lynn Town`s perfect start was halted by Frome Town, who held the Linnets to a goalless draw at The Walks in front of 948.
Basingstoke Town recorded their first win of the new season – and in emphatic fashion too, hammering Chesham United 5-0 at the Camrose.
An early 5th minute Ben Wright goal set Basingstoke up and his spot-kick on 36 minutes took them into the break two-up.
An Aaron Jarvis brace in the 59th and 62nd minutes took the game away from the Generals, with Sam Smart adding the fifth 15 minutes from time.
Joining Bishop`s Stortford in losing all four games to date are the other side who came down with them, Gosport Borough.
They lost 2-0 at newly-promoted Tiverton Town, for whom Jamie Price and Tom Bath scored within a minute of each other with less than 7 minutes of normal time remaining.
Yet to record a win in 2017/18 are Dunstable Town, St Neots Town and Hitchin Town.
At least Dunstable are off the mark, after recording a 1-1 draw at newly-promoted Royston Town`s Garden Walk.
Sam Ives gave the Crows a 12th minute lead that Gideon Okito cancelled out on the hour-mark.
St Neots were beaten 3-1 at home by Hereford FC, whose terrific following boosted the attendance to 618.
And they saw Pablo Haysham give the Bulls a 21st minute lead that John Mills doubled right on half-time.
Jamie Molyneux added a crucial third on the hour-mark, with Scott Sinclair replying for the Saints 4 minutes from time.
Merthyr Town enjoyed a 3-0 Penydarren Park win over promoted Farnborough, leading 2-0 at the break with goals from Adam Davies after 39 minutes and Kerry Morgan 2 minutes before the whistle.
Stuart Fleetwood wrapped up victory with a Martyrs` third on 67 minutes.
Slough Town made it three wins by beating St Ives Town by the same scoreline at Arbour Park in front of 618.
Chris Flood after 38 minutes and James Dobson right on half-time gave the Rebels a two-goal cushion that Gavin James added to 12 minutes from time.
Redditch United also earned a third win, inflicting a third defeat on Dorchester Town at the Valley.
Dior Angus on the half-hour mark and then Vinny Mukendi 4 minutes later gave the Reds a 2-0 interval lead that Spencer Weir-Daley added to within a minute of the second half starting.
And he scored again 20 minutes from time to make it a comfortable afternoon for Darren Byfield`s side.
Charlie Evans looked like he earned Stratford Town their second success of the season when his goal on the half-hour mark still led at Weymouth going into stoppage time at the end of the game.
But Jordan Rose popped up with an equaliser 2 minutes into time added on to earn the Terras a point.