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Next Game: Pre-Season

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Tuesday's Southern Prem Review


As ever, Steve Whitney rounds up last night's games:

It's almost 'as you were' in the Evo-Stik League South Premier following Tuesday night's almost full fixture programme.

The biggest gainers were Tiverton Town, who moved into third place after winning 3-1 at Ladysmead against troubled Merthyr Town.

The youthful Martyrs produced another battling performance after it looked ominous when top scorer Levin Landricombe gave Tivvy an early 5th minute lead.

It wasn't until the 55th minute that Tivvy doubled their advantage through Jamie Price and then Nick Hurst added a third with 8 minutes to go, although one of the biggest cheers of the night came when Ben Mammola put through his own goal in stoppage time to give Merthyr a consolation goal.

Leaders King's Lynn Town remain four points clear but were only able to share a 2-2 draw at the Carlsberg Stadium with lower mid-table Biggleswade Town.

The Waders got off to a great start when George Bailey put them in front after just 4 minutes.

Skipper Michael Clunan equalised from the penalty spot with 20 minutes gone after Ryan Fryatt had been brought down, only for Liam Brooks to restore the home side's lead just 2 minutes later.

Ten minutes into the second half the Linnets where reduced to ten-men when Clunan received his marching orders for a reckless tackle on Waders' Morgan Penfold.

The ten-men equalised though 16 minutes from time when a Simon Lappin free-kick was scrambled in by Craig Parker.

Weymouth remain in second after they too had to share the points in a 3-3 draw at the Camrose against Basingstoke Town.

Sam Argent gave the home side the lead on the half-hour mark.

Sam Smart added a second 10 minutes later, but crucially, the Terras pulled one back a minute before the break.

Ben Wright made it 3-1 within 11 minutes of the second half having elapsed, only for Josh Carmichael to respond within a minute.

However, it looked as though Terry Brown's young side were going to hold on for the points, until Brandon Goodship pounced to equalise 3 minutes into stoppage time.

Another promotion contender to draw on Tuesday night were Kettering Town, who shared a 1-1 outcome with old rivals Banbury United at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium.

It was rather against the run of play when the Poppies took a 21st minute lead when Lindon Meikle got on the end of a long free-kick from keeper Paul White.

Banbury kept plugging away though and were finally rewarded in the 71st minute when after Darren Pond had been fouled by Michael Richens in the box and veteran striker Jefferson Louis stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick.

At the other end of the table, the bottom three all lost again.

Bottom-markers Gosport Borough went down 2-1 at Privett Park to fourth-bottom Kings Langley, whose Steve Ward gave them a 19th minute lead.

The visitors extended their lead on 70 minutes after a free-kick rebounded to Josh Coldicott-Stevens, who steered his effort home.

Gosport were given a lifeline 9 minutes from time when the visitors conceded a soft penalty which Ed Sanders made no mistake from the spot to set up a tense finale.

However, the game was marred by ugly scenes at the end after an incident in the home penalty area quickly escalated.

Second-bottom Dunstable Town were also beaten again – 4-1 at the ProKit UK Stadium by Bishop's Stortford.

And that, despite taking a 14th minute lead through Charlie Black.

On-loan Leyton Orient man Freddy Moncur equalised on the half-hour mark and then 3 minutes after the break, Dean Ager put the Blues in front.

Jason Williams added a third on 58 minutes and the win was rounded-off by Joe Robinson 6 minutes from time.

Third-bottom St Ives Town also lost on Tuesday, 3-1 at Westwood Road to a Hitchin Town outfit who are now eighth.

James Hall gave the Saints the lead from the spot on the half-hour mark – a lead they held until the 54th minute when they conceded a penalty which Lucas Kirkpatrick duly converted.

Josh Bickerstaff eventually gave the Canaries the lead a minute from time, with Eliot Bailey adding a third goal 2 minutes into stoppage time.

Kings Langley's win has opened up a six-point gap now between them and St Ives, who are six and eight points respectively in front of Dunstable and Gosport.

The other game saw Chesham United go down to their first defeat in thirteen matches in all competitions at The Meadow against Stratford Town.

Charlie Evans gave Town an early 6th minute lead that Ben Crilley cancelled out 8 minutes before half-time.

Will Grocott restored the visitors; lead just past the hour-mark and a Darren Locke own goal a minute from time confirmed Stratford's excellent win.