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| Two Goals Each For John Mills And Pablo Haysham At Edgar Street This Afternoon |
This review of New Year Day's results was written by Steve Whitney.
No doubting where the big game was in the Evo-Stik League South Premier on New Year`s Day.
It was at Latimer Park where a crowd of 1,019 watched the game
between the top two, with hosts Kettering Town starting the game in
second spot behind King`s Lynn Town.But they ended it two points in front of the Linnets after scraping a 1-0 win with ten-men.
The Poppies led through a close-range Aaron O`Connor effort, but the visitors had the lions` share of the game after that and were made to cling on for long periods.
And their task was made even harder 12 minutes from time when Kettering had Michael Richens sent-off for an off-the-ball incident.
The Poppies held on for three crucial points.
Weymouth maintained their challenge in third after a comprehensive 4-0 win at Privett Park against bottom-markers Gosport Borough.
The Terras got the boost of an opening goal right on half-time from Brandon Goodship.
And he added the visitors` second 11 minutes into the second period.
Ben Thomson made it game over with a third after 67 minutes and Abdulai Baggie added a fourth with 5 minutes to go.
A crowd of 3,083 saw Hereford FC remain in fourth following a 5-2 hammering of mid-table Redditch United at Edgar Street.
The Reds started well, taking an 8th minute lead through an Ashley Sammons penalty.
But the officials awarded the Bulls a spot-kick 8 minutes later which the reliable John Mills duly converted to equalise.
Pablo Haysham then gave the hosts the lead 3 minutes later, only for Stuart Fleetwood to level things up on the half-hour mark.
But just 2 minutes later, Lance Smith made it 3-2 to the hosts and a third goal in 8 minutes from Haysham made it 4-1.
A subdued second half saw Mills add his second of the game to make it a nap hand in the 84th minute.
Tiverton Town remain in fifth, but were beaten 3-0 at the Avenue Stadium by lowly Dorchester Town.
Sam Lanahan gave the Magpies a 23rd minute lead that Tom Blair doubled 2 minutes after the break, with Blair adding his second and Dorchester`s third on 65 minutes.
Slough Town`s top five challenge took a knock a they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Meadow by Chesham United in front of 520.
However, it looked as though new signing Ben Harris` 76th minute goal was going to be enough for the Rebels, until Ravi Shamsi popped up with the Generals` leveller 5 minutes into stoppage time.
Second-bottom Dunstable Town were unable to follow up their Boxing Day win over Banbury United after losing 2-0 at Creasey Park to Biggleswade Town.
Jack Bowen gave the Waders a 32nd minute lead that former Duns` striker Tony Burnett added to 10 minutes from time.
Merthyr Town won for the first time since October and since their off-field problems hit.
The Martyrs won 2-1 at Frome Town with goals from Ian Traylor in the 65th and 79th minutes – all after Jon Davies had given the Somerset side a 35th minute lead.
Farnborough edged the derby at the Rushmoor Community Stadium against Basingstoke Town by the odd goal in seven.
Sam Smart gave the visitors the boost of an early 2nd minute lead, but Jacob Evans on the half-hour mark and a Connor Calcutt penalty 3 minutes later turned the game in Boro`s favour.
Ben Wright equalised 7 minutes after the break and then put `Stoke ahead on the hour-mark.
But a second for Calcutt on 76 minutes and then Lewis Ellington 8 minutes from time, sealed Boro`s victory.
There was an entertaining derby too at Stratford Town, who were edged out by the odd goal in five by Banbury United.
The home side led through an 18th minute Ben Stephens effort, only for Tom Winters after 32 minutes and Ricky Johnson 6 minutes after the break to put the Puritans 2-1 ahead.
Michael Taylor levelled just past the hour-mark. But an 82nd minute Leam Howards effort won it for Banbury.
A memorable day too for Royston Town, who triumphed 3-0 on their first ever league visit to Bishop`s Stortford.
These sides were two divisions apart a year ago, but an Adam Marriott brace in the 17th and 37th minutes saw the Crows in front at the break.
And Marriott completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 63rd minute