Tuesday night saw important wins for Taunton
Town and Mangotsfield United in the race for a play-off place in the
EVO-STIK League Southern Division One South & West, writes
Pitchero's Steve Whitney.
With Hereford FC all-but shoe-ins for the title, the battle is on in the race to join them in winning promotion via the play-offs.
Third-placed Taunton moved to within a point of second-placed Tiverton Town – and with a game in hand – after a best-of-five goal win at Didcot Town but the Peacocks had to come back from being a 16th minute Louis Joyce goal down to win.
Craig Veal responded within six minutes, only for Ben Whitehead to restore the Railwaymen`s lead after 58 minutes from the penalty spot. Ollie Chamberlain levelled after 73 minutes and Owen Irish grabbed Taunton`s winner five minutes from time.
Mangotsfield won by the same 3-2 scoreline at North Leigh but in this game the Mangos were three-up.
The goals came from Lewis Powell, who scored his 99th for the club via the penalty spot after 13 minutes, Liam Monelle right on half-time and then Mitch Tippens 11 minutes into the second half. The Oxfordshire side then made the visitors sweat when they pulled two back through Mike Hopkins and Roger James in the final final minutes.
Paulton Rovers secured a fine 4-1 win at Bishops Cleeve with a hat-trick from their youngest player Kailan Gould in memory of the club’s President, Lawrence Rogers, who died on Monday night.
And Toby Holmes bagged a brace for Wimborne Town as they won 3-1 at Shortwood United, William Morford replying to his first strike before the break.