Page 12 - Yate Town FC v Hendon 010223

League Review

Clubs in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South finally managed
to complete a full fixture list on Saturday and it saw the lead at the top of the table
reduced to a single point.
Long-time leaders Weston-super-Mare attracted an excellent crowd of 1,314 for
the big game at the Optima Stadium against second-placed Truro City. The White
Tigers have managed to play a couple of games during the recent bad weather,
while the Seagulls took to the field for the first time since January 7th. And it was
Truro who drew first blood when they went ahead 3 minutes before half-time when
Rocky Neal headed home Tyler Harvey’s cross. Weston came close to equalising 8
minutes after the break when Lloyd Humphries’ 30-yard free-kick was well saved
by James Hamon in the visitors’ goal. And then on 57 minutes, the hosts had a
great chance to level matters when they were awarded a penalty after Reuben Reid
had been brought down.
However, Hamon guessed right and saved Dayle Grubb’s spot-kick. It got worse for
the Seagulls as, with 7 minutes of normal time remaining, they had Humphries
sent-off for a second bookable offence.
Third-placed Chesham United lost ground as they suffered a 5-2 defeat at
Holloways Park against neighbouring Beaconsfield Town, who are now ninth. It
was the Generals who took a 6th-minute lead when Liam Ferdinand set up Brad
Clayton to score. Then on 16 minutes, Clayton went down in the area under
pressure after a brilliant through ball from Omar Rowe. But Shaq Hippolyte-
Patrick's penalty was saved by Beaconsfield’s new loan keeper Kie Plumley. The
Rams equalised on 35 minutes with a low drive from Callum Webb and then went
ahead 2 minutes later when Kyel Reid converted a penalty.
Seven minutes later, it was 3-1 to the hosts with a far post finish from Elliot
Buchanan.
The next goal was crucial – and it was Beaconsfield who got it when Buchanan
grabbed his second, firing firmly past Sam Beasant. The well-travelled striker then
completed his hat-trick to make it a nap hand for the Rams just past the hour-mark.
Eoin Casey reduced the deficit 10 minutes from time, but Chesham were well
beaten on the day.
The top three possess a nine-point advantage on the chasing pack, with
Metropolitan Police now fourth after they beat Hanwell Town 2-0 at Imber
Court and both Poole Town and Dorchester Town lost. The Met left it late,
finally breaking the deadlock in the 85th minute through substitute Louis Degand.
And to round off a good day for him, he made sure of the points with his and the
Met’s second in stoppage time.
Poole suffered a 4-0 defeat at Bolitho Park against a Plymouth Parkway side
who moved two points above the drop zone. In front of a crowd of 688, Jack Crago
gave the hosts a 9th minute lead that he doubled 7 minutes later. Then on 39
minutes, Poole ‘keeper Luke Cairney pulled Ben Seymour down and Seymour got
up to make it 3-0 from the resulting penalty. A quieter second period saw Crago
complete his hat-trick in the 51st minute to leave the final score 4-0.
Dorchester were beaten by the odd goal in seven at The Avenue Stadium by
Swindon Supermarine, who are now tenth. The Magpies were up against it after
going down to ten-men as early as the 16th minute when Harvey Bradbury was
adjudged to have raised his hands at Sam Turl. But it was the ten-men who took a
23rd-minute lead through veteran Keith Emmerson. The visitors finally got