Page 12 - Yate Town FC v Hayes & Yeading Utd 180223

League Review

The top three in the Pitching In Southern League Premier
Division South all won 1-0 on Saturday, so it’s as you were, with
just four points separating the first three.

Weston-super-Mare maintained top spot, two points in front of
Truro City, after beating improving Hayes & Yeading United at
the Optima Stadium.

A crowd of 810 saw a tight encounter which the Seagulls just
edged, thanks to an 81st-minute goal when a Dayle Grubb corner
caused mayhem in the visitors` box and Sam Avery was credited
with getting the final touch. Earlier, Marlon Jackson headed
against a post and at the other end, Luke Purnell saved well from
Hayes & Yeading’s leading marksman, Moses Emmanuel.

Truro won by the same scoreline at Privett Park against a
Gosport Borough side who have dropped to 16th in the table
and too close to the drop zone for comfort. In front of 689, the
winner came from Dan Sullivan, with a fine run and finish. Gosport
came close to equalising when Brett Williams hit a post on 81
minutes.

A crowd of 647 at the Met Coaches Stadium saw Chesham edge
out hosts Merthyr Town, who dropped to ninth. What proved to
be the Generals’ winner came 4 minutes before half-time with a
fine strike from Brad Clayton from the edge of the box.

Fifth-placed Poole Town moved level on points with fourth-
placed Bracknell Town, who were in Isuzu FA Trophy action,
after recording a 3-2 win at the South West Interiors Stadium
against fifth-from-bottom Yate Town. The Bluebells got off to a
great start when Zak Drew’s cross was headed home by Ross
Staley with only 30 seconds gone on the clock. But the Dolphins
were behind for only 3 minutes as Will Spetch headed them level.
Poole took a 2-1 lead into half-time though when top scorer Tony
Lee scored in first-half injury-time. And they extended that
advantage in the 75th minute through Luke Pardoe. But a goal on
debut for Bath City loanee Rex Mannings – a 30-yard cracker –
with 6 minutes remaining, led to a nervy finale.

The chasing pack also had a good day, with Metropolitan Police
in sixth, Dorchester Town seventh and now Swindon
Supermarine in eighth after Merthyr’s defeat.