Page 18 - Yate Town FC v North Leigh 070123

League Review

It was a good Bank Holiday Monday for the top teams in the Pitching In
Southern League Premier Division South.
Weston-super-Mare begin 2023 as top dogs after a 1-0 win at the Optima
Stadium against second-from-bottom Plymouth Parkway kept them three points
in front of Truro City with a game in hand. A terrific crowd of 1,234 saw Parkway
give as good as they got for the majority of the game. But it was the Seagulls who
claimed the points, thanks to a 75th-minute close-range effort from Jordan Bastin.
Truro stayed in second after edging out Tiverton Town by the odd goal in five
at Bolitho Park. Goals from Connor Riley-Lowe after 22 minutes and Tyler Harvey
4 minutes later gave the White Tigers a 2-0 interval lead. Tom Purrington reduced
the deficit 4 minutes into the second half but just 2 minutes later, Adam Porter
restored Truro’s two-goal advantage. Josh Jones pulled a second back for Tivvy, but
it came too late to mount a comeback.
Poole Town remain in fourth spot after a 3-1 win at the Ray Mac against eighth-
placed Salisbury in front of 907. After the Dolphins had come close when Wes
Fogden hit a post, Tony Lee put them in front from the penalty spot after 34
minutes. Five minutes later, top scorer Lee made it 2-0. Luke Pardoe struck a fine
third for the visitors, with Sam Roberts netting a late consolation for the Whites.
Bracknell Town remain in fifth after a 5-0 hammering of third-from-bottom
Hartley Wintney at The SB Stadium. The visitors, who won their first game under
new boss Ian Selley on Boxing Day, fell behind to a George Knight header after 14
minutes. Then three goals in 6 minutes either side of half-time killed off the game
as a contest, with Gary Abisogun, Ben Harris and Dan Bayliss the scorers. Liam
Tack made it a nap hand with 13 minutes remaining.
A crowd of 531 at the Avenue Stadium saw Dorchester Town move up to sixth
place after Hayes & Yeading United had been held to a draw. An early, 7th-
minute Harvey Bradbury effort gave the Magpies the lead which Shaquille
Gwengwe added in the 25th minute against Yate Town.
Hayes & Yeading were held to a 2-2 draw at the SKYex Community by Harrow
Borough. Harrow led at the break, courtesy of a goal from Kai Omoko Brosnan in
first-half injury-time. Johnny Allotey then put Boro two-up 9 minutes after half-
time. Moses Emmanuel pulled one back on 69 minutes and Dan Green rescued a
point for Paul Hughes` side in stoppage time.
Metropolitan Police and Merthyr Town are ninth and tenth respectively after
both recorded 2-1 home wins. The Met beat fourth-from-bottom Hendon at Imber
Court, thanks to Herson Alves after 19 minutes and Martell Taylor-Crossdale on 32
minutes – all that after Bagname Keita had given the Greens an 18th minute lead.
The Martyrs took a 25th-minute lead in front of 727 at the Met Coaches Stadium
against Swindon Supermarine through Curtis Hutson. And then 2 minutes into
first-half injury-time, Frazer Thomas doubled the home side’s advantage. Harry
Williams ‘won’ the second half for `Marine when he pulled one back 5 minutes from
time.
Gosport Borough and Winchester City are level on points in 15th and 16th
place respectively, so a 2-2 draw in front of 864 at Privett Park was hardly a surprise
outcome.
Kyal Williams gave Boro a 4th-minute lead that Simba Mlambo levelled within a
minute.
A Claudio Herbert free kick took City in front in the 81st minute, only for Billie Busari
to equalise just 2 minutes later.