Page 12 - Yate Town FC v Bracknell Town 250323

League Review

The Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South title race took another
twist on Saturday, with only second-placed Truro City managing to obtain three
points.
Weston-super-Mare still head the table by four points with a game in hand on
Truro, but were held to a 1-1 draw at the Optima Stadium by eighth-placed
Metropolitan Police. A good crowd of 932 saw the Met take a 13th minute lead
when a throw-in found Ollie Knight inside the area, and he fired past Luke Purnell.
The Seagull were level just 8 minutes later when Rueben Reid set up James Dodd
to smash past Met `keeper Liam Beach. The Met, notoriously tough to beat, held
firm and finished the game with ten-men when they had Kwaku Frimpong shown
a straight red card for the follow through on Scott Laird’s challenge.
The big game in the division took place at The SB Stadium between third-placed
Bracknell Town and second-placed Truro. And it was a pivotal 3-0 win for the
White Tigers, who moved eight points clear of the Robins, who do have three
games in hand though. A Harvey Greenslade header put the visitors in front after
33 minutes and it was the same player who doubled Truro’s lead 6 minutes into the
second half. And 15 minutes from time, victory was confirmed when Rocky Neal
was put through, and he slotted the ball past Michael Eacott.
The two other teams currently in the play-off places, Chesham United and Poole
Town, both drew, as did sixth-placed Swindon Supermarine, leaving Hayes
& Yeading United moving up to seventh – 7 points behind the top five - after
beating Dorchester Town 4-0 at the SKYex Community Stadium.
Chesham were held to a 1-1 draw by Winchester City at The Meadow. A crowd
of 403 saw the home side lead at the break, thanks to a 35th minute Ricardo
German effort.
Five minutes after the interval, City levelled through Warren Bentley. And the
visitors` chances were given a boost in the 69th minute when Chesham had
Frankie Sutherland dismissed for a second yellow offence for a challenge in the
middle of the field.
Poole were also held to a 1-1 stalemate at the Memorial Playing Fields by second-
from-bottom side Hartley Wintney. After a goalless opening half, it was Poole
who broke the deadlock just 6 minutes after the restart when Toby Holmes was
brought down in the box and Tony Lee duly converted the resulting penalty. The
visitors` player-coach Wes Fogden hit the post in the 81st minute but just 2
minutes from time, Max Mullins grabbed a crucial equaliser for The Row.
It was an entertaining afternoon at the Webbswood Stadium where Swindon
Supermarine shared a six-goal thriller with Tiverton Town, although it is
doubtful ‘Marine boss Lee Spalding would be happy with just a point! But they
trailed to a Tom Purrington goal after just 8 minutes and it got worse for the home
fans as 2 minutes later, Chuk Iseguan doubled the Yellows` lead. Two goals in 6
minutes midway through the half from James Harding pulled `Marine back on level
terms as the first half finished 2-2. Tiverton eventually found a third with 10
minutes remaining through Niall Thompson, but the lead lasted barely 3 minutes
as Zak Kotwica pulled the hosts level once more.
It was Moses Emmanuel’s day at the SKYex as he scored all four of Hayes &
Yeading’s goals against Dorchester. He opened the scoring in the 19th minute
when he converted a penalty after Jamie Hanlon was hauled down in the area.
Emmanuel then added a second from open play in the 32nd minute before Hayes
& Yeading were awarded a second spot-kick, this time Emmanuel was the victim