Page 18 - Yate Town FC v Farnborough 120322

The title race in the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division South was blown wide open again
on Saturday after defeats for the top two.
Now, only five points separate current leaders Hayes & Yeading United from fourth-placed Taunton
Town, and both they and third-placed Farnborough have games in hand on the top two.
Hayes & Yeading were beaten 1-0 at the SKYex London Community Stadium by mid-table Walton
Casuals. It was against the run of play that the Stags broke the deadlock right on the half-time whistle
by Jordy Mongoy. But they held on, aided by the home side having to play the last 12 minutes or so with
ten-men after losing Charlie Wassmer to injury having already used all their substitutions.
Second-placed Metropolitan Police were on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat at the Meadow by fifth-
placed Chesham United. After a goalless opening 45 minutes, it was the hosts who took the lead five
minutes after the restart, thanks to a Zak Joseph free-kick. Brad Clayton doubled the Generals’ lead five
minutes later but Liam Ferdinand pulled one back for the Met on 71 minutes. Joseph added his second
and Chesham’s third eight minutes later as did Clayton with a minute of normal time remaining.
Farnborough are now just three points behind Hayes & Yeading after winning 2-1 at Holloways Park
against mid-table Beaconsfield Town. It was the hosts who took an early 2nd-minute lead through
top marksman Nathan Minhas. John Oyenuga responded in the 19th minute with Boro’s leveller and just
three minutes into the second half, Paul Hodges scored what proved to be the visitors’ winner.
Taunton won by the same scoreline at the Ray Mac against Salisbury. A crowd of 588 saw a goalless
opening period and then 10 minutes after the restart, Jake Wannell gave the Peacocks the lead with a
header from a free-kick. But just two minutes later, Salisbury levelled when they were awarded a penalty
which Charlie Davis duly converted. It was Wannell again who popped up with another header, this time
from a corner, on 62 minutes to net what turned out to be the winning goal.
Gosport Borough lost a little ground in sixth after being held to a 1-1 draw at Privett Park by Hendon.
It was the Greens who opened the scoring after 36 minutes when Liam Brooks hit a shot that went in
off a post. It wasn’t until the 77th minute that Boro grabbed an equaliser when Harvey Rew fired home
Harry Kavanagh’s cross.
The draw leaves Gosport five points adrift of the top five, while Weston-super-Mare in seventh are a
point further back but possess four games in hand on Gosport. However, the Seagulls were held to a 0-
0 draw on Saturday at the Optima Stadium by tenth-placed Poole Town.
Yate Town, who have more games in hand than anyone else, have lost form at the wrong time and
endured a second successive defeat, this time at home to Tiverton Town, who had lost their previous
two. The result will be even more disappointing for the Bluebells as, after leading with a 20th minute
Dan Hayfield effort, Tivvy were reduced to ten-men in the 36th minute when Craig Woodman was
dismissed for a second bookable offence. James Harding equalised five minutes before the break, but
Yate were unable to break down a hardworking Yellows side, who grabbed an 81st minute second from
Andy Watkins to seal a good win which lifts them seven points clear of the third-from-bottom spot.
Truro City are ninth but only four points behind Gosport, also having played fewer games. The White
Tigers won 2-1 at Bolitho Park against a now bottom side Wimborne Town. The Magpies will be
gutted with this loss as they went down to ten-men in the 67th minute when skipper Scott Arnold was
sent-off for a second bookable offence but then broke the deadlock through Harry Morgan just two
minutes later. Truro equalised in the 87th minute through Zac Hartley and Wimborne cruelly succumbed
to a 96th minute Rocky Neal winner for the hosts. Wimborne’s misery was complete when they returned
to the dressing room to discover that they had sunk to the bottom of the table as Merthyr Town ended
a 22-game winless run – their last victory coming on October 16th – with a 3-1 success at the Avenue
Stadium against third-from-bottom Dorchester Town. The Martyrs led at the break, courtesy of a
successful 25th-minute penalty conversion from Curtis Jemmett-Hutson. And then four minutes after
the restart, the visitors doubled their lead when Eliot Richards hit a thunderous effort into the top corner
from at least 30 yards. Kieran Evans added a third just past the hour-mark, with the Magpies’ Olaf
Koszela netting a 73rd-minute consolation. It may be too little too late for Merthyr – they still trail
Dorchester by 12 points with two games in hand – but they showed they won’t go down without a fight!
Kings Langley are just a point above Dorchester having played a game more after losing 2-1 to the
team directly above them and now five points in front of them, Hartley Wintney. It was all-square at
the break, with recent signing Shaq Forde giving Kings a 14th-minute lead that Adam Allen cancelled
out two minutes before the break. But it was Allen again who sealed the Row’s win with a 70th minute
second.
Lower mid-table sides Harrow Borough and Swindon Supermarine shared a 2-2 draw at
Earlsmead. Top marksman James Ewington was on target to open the scoring for Harrow after 36
minutes. Ryan Campbell equalised on 58 minutes only for George Moore to respond almost immediately
for the hosts to restore their lead. Kieran Phillips equalised again swiftly just three minutes later – and
that’s how it ended.