Page 24 - Cribbs FC v Larkhall Athletic 270424

League Review

In the Pitching In Southern League Division One South last Saturday, the game
of the day between the top two finished all square as Wimborne Town and
Frome Town played out a 1-1 draw.
It means that, with a game in hand, the ball is very much in Wimborne’s court as
they close in on the title. But they had to come from behind here after James Ollis
put the visitors ahead just before the hour-mark. The leveller eventually came with
eight minutes to go from Harry Morgan, in front of a crowd of over 2,300.
Third-place Cribbs had two stoppage time goals to thank as they played out a 3-3
draw at Yate Town as their play-off hopes came to an end. Calum English-Brown
put the hosts ahead, but it was cancelled out ten minutes later by David Duru. The
hosts regained the lead just before the break thanks to Nick McCootie, who then
made it 3-1 in the last minute. There was plenty of drama to follow as Sonny
Harnett-Balkwill pulled a goal back and then Harris Feltham’s last-gasp free-kick
somehow found its way home to equalise.
Both Bristol Manor Farm and Larkhall Athletic occupy the other play-off
places. Manor Farm enjoyed a commanding 3-0 victory over Melksham Town as
goals in quick succession from Oliver Woodhouse and Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist put
them in the driving seat before George Kellow completed the scoring late on.
Over at Larkhall, they were involved in an entertaining and dramatic contest with
Bideford which ended in them winning 4-3 despite finding themselves two goals
down in the opening half-an-hour thanks to a Ryan Turner brace. Archie Ferris
pulled a goal back before the break and then levelled early in the second half. Ferris
completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes only for Turner to repeat the feat with
quarter-of-an-hour to go. However, up stepped man of the moment Ferris to get
the winner – and his fourth of the afternoon – in stoppage time.
Mousehole still have play-off hopes after they secured a 2-1 away triumph at
Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Tim Nixon set the Cornishmen on their way and
then Callam McOnie doubled the lead as the interval approached. The home side
were able to reduce the arrears through Ronan Clancy on the stroke of half-time
but they were unable to find a way back after the break.
At the bottom, Paulton Rovers were relegated despite a good 2-1 win at
Exmouth Town where they recovered from going behind to Tom Bath’s strike
thanks to second half strikes from Leighton Thomas and Milo Murgatroyd.
Westbury United secured their survival with an impressive 3-0 victory away at
Malvern Town as Ben Griffiths, Harvey Flippance and Aaron Cockerill got the
goals in the second half.
A 3-2 triumph saw Evesham United secure another three points at the expense
of Willand Rovers, who opened the scoring through Douglas Camilo. Levi Steele
was able to level before the break but the early stages of the second half saw the
visitors regain the lead through Tom Chastey. The hosts drew level again through
Ethan Moran and then Aaron Heap went on to win it as he put them ahead for the
first time.
The day’s other game saw Bashley and Tavistock share the spoils in a goalless
draw as the curly-topped Ross Casey kept a clean sheet.