Southern Howe about that! Owen’s back with winning strike for Farm
OWEN Howe marked his return for a second spell at Bristol Manor Farm this season with a match-winning strike at Southern League Division One South play-off rivals AFC Totton.
Howe, who briefly went to play for Barnstaple Town, struck in the 87th minute to secure a 2-1 win for Manor Farm, who had Lee Lashenko officially back in charge following his eight-game ground ban for verbal abuse of a referee.
Ben Bament had put Manor Farm ahead in the 28th minute following a downward header from centre-back Josh Ford.
Totton saw one effort strike the post as they pressed for an equaliser, which finally arrived via a Hisham Kasimu strike on 79 minutes. But Howe clinched a vital three points for his Manor Farm side that are now up to third in the table, but having played more games than the rest of the other play-off challengers.
Eighth-placed Paulton Rovers drew 2-2 against Lymington Town at Winterfield Road.
Top scorer Leighton Thomas put Paulton ahead in the 14th minute, but Toby Bailey equalised in the 25th minute and Harrison Cable fired the visitors ahead early in the second half. Thomas, though, grabbed his second in the 88th minute to rescue a point for Paulton.
Mangotsfield United battled well against leaders Frome Town at Cossham Street but ultimately fell to a 2-0 defeat.
In a game of few chances, Mangotsfield saw striker Dean Griffiths, just signed from Bitton, go off injured in the 58th minute.
Kane Simpson was denied by an excellent Marko Radovanovic save in the 73rd minute, but the Frome striker finally broke the deadlock eight minutes later when he lobbed the goalkeeper.
Simpson struck again in stoppage-time when he converted a low cross at the near post.
Mangotsfield remain five points clear of bottom side Barnstaple Town, and hold three games in hand.
In Premier South, Westonsuper-Mare and Yate Town are still firmly in the hunt for a play-off place.
Sixth-placed Weston drew 1-1 at fourth-placed Farnborough after Marlon Jackson struck a 68th-minute equaliser when he finished off a cross from Nick McCootie.
Farnborough had gone ahead in the 22nd minute when Elliott Buchanan slotted home a penalty following a foul on David Pratt.
Yate are in seventh spot after an excellent 2-1 victory at Hendon.
Luke Hopper’s fifth-minute penalty gave Yate a half-time lead. Joe White equalised in the 51st minute, but a 71st-minute header from Andy Lewis gave Yate a vital three points.