Jay secures win after Clayton’s penalty heroics
BISHOP’S Cleeve goalkeeper Lewis Clayton saved a penalty as the Mitres took a 1-0 Southern League Division One South win at Yate Town.
The only goal of the game came 10 minutes in when a move down the right saw a cross go beyond the Yate Town defence but Jay Malshanskyj collected the ball and cut in from the left to fire a shot past Aaron Sainsbury in the home goal.
Toby Holland was denied by Sainsbury before Yate responded and a fierce shot by Wayne Ndermani was well saved by Clayton.
In first half stoppage time, Joe Guest had an effort cleared off the line and moments later, following a mazy run by Oli Jenkins, the referee awarded a penalty to Yate following what appeared to be a handball.
Nick Mccootie stepped up to take the penalty but his shot brought a flying save from Clayton, down to his left.
In the second half, Cleeve were dangerous on the break and on 58 minutes Ethan Dunbar found himself free in the penalty area but his tame effort went wide of the post.
Clayton saved well from Jenkins twice and Nderemani and then Nderemani’s shot hit the post.
Cleeve were able to find spaces in the Yate defence as the home side pushed forward and had a chance after a mix up in the home defence as substitute Isaac Pierce brought a good save from Sainsbury as the Mitres took the points.
Evesham United fell to a 3-2 loss against Frome Town, who took four minutes to take the lead through Kane Simpson after a mix-up at the back between Ben Taylor and Michael O’regan.
Frome doubled their lead two minutes before half-time through Simpson, but five minutes into the second half The Robins pulled one back with a header from William Owens.
Simpson bagged his hat-trick and restored Frome’s two-goal lead after a beautiful chip, but when Freddy Willcox was brought down in the box to win a penalty, Levi Steele made it 3-2.
Evesham have now only won one of their last seven games and have been pushed out of the play-off spots by Bideford.
Cirencester Town were dramatic 2-1 winners at Division One Central leaders Biggleswade Town on Tuesday night.
Harry Draper put Biggleswade ahead early on but Cirencester levelled matters through Harry Burns on 25 minutes before nicking it deep into stoppage time through Willem Pooley.
Cirencester now sit sixth in the table, a place and four points out of the playoff spots,
The Centurions hit back twice to take a 2-2 draw against fellow play-off chasers Leighton Town at the Corinium Stadium on Saturday.
Leighton opened their account through Louie Barrett, but five minutes later Cirencester equalised when Reegan Messenger received the ball on the edge of the visitors’ box and drove it home to level.
It didn’t take The Reds long to regain the lead as Finlay Brennan’s run and purposeful cross was met by the head of Albie Hall at the back post.
With the interval looming Cirencester equalised as Burns produced a brave diving header at the back post to meet Luca Robinson’s cross.
The second half promised much as the pace of the game continued unabated - with both sides threatening but neither able to make the breakthrough.
There was a debut off the bench for loan signing Josh Keyes, from Swindon Town.
The 18-year-old has been ever-present in Town’s Youth Alliance League and Cup competitions this campaign, and is familiar with The Corinhium Stadium having played there a few times for Town’s Academy this season and has been on the scoresheet a few times, notably against Luton Town in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.