Cleeve climbing Mitres into play-off spots with 4-0 win
BISHOP’S Cleeve climbed into the Southern League Division One South play-off spots with a 4-0 Easter Monday win at third-placed Cribbs.
The Mitres scored either side of halftime, going ahead on 43 minutes through Ross Langworthy, with Jay Malshanskyj adding the second after 54 minutes.
The third came three minutes from time, with Langworthy’s second goal, and substitute Karnell Chambers rounded off the win in the final minute.
That win followed Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins, secured with a goal in each half by Malshanskyj and Will Turner.
But Cleeve face a real fight to keep their top-five slot as there are only eight points between them and 15th-placed Bashley in what promises to be a titanic battle.
One of those sides in the running is Evesham United, but they suffered two Easter defeats.
On Saturday, they lost 2-0 to fourthplaced Bristol Manor Farm, Harry Lucas setting them on their way in the opening period before Daniel Dodimead made the game safe late on.
Then on Monday, in the Worcestershire derby, Jordan Annear and Harry Clark hit first-half goals to give Malvern Town a 2-0 triumph at the Jubilee Stadium, leaving Evesham four points behind Cleeve in 10th place with a game in hand on the Mitres.
Cirencester Town’s slim Division One Central play-off chances are just about alive after their 3-1 win at Kempston Rovers on Saturday.
Cirencester took a 39th-minute lead when Reegan Messenger blocked an attempted clearance which rebounded into the net.
John Brough’s side increased their lead in added time when Nick Peare headed home at the second attempt from a Joe Turley corner.
Burns struck a post from 20 yards but with six minutes left a defensive mix-up resulted in Aidan Bennett being left with an empty net, before Malachi Soile scored a consolation goal for the home side with a bullet header from a corner.
Cirencester sit sixth in the table, seven points outside the play-offs with six games remaining.