The Non-League Football Paper

PEACOCKS GO EIGHT POINTS CLEAR

- By James Ayles

TWO penalties from Daniel Sullivan helped league leaders Taunton

Town to a comprehens­ive 4-0 win over bottom side

Bishops Cleave at The Viridor Stadium.

Matt Wright’s header looped over the keeper to open the scoring, before Sullivan netted two spotkicks, both awarded for fouls on Wright.

Pierce Mitchell slotted home to complete the rout, and Joe Bates was sent off late on for the visitors as their miserable campaign continued.

Bishops Cleeve are now six points adrift of Barnstaple Town at the foot of the table, while Taunton moved eight clear of Salisbury Town with two games in hand. Third-placed Bristol

Manor Farm kept their promotion hopes alive with a 3-0 win at home to Slimbridge.

Troy Simpson opened the scoring early on, before Aron Robbins flicked home a corner and Dean Stamp’s 20th goal of the season secured the victory before half-time.

The visitors improved after the break but couldn’t recover, despite Kye Holly’s red card for the Farmy Army.

Struggling Mangotsfie­ld Town earned a 1-1 draw against fifth-placed Winchester

City, thanks to Simon Gilbert’s late penalty.

Jamie Barron had given Winchester a 67th-minute lead, and hosts Mangotsfie­ld had Ed Weeks sent off two minutes from time.

A Mark Janes brace, Lance Williams’ goal and a late Duane Martin penalty were enough for Kidlington to see off

Cinderford Town 4-1 at Yarnford Road.

Joe Hunt grabbed a late consolatio­n for 15th-placed Cinderford, while Kidlington finished the day in 11th spot.

Ryan Meredith’s lastminute strike completed Shortwood United’s comeback to defeat North

Leigh 2-1. Roger James gave the visitors an early lead, but Liam Meredith equalised after 65 minutes as North Leigh suffered a 16th defeat of the season against Shortwood, who are now a point and a place above their rivals in 17th. Cirenceste­r Town came from behind thanks to Benjamin Whitehead’s double in a 2-1 win over Paulton Rovers. The visitors had opened the scoring through Sam Hedges, but couldn’t hold on. Whitehead now has 27 goals this season for 13th-placed Cirenceste­r, who are just nine points off second spot, while Paulton slipped to 16th.

Matthew Liddiard and Adam Mann ensured

Evesham United were the only away side to win in the league as they defeated second-bottom

Barnstaple Town 2-0. Evesham are sixth, one of four teams tied on 46 points as the race for a play-off place intensifie­s with the business end of the season firmly in sight.

AFC Totton moved up to fourth place after beating Larkhall Athletic 2-0. A Craig Feeney effort and a Tony Lee stunner wrapped up the game for the Hampshire side.

A 96th-minute equaliser gave Bideford a share of the spoils after coming back from 2-0 down away to Wimborne Town, who had James Stokoe sent off early in the second half.

Lee Francis and Tobias Holmes scored either side of half-time to put Wimborne in a commanding position.

But Benjamin Seymour gave Bideford hope on 86 minutes, before Kevin Squire struck at the death.

The Robins are now a place above Wimborne, who sit in tenth having played three games more than their opponents.

Didcot Town and Swindon Supermarin­e played out a goalless draw at The Webb’s Wood Stadium.

Didcot captain Adam Learoyd was sent off in the second half, but neither team could make a breakthrou­gh.

Both sides are now on 46 points, with Swindon Supermarin­e in seventh spot with a game in hand on those immediatel­y above them in the table.

 ??  ?? TOP OF THE LOT: Taunton have been flying all season
TOP OF THE LOT: Taunton have been flying all season

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