MILLERS LEAVE IT SO LATE

NORTH Leigh staged an extraordinary stoppagetime comeback to deny

Kidlington their second win of the season in a thrilling relegation sixpointer at Yarnton Road.

Julian McCalmon’s side were on course for three much-needed points as they led their local rivals 3-1 in the 94th minute, but quickfire strikes from Henry Landers and George Seacole allowed the visitors to secure the unlikeliest of draws.

North Leigh headed into Saturday’s match having lost all four of their away matches so far this season, and they looked destined to remain pointless on the road after a disastrous opening 20 minutes left them 3-0 down.

Declan Benjamin broke the deadlock for the home side with a fabulous freekick from 25 yards before adding a second with a deflected effort, and then Tommy Franklin headed in from close range to put Kidlington in total control.

Darren James and Craig Dore’s men were staring a seventh straight defeat in the face as they went in at half-time, but they emerged a different side after the restart and soon gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Seacole slotted home after being played in by Landers.

Everything seemed lost as injury time began with the Millers still 3-1 behind, but Landers and Seacole somehow saved them to rescue a point, leaving both teams marooned inside the Division One Central relegation zone.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Paul Hathaway was the hero of the day for

Coleshill Town as he scored a penalty to secure a surprise 1-0 win away to Berkhamsted.

Steve Bateman’s side were strong favourites at Broadwater to claim a fifth win in their last six league matches, but it proved to be a frustrating afternoon for them as Hathaway pulled out a couple of fine saves to keep the game goalless at half-time.

By contrast the visitors took heart from an uneventful opening 45 minutes, and within five

minutes of the restart they found the breakthrough from the unlikeliest of sources.

Hathaway had never scored for Coleshill before but he was chosen to take the spot-kick they were awarded after 49 minutes, and the keeper did not fluff his lines from 12 yards.

Berkhamsted pushed hard to find an equaliser but Cameron Stuart’s men held on to move up six places and into the top half of the table.

Coleshill were not the only bottom-half team to pick up an impressive away win on Saturday, though, as Dunstable

Town also secured three points with a 3-1 comefrom-behind success over Kempston.

Ben Shepherd’s penalty gave the hosts the lead inside 20 minutes after visiting keeper James Connell had fouled Josh Crawley, but Tony McCool’s men soon responded in kind as Chris Wreh scored from the spot to make it 1-1 at half-time.

Saul Williams then completed the away side’s turnaround shortly after the restart, and after Connell had made a series of excellent saves to deny Kempston an equaliser the match was put beyond doubt by Rio Dasilva, who netted his first goal for the club.

Dunstable have now won three matches this season, and all three of them have been away from home.

Finally, Sutton Coldfield Town extended their unbeaten run to five matches as they defeated struggling Aylesbury

United 2-1. Ryan Nesbitt gave Neil Tooth’s side the lead after they had squandered a series of chances in a goalless first half, before Jonathan Letford cancelled out Benjamin Aghadiuno’s leveller to seal the win.

The day’s other match between Didcot Town and Bedford Town was postponed on health and safety grounds, after a gas leak at Loop Meadow left the home side without heating or hot water.

DIV ONE CENTRAL ROUND-UP