WATERSIDERS MARK PASSING OF ASSISTANT WITH VICTORY
BLACKFIELD & Langley paid tribute to co-assistant manager Chris Farrell by returning to the top of the Division One South table with a 3-0 victory over Mangotsfield United.
Farrell died of a heart attack in midweek, with the Watersiders saying that they were “broken” by the news.
On an emotional day at Gang Warily, they set about refocusing on their title charge, earning three points against a determined United.
Luke Spokes was shown a red card for a two-footed challenged and immediately, Blackfield took advantage with the resulting free kick falling to Charlie Gunson, who volleyed home.
Soon after, a cross from Liam Robinson was nodded home by Sam Poole and things were rounded off when Fatah Makhloufi smashed home.
Meanwhile, third-placed Moneyfields were beaten 2-1 by Bristol Manor Farm.
Jamie Adams headed the home side into the lead early on but Moneyfields drew level when Steve Hutchings shot through a crowd of players.
Hutchings received a red card for the visitors a minute before the break for stamping on a prone Jamie Turner and after the break, Chas Hemmings teed up Adams, who crashed a sidefooted shot in off the crossbar.
Cirencester Town kept their play-off hopes in rude health with a 4-1 win over Barnstaple Town.
Alan Griffin fired the Centurions ahead in the first period but after Harry Stevens had levelled things up, Ben Whitehead found the net, as did Aidan Bennett with two superb hits. Fifth-placed Evesham
United were held to a 1-1 draw by Street, with Oscar Latas’s impudent effort ensuring the spoils were shared.
The Robins took the lead through Will Tunnicliff but the Cobblers stayed in the game and gained their reward when Latas collected the ball from a corner and back-heeled into the net.
Elsewhere, Thatcham Town followed up their FA Vase quarter-final success at Melksham
Town last season with another win at the InfiLED Arena, running out 2-1 winners.
The visitors took the lead on nine minutes when central defender Jon Beeden was left unmarked and powered home a header from a corner.
Minutes later, only a goalline clearance from Melksham’s Warren Maidment stopped Thatcham from going 2-0 ahead and in the second period, Jon Davies slammed home the penalty to level the scores.
With Kyle Tooze prominent up front for Thatcham, Melksham were indebted to some last-ditch defending from Greg Tindle but Thatcham restored their lead on 70 minutes when Shane Cooper-Clark laid the ball into the path of Tooze, who made no mistake from ten yards.
The hosts’ miserable day was compounded in injury time when skipper Maidment was dismissed for a second caution. Bideford took on Winchester City, who had scored 11 goals in their last two games, and ran out 1-0 winners.
Sean Downing and Toby Down went close for the home side while Bideford keeper Joe Moore denied Jake Hawkins before the break.
Jordan Rickets placed a peach of a pass into the path of Ryan Turner on the right edge of the penalty area and he curled into the far corner of the net to settle the game.
Larkhall Athletic ran out 2-1 winners at lowly Fleet Town. Kofi Halliday put the home side in front but Wayne Nderemani levelled things up before Alex Lambert popped up with the winner.