GUNNERS SAVED BY BEDWELL
DIDCOT Town dropped ground in the play-off race after struggling
Aylesbury earned a point with a 1-1 draw at the Loop Meadow Stadium.
The first half was a drab affair, Brian Haule’s red card for dissent the only event of note as his dismissal reduced the Moles to ten.
Aylesbury took the lead after the break when Cameron McNeill gave away a free-kick and Bruno Brito smashed the ball into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead.
Didcot responded well and levelled when Andy Ballard flicked on a long throw and Felipe Barcelos hooked the ball under Nick Bennion.
The game burst into life late on: Didcot had Seth Humphries sent off for a second yellow before Leigh Bedwell made a superb save to his left to keep Didcot level. Ballard was then sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.
Greg Hackett had a fantastic chance to win it at the death as Barcelos broke free, squaring to Hackett, but Bennion was quick off his line to save before Bedwell again saved the day with another great stop as the game finished level. Sutton Coldfield Town battled an injury crisis at the heart of their defence to claim three points with a 3-1 win from their trip to Barton Rovers.
A blistering start from the hosts cost Rovers dear as the Royals capitalised with two early goals, Niall Flint notching after just three minutes and Ben George doubling their advantage after 12.
They had statuesque Rovers defending to thank as they took a comfortable lead in a first half which they dominated.
Rovers did hit back through a solo goal by Victor Osubu after 59 minutes and were the better side during the second half until Jonathan Letford broke free of the Rovers defenders in the 86th minute only to be hauled down in the box, and the ref pointed to the spot.
The resultant penalty was slotted home by Ryan Nesbitt to wrap up all three points for Sutton Coldfield despite them finishing the game without a recognised centre back on the pitch.
A comfortable 3-0 win over Thame United saw
AFC Dunstable make it seven games unbeaten as they kept up their play-off aspirations and continued their remarkable turnaround after having looked set for a relegation battle earlier in the season.
Jermaine Hall opened the scoring for AFC after 28 minutes with a fine strike in a tightly fought first half between two sides targeting the promotion places.
The hosts rammed home their advantage after the break as BJ Christie made it two on the hour with a rasping drive, before they grabbed a third just seven minutes later when Ben Sturgess headed the ball past the keeper into his own net.
A pair of second-half strikes saw the spoils split as Cambridge City came from behind to claim a point at Kempston
Rovers thanks to a lively 1-1 draw.
There were chances for both sides in the first 45, but with both keepers on strong form as goals were kept at a premium come the break.
Rovers went ahead on 57 minutes when Dan Akubuine’s lung-bursting overlap was spotted by Scott Joseph and the wingback slotted the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Jamie Head.
But the visitors levelled less than ten minutes later when Ryan Sharman was on-hand to supply a poacher’s finish.
Elsewhere, Coleshill kept up the heat on the top six as a 1-0 win at secondbottom Kidlington leaves them just a point shy of the play-off places, George Washbourne scoring the all-important goal for the visitors.
Aylesbury United ran out 3-0 winners against the nine-men of Dunstable Town.
There were goals for Callum Mapley, Sonny French and Harry Jones as the home team made light work of their opponents.