RUTHLESS THATCHAM TOTT UP A HATFUL
THATCHAM Town blew away AFC Totton with a six-goal blast at the Snows Stadium to extend their unbeaten run at the top of the Southern South Division.
Thatcham got their noses in front following a defensive slip by Totton’s Dave Allen that allowed Felipe Barcelos to get free and he rolled the ball past Alex Cull.
A fortunate ricochet enabled Kyle Tooze to add a second for the visitors two minutes before half time, despite the best efforts of Mitchell Byrne on the goal line.
Just two minutes after the restart Barcelos made it three with his second of the game before Matt Partidge made it 4-0 with a fine finish on 66 minutes.
Substitute James Tennant added a fifth before Geacock made it 6-0 on 73 minutes to bring an end to a thoroughly convincing win.
Elsewhere, Basingstoke Town overcame
Melksham Town
in a chaotic encounter which also featured six goals at The Camrose.
The frenetic contest saw five goals scored inside the opening 32 minutes
In the ninth minute the hosts took the lead through Mikey Davis who fired home after a corner was flicked on at the near post.
Then, not long after, it was double delight for Basingstoke when Scott Armsworth headed home from another corner.
Four minutes later and the visitors got on the scoresheet for the first time, Joe Romanski firing home from the edge of the box.
It was then two goals apiece when Jack Ball rifled home inside the box but Basingstoke were once again in the lead when Dean Stow’s free kick deflected past Chris Rackley in the Melksham net.
The second half was somewhat less action packed than the opening 45 minutes but Adam Everiss was forced to clear off the Basingstoke line as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.
Despite going down to ten men Melksham kept pushing but the Basingstoke victory was confirmed in stoppage time when home skipper Dean Stow converted from the spot after Ricardo Andrady was knocked to the ground by Rackley.
Meanwhile, a Stuart Green double helped Sholing come from behind to beat Bideford at The Mackoy Stadium.
The visitors got proceedings underway with a goal in the first minute when Ryan Turner side footed in the far corner.
Seven minutes later it was two goals to the good for Bideford but it wasn’t to last for long as the hosts hit back through Stuart Green in the 31st minute.
A mere two minutes later the scores were level when Lee Wort scored his 250th goal for Sholing, dancing past three defenders to fire into the net.
The second half was a cagey affair with both teams coming close to scoring and it took until the 83rd minute for there to be a decider.
It would fall the way of the home outfit thanks to inspired work by Daniel Mason in charging down a clearance, chasing down the loose ball and then squaring for Green to get his fourth goal in two games and secure the win.
There was similar drama in a feisty draw between Larkhall Athletic and Frome Town where Mike Baker equalised for Larkhall with four minutes left on the clock.
Lewis Powell had given Larkhall the lead before Rex Mannings equalised but a tense ending was guaranteed when Kane Simpson scored for Frome 14 minutes from time and the final twist naturally came right at the death.