Near miss Cleeve, Cirencester set to miss out on play-offs
BISHOP’S Cleeve and Cirencester Town are set to narrowly miss out on the Southern League promotion play-offs.
Cleeve are eighth in the Southern Division, two points off fifth, but with only one game left, while other sides have games in hand.
On Tuesday, the Mitres went to Bashley and won 2-0, going ahead with 11 minutes on the clock.
Cleeve were awarded a free kick 30 yards out and Toby Holland sent it fizzing low through the wall and past the unsighted Ross Casey into the bottom corner.
The second came after the break as Archie Haskayne got the better of Casey and his defence, tapping in following a free kick.
Last Friday, Cleeve were edged out by table-toppers Frome Town, going down 1-0.
A first half strike from Sam Meakes was enough to give Frome all three points, Cleeve playing the second half with 10 men after a challenge from Ben Mclean on Kane Simpson was met with a red card.
Evesham United are a place behind Cleeve and thee points off the top five with two games left, after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss at Wimborne Town.
They led at half-time through Aaron Heap but fell to two second-half goals, failing to follow up Saturday’s 3-1 win at Tavistock.
Evesham took the lead in the 28th minute when a left wing cross by Will Owens found Aidan Clark, who tapped home at the far post.
Tavistock levelled with a penalty from Liam Prynn, but Amer Awadh shot home off the bar, and with 11 minutes left Heap sealed the victory.
In the Central division, Cirencester Town’s hopes are over despite their 3-0 win over Barton Rovers.
The Centurions made the breakthrough when Jake Lee latched onto a stooping header from Ben Whitehead to nod it inside the right post.
Six minutes into the second half they went two up when Reegan Messenger headed in a cross from Felix Miles.
Cirencester sealed the game with a volley from Nick Peare, but they are seven points off the play-offs with two games to play.