SPORTS SHINE IN 5-STAR SHOW!
MIGHTY Mickleover took full advantage of Needham Mar- ket’s Boxing Day inactivity by going back to the top of the Southern Premier Central table with a 5-1 thumping of bottom club Long Eaton United.
Jack Rogers gave Long Eaton a shock lead on the quarter-hour, only for Ethan Mann to level things up by the break.
Marcus Barnes put the home side in front just before the hour and from there they never looked back, Oliver Greaves, Barnes and Mann wrapping things up.
A stoppage-time brace from Callum Stewart ensured Leamington clung onto third place after they were held 2-2 by Stratford Town in front of almost 1,200 fans at Knights Lane.
Callum Ebanks put the Bards in front and it was a lead they held until the 90th-minute when Stewart equalised.
Devonn O’Sullivan then looked as though he had won it for Stratford with a 94th-minute strike, only for Stewart to net again two minutes later.
Callum Rowe’s strike in first-half injury-time ensured Redditch United stayed in the mix with a 1-0 win over Alvechurch, while Bromsgrove Sporting edged out local rivals Stourbridge by the same scoreline courtesy of Jack Newell’s 19th-minute effort.
AFC Telford United extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches as they came home from Halesowen Town with a deserved success from a 2-0 triumph. First half strikes from Reece Styche and Remi Walker did the damage.
The biggest winners of the day came were St Ives Town who crushed Kettering
Town 6-0 at Westwood Road Benjamin Mensah set them on their way before Jonny Edwards doubled the lead just before the break. Edwards added another just after the hour before Brandon Njoku hit a brace in a ten-minute spell. Myles Cowling completed the scoring late on.
Another side to win big were AFC Sudbury, who inflicted more misery on Berkhamsted thanks to a 4-0 away win – a result which saw Berko part company with manager Steve Heath.
All four goals came in the second half from Joe Neal, who converted from the spot, Adam Mills, who scored twice, and Reiss Oteng as second-bottom Berko suffered an 18th match without a victory.
Kian Harness’ firsthalf strike handed Royston Town a big three points at the foot of the table as they beat play-off chasing Hitchin Town 1-0, while the day’s other game, between Barwell and Coalville Town ended goalless.