STEP 5 & 6 ACTION
COMBINED COUNTIES
■ FLACKWELL HEATH stay top of Premier North following their 1-0 victory over visitors Holyport courtesy of a Wiktor Makowksi spot kick conversion.
A point behind them in second place have played one game more are arch title rivals Rayners Lane, who won 5-0 at home to Reading City with goals by Rio Connell, Frank Keita, Bradley Bubb and a brace from Elliott Buchanan.
The highest score of the day saw Bedfont Sports hammer visitors Wembley 80 thanks to doubles from Jake Beck, Jack Beadle and Mark Bitmead and a goal each from Makael Scott and Jared Myers.
Aiden Higgs hit a hat-trick as Wallingford & Crowmarsh won 3-1 at Risborough Rangers.
A brace by Paul Levey and one goal from Jamie Doolan earned Broadfields United a 3-1 win at Chalfont St Peter.
Lenny Farhall helped himself to both goals for Harefield United as they beat visitors Edgham Town 2-0.
A double by Mason Courtney including a penalty gave Ardley United a 2-0 win at Milton United.
Jersey Bulls won 3-0 at Abbey Rangers with Lorne Bickley scoring twice including a penalty and Luke Watson once.
Champions Farnham Town beat visitors Sheerwater 5-3 with Mark Waters hitting his debut goal for the club before Adam Liddle, Charlie Postance, Dean Rule and substitute Shamal Edwards added the rest.
Alex Keating bagged a brace for Redhill before Nathan Hogan hit his first goal for the club as they saw off Alton 3-0.
Patrick Murray and Ryan Markley were on target for Cobham in their 2-0 win at
Balham.
Tooting & Mitcham United overcame
Guildford City 2-0.
AFC Croydon Athletic returned from
Sandhurst Town with a 2-0 win with Richard Pingling and captain Brandon Pierrick on target.
On Friday, Hilltop beat visitors Wokingham & Emmbrook 2-1 at Uxbridge.
In Division One yesterday, Amersham Town were presented with their championship trophy and also beat visitors
Bedfont 4-3 with Sidney Gueye, Jake Tabot, Luke Heneghan and Arif Gokman finding the net.
ROBIN JONES
UNITED COUNTIES
■ WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN were presented with the Premier South championship trophy following their 2-1 victory over visitors GNG Oadby Town.
Delivering the goods were Nehemiah Richard-Noel and Jessi Obeng.
The Doughboys won the title on Easter Monday when they won 1-0 at Desborough Town while rival Racing Club Warwick lost 5-1 at Coventry United.
Yesterday, Racing Club Warwick
recovered from a goal down to beat visitors Rugby Borough 4-1 with Simeon Cobourne, James Hancocks, Louis Monaghan and Rico Taylor netting.
Hosts Lutterworth Town came from behind to beat Coventry United 4-1 thanks to two goals by Benji Adamako, one from James Sanderson and a Luke Wilson penalty.
Cogenhoe United triumphed 4-3 at Aylestone Park with a Knights double and a goal apiece from Kai Fifield and Jack Connor.
Leicester Nirvana beat visitors Histon
5-1 with a Shaquille Master double and a goal each for Orrin Carter-Fell, Daryl Russel and Greg Mills.
Jordan Brown and Connor Furlong netted for St Neots Town in their 2-0 win at lowly Desborough Town.
March Town United v Easington Sports, Newport Pagnell Town v Yaxley and Eynesbury Rovers v Daventry Town all ended 1-1.
Premier North champions Sherwood Colliery were presented with their trophy after their 4-0 home win over Newark & Sherwood United, ending the visitors’ 10-game unbeaten run.
A Felipe Morales brace helped Loughborough Students a 3-1 win at Wisbech Town.
Two goals by Tyler Blake gave Eastwood CFC a 2-1 victory at Sleaford Town.
Melton Town beat Kimberley Miners Welfare 2-0, and Hucknall Town lost 0-1 at home to Boston Town.
Relegated Pinchbeck United ended their season with a 2-1 home win over
AFC Mansfield.
Skegness Town drew 0-0 with visitors Heanor Town while, on Friday, Deeping Rangers beat Ashby Ivanhoe 3-2 in a game played at Quorn.
ROBIN JONES
NORTHERN LEAGUE
■
BISHOP AUCKLAND took a step towards the title despite their game at second-bottom Tow Law falling victim to a waterlogged pitch.
Bishop’s only rivals Shildon slipped to a 2-1 defeat at fellow high-flyers Guisborough Town. Jordan Fielding came off the bench to score twice in two minutes late on for the Priorymen after Shildon had led at the break through David Vincent’s strike into the far corner.
Josh Scott scored twice in a minute while further late goals from Nathan Greenwood and Cory Nicholson gave
West Auckland a 4-2 victory over
Whickham.
West Allotment Celtic won 3-1 at
Penrith, who took the lead on the half hour through Robbie Hebson’s 20-yard low drive into the bottom corner. Connor Campbell won the game for Allotment with a hat-trick.
Whitley Bay and Redcar Athletic shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Hillheads. Paddy Almond put Bay ahead with a deflected shot after 20 minutes, Redcar replying 10 minutes later. A long ball from Dale Hopson to Adam Boyes saw the experienced frontman set up the leveller for Curtis Round, Redcar reduced to ten men on the hour when Bradley Mills was sent off.
The games at Newcastle Benfield, Sunderland RCA, Birtley Town, Carlisle City and Crook Town were postponed.
JEFF BOWRON
NORTH WEST COUNTIES
■
WYTHENSHAWE TOWN remain in pole position – just – in the threeway title tussle after a 3-0 win at West Didsbury kept them top, a point ahead of both Wythenshawe and Bury.
They didn’t have it all their own way against a dogged West Didsbury, Tom Bentham scoring twice in the final twenty minutes to break the deadlock, Chinedu Uche adding a third in added on time.
Wythenshawe stayed in the hunt with a comfortable 4-1 win against Pilkington.
Bury kept their end of the bargain by easing past AFC Liverpool 3-0 in front of a crowd of almost 3,500.
The play-off race remains equally as tight, with four sides vying for two places.
Kendal remain in pole position, five different names on the scoresheet in their 5-0 win against chasers Chadderton, while Padiham beat Charnock Richard 3-0 thanks to goals from Joel Melia, Joel Brownhill and Tyler James.
Prestwich Heys lost ground with a 2-1 loss at Irlam – John Main notching two for the hosts – leaving plenty to play for in the final three weeks.
Elsewhere, Burscough and Glossop North End played out an entertaining 2-2 draw - Tom Lawless grabbed a 92nd minute equaliser for Glossop - while
Cheadle Town lost 1-0 at home to
Ramsbottom United.
Litherland REMYCA beat Longridge Town 3-1.
DAVID LAWRENCE
NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST
■
PENISTONE CHURCH kept their slim play-off hopes alive with a 4-0 victory over Goole AFC on a day that saw a string of games postponed.
The result means that victory in their final three games could see them sneak into the play-off places on goal difference.
That final place currently belongs to
Albion Sports after they won 2-1 at
Pickering Town, Ashley Flynn and Dominic Staunton on target for the visitors, Nathan Dyer for the hosts.
Fourth-placed Rossington Main had to settle for a goalless draw at Tadcaster Albion and champions Emley were held to a 2-2 draw by visitors Golcar United.
Lloyd Smith scored twice for Frickley Athletic as they twice came from behind to beat Bottesford Town, Zavier Elkin and Rieves Boocock with the others.
Two goals from Luke Brooksbank helped Silsden AFC to a 4-1 win at
Handsworth.
In Division One, the title race goes to the wire after Wakefield AFC’s 4-1 defeat of Louth Town took them back to the top of the table above Shirebrook Town, whose game was postponed.
The new leaders shared the goals around with Ben Gelder, Seb Losa, Slater Barkham-Barnes and Jayden Sandhu netting.
DAVID LAWRENCE
MIDLAND LEAGUE
■
HINCKLEY AFC won Division One despite going through the mill in a 3-2 win at Heather St John’s.
The winner came when Chandler Pegg finished a square pass from Harry Walker-Donova. With Droitwich Spa’s 3-1 defeat at home to Coton Green, it was enough to land a long-awaited promotion after years of close shaves.
Congleton Town require one win from two matches to guarantee the Premier Division title after cruising to a 7-0 win over rock-bottom Bewdley Town.
Title rivals Lichfield City will be kicking themselves having put in a listless display in a 4-0 loss at on-song play-off chasers
Darlaston Town.
Alex Foreshaw thumped in a far-post header with James Rowland’s slotted penalty, Aaron Bishop’s mazy run and finish and Kieron Miller’s far-post conversion of an inviting Rowland centre wrapping up Darlo’s fourth straight win.
Studley sit third after Bailey Fuller’s double put them on course for a 3-0 win over Uttoxeter Town, while Oscar Barry, son of ex-England ace Gareth Barry, got the winner five minutes from time as AFC Wulfrunians won 1-0 at Whitchurch Alport.
Freescoring Harry Crook notched twice in Dudley Town’s 3-1 win at Stone Old Alleynians.
ANDY MITCHELL
HELLENIC LEAGUE
■
LEADERS Worcester City have all but won the Premier Division championship after main challengers Corsham Town were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Longlevens AFC.
A brace by Dean Griffiths including a penalty was cancelled out by Jack Beardsall and Joe Westrup for the visitors.
Even if Corsham win their last two games, they will at best draw level on points with Worcester, who have four games in hand and a superior goal difference of 31 – boosted by their midweek 7-0 home win over Roman Glass St George.
Yesterday, hosts Brimscombe & Thrupp beat Pershore Town 4-2 thanks to a brace by Jack Freeman and a goal each from Johny Welsh and Harlie Price.
An 88th-minute goal by Tom Ouldridge earned Royal Wootton Bassett Town a 1-0 win at Cinderford Town.
Roman Glass St George recovered from their earlier drubbing by winning 2-1 at Lydney Town.
Jake Rhodes and Kieran Alder delivered the goods for Tuffley Rovers who beat visitors Highworth Town 2-0.
Wantage Town beat visitors Hereford Lads Club 2-1.
In Division One, a Joe Goodwin penalty followed by a Paul Holmes goal gave home side Cheltenham Saracens a 2-0 win over Kidlington Reserves.
ROBIN JONES
EASTERN COUNTIES
■ PREMIER Division champions
Mildenhall Town ran out 3-1 winners away to Woodbridge Town on Saturday with Keiran Twinn, Jonathan Kaye and Tanner Call on target.
Alistair Conway struck a hat-trick for second-placed Newmarket Town as they recorded an impressive 5-2 away victory against Heacham and Mulbarton Wanderers climbed up to third in the table after Owen Lane’s goal was enough to hand them a 1-0 home win against sixth-placed Downham Town.
Elsewhere, Thetford Town are up to fourth after a 2-0 away success over bottom side Kirkley & Pakefield. Callum Olpin and Kieran Money were the away side’s goal scorers and the defeat leaves Kirkley five points adrift of the side above them with just three games left to play.
Dereham Town dropped two places in the table to fifth after they could only manage a 2-2 draw away to Walsham-le-Willows and Nathan Stone was a hat-trick hero for Harleston Town as they produced a fine performance to beat Brantham Athletic 6-0 at home.
Sam Mulready grabbed a dramatic 90th minute winning goal for Soham Town Rangers as they secured a 2-1 away win over Long Melford and Fakenham Town were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Hadleigh United.
On Friday night, Jack Friend netted both of Ely City’s goals as they beat tenman Sheringham 2-1 at home.
RORY HAYWARD
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS
■ FC ROMANIA came back from 4-1 down to grab a 4-4 draw in a thriller at Potton United.
Victor Osobu gave the hosts the lead from the spot with John Sonuga doubling the advantage by half-time. Tomas Mendez got one back for Romania, only for Osobu to restore the two-goal lead with a header. Lewis Lynn seemingly wrapped up the points in the 66th minute.
That was the way it stayed until the 80th minute but Mendez, Jandir Da Cruz and Hamzinho Miezou dragged the third-placed outfit level during the last knockings.
Colney Heath waltzed to a 4-0 win over Crawley Green, George Sippetts getting the ball rolling with an early lob before Bradley Dixon-Smith’s header made it two shortly before half-time. Francis Tortora and George Hughes added gloss to the score late in the game.
Stansted saw through a 4-2 win over
Baldock Town having gone four up by the break, George O’Connor bagging a hat-trick and Jack Mitchell the other.
Jason Beck opened the scoring, got sin binned and later got sent off as Cockfosters beat Biggleswade United 3-0, while James Ewington hit a first-half hat-trick as Harpenden Town demolished Sawbridgeworth Town 6-0.
Elsewhere, London Lions won 3-1 at 10-man Shefford Town & Campton and Real Bedford saw off Tring Athletic 3-0 to reach the Premier Division Cup final.
ANDY MITCHELL
ESSEX SENIOR
■ IT WAS a weekend of draws in the league with four out of the seven matches ending with the honours even.
There was a definite result at Chadfields where leaders Tilbury lost 3-2 to their closest challengers Woodford Town. Nonetheless, the Dockers are 10 points clear.
Third-placed Romford, who were in FA Vase semi-final action reaching Wembley on Saturday, also remain in the hunt but trail Tilbury by 13 points.
Sporting Bengal United’s recent upsurge in defensive meanness continued against FC Clacton but their forwards couldn’t break their rivals’ rearguard either in a goalless stalemate.
Frenford picked up three points with a 1-0 win over Hullbridge Sports and are all but safe from a bottom-two finish.
This is despite Ilford’s late resurgence, which continued with a 2-1 defeat of
Athletic Newham at Mayesbrook Park on Friday night.
Saffron Walden Town played out a 2-2 draw with Halstead Town at Catons Lane, leaving them eight points behind fifth spot but with only four games remaining. Tom Head and Stan Leech got the Bloods’ goals either side of half-time.
Takeley also drew 2-2 with playoff-chasing Barking to climb to 16th in the table while the only other match in the division saw doomed Coggeshall Town play out a thrilling 3-3 draw with
West Essex at Wadham Lodge.
DAVID BALLHEIMER
SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST
■ LYDD TOWN produced an incredible comeback to draw 4-4 at home to Rusthall.
Rusthall produced a pair of Jacks, Kirby and Lyons, who bagged a brace each to put the visitors 4-0 up at half-time.
Charlie Dickens started the comeback with a 49th minute goal before Kenny Pogue scored twice and Jamahl King levelled in the last minute.
Deal Town’s stroll towards the title was halted as they lost 1-0 at Tunbridge Wells with home talisman Trevor McCreadie netting ten minutes from time.
Corinthian missed a chance to go second, losing 4-0 defeat at Faversham Town. Nathan Wood and Connor Essam put Tommy Warrilow’s side two up at the break before Stefan Payne’s second half double.
Erith Town are the form side heading into the play-offs after beating VCD Athletic 2-1 at home. James Miles and Harry Taylor put the Dockers in command before Zac Byron netted from the spot.
Whitstable Town kept their hopes alive with a 5-0 home win over Sutton Athletic and Snodland Town are still in the mix after a 4-0 win at Punjab United with Alfie Eldridge rounding off the result with his first Snods goal.
Eniola Hassan, Ryan Blake, Robbie Roberts and Ollie Freeman were all on target for Bearsted in a 4-0 win over Stansfeld and Kennington were held 2-2 by bottom side Welling Town.
PAUL CARTER
SOUTHERN COMBINATION
■ STEYNING TOWN took a big step towards being crowned champions by recording a crushing 5-1 home win over struggling Saltdean United.
Harry Shooman netted twice for the leaders, who now hold a six-point advantage over their closest title challengers.
Second-placed Newhaven dropped crucial points as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Crowborough Athletic.
William Puffette had put the hosts ahead but Lee Robinson salvaged a point.
Although they dropped to fifth, Athletic still have a realistic chance of winning the title as despite trailing Steyning by seven points, they still have two games in hand.
Eastbourne Town are up to third after Delwin Duah netted both of their goals in a 2-1 away success over Midhurst & Easebourne and Hassocks are now fourth in the table after an impressive 5-0 home win against Bexhill United.
Elsewhere, bottom side AFC Uckfield Town suffered a heavy 4-0 loss away to Peacehaven & Telscombe and Sekou Toure’s goal helped Horsham YMCA to a 1-0 home win over Lingfield.
Emmanuel Abudiore’s goal handed sixth-placed Haywards Heath Town a 1-0 away win at Little Common and Oli Leslie grabbed a brace for hosts Crawley Down Gatwick as they beat Loxwood 4-1.
Elsewhere, AFC Varndeanians lost 3-1 at home to Shoreham and hosts Eastbourne United beat Pagham 2-1.
RORY HAYWARD
WESSEX LEAGUE
■ SHERBORNE TOWN beat US Portsmouth 5-2 in North Dorset with an impressive performance.
Callum Mann and Luke Richards scored the goals for the away side but Alex Murphy bagged a brace for the hosts and that was added to by goals from George Mapletoft and another brace from Dec Cornish.
Moneyfields weren’t in action this weekend but are eight points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand on second-placed AFC Stoneham with only five games remaining.
Shaftesbury, in third spot, were in action, winning 3-2 away at Baffins Milton Rovers. Baffins twice went ahead but the Rockies showed their resilience to twice come from behind. Brett Pitman was once again on target for the visitors, as was former Winchester City and Bognor Regis playmaker Stuart Green with their third coming via an own goal.
In Division One, Hamworthy Recreation are still unbeaten after winning their 29th game of the season 5-0 at Andover Town.
Chris Long scored a hat-trick with George Deem and Aaron Roberts also netting at the Portway Stadium. Recreation are now eight points clear of second-placed Millbrook with three games in hand and eight games remaining.
Millbrook did win on Saturday, keeping the pressure up on the leaders by beating Verwood Town 3-0 at Test Park.
MATT RICHBELL
WESTERN LEAGUE
■ OSCAR MASSEY scored a hat-trick as Falmouth Town overcame promotion rivals Clevedon Town 4-0.
Clevedon sat a point above their Cornish opponents coming into the game having played two games more but Falmouth proved too strong for them with Massey and Rubin Wilson scoring.
With six games remaining Helston Athletic sit three points clear of Falmouth at the summit following a 4-0 victory against Saltash United.
Rikki Shepherd’s scored their 33rd minute opener and then assisted for Tom Payne and Jacob Smith as the leaders took control. Payne then bagged his brace direct from a free-kick.
The title race is becoming a war of attrition with six games to go, including a meeting between the top two in April.
Fifth-placed Barnstaple Town also scored four without reply to beat Street FC. Tommy Rogers opened the scoring for the hosts before Harvey Dorothy capitalised on confusion in the visiting defence to head home a second. He then netted his second and Barnstaple’s 100th of the season as they led 3-0 at the break. Myles Perkins completed the scoring in the second half.
Bridgwater United maintained their top three hopes with a 5-3 win over
Ilfracombe Town thanks to a brace by Josiah McKayle and goals from Jay Murray, Jack Taylor and Jake Llewellyn.
Nailsea & Tickenham were the day’s other winners as they overcame Brixham AFC 2-1. BEN GODDARD
SOUTH WEST PENINSULA
■ IVYBRIDGE TOWN have won the Premier East championship following their 2-0 victory at Bishops Lydeard, with Chris Wright and Bailey Mabin finding the net.
The Ivies will now be presented with the championship trophy before their home game against Crediton United on April 20.
They will go on to face the winners of Premier West in the Champions Bowl game at Launceston AFC on May 1. The league’s showpeice kicks off at 7.30pm.
Current Premier West leaders St Austell remain on top after coming from behind to beat visitors Bude Town 3-2 thanks to an Adam Carter hat-trick, in one of only two games played in Cornwall on Saturday that didn’t fall victim to the weather, yet again!
However, Liskeard Athletic remain favourites for the title as they are two points behind but have two games in hand. They won 3-0 at home to Sticker, courtesy of a double by Callum Merrin and debutant Charlie Young scoring the other.