Guest leaves it late to keep Yate at summit

JOE Guest grabbed an 83rd-minute winner as Yate triumphed 1-0 at Winchester to retain their onepoint lead at the top of Southern League Division One South.

The Lodge Road side now have 27 points from 12 games, a point clear of Blackfield & Langley with a game in hand.

Blackfield & Langley themselves enjoyed a 4-1 home victory over Bideford. Lerone Plummer fired a hat-trick for the hosts, while Mitch Speechley-Price added a late fourth after Kevin Squire had replied for the Devon side.

Moneyfields are third following a 1-0 home win over Slimbridge, Joe Briggs scoring on 79 minutes, while fourth-placed Evesham ran out 3-1 winners at Barnstaple with goals from Kye Simpson, Tyrone TuckerDixon and Archie Haskayne.

The final spot in the play-offs is currently occupied by Cirencester, who were held to a 1-1 home draw by AFC Totton. Ben Whitehead broke the deadlock for the hosts on 63 minutes, but Craig Feeney levelled matters shortly afterwards.

The highest-scoring game of the day came at Melksham, who beat high-flying Street 5-3.

Jamie Short got the visitors off to a great start with a third-minute strike, but two goals in a tenminute spell from Neikell Plummer turned things in Melksham’s favour before Rob Hobbs made it three for the hosts prior to half-time.

Craig Herrod got Street back into the game shortly after the break, and the match remained tight until the final ten minutes.

However, Hobbs then bagged his second and Bradley Norris added another to secure victory for the home side, making Lewis Waldy’s late reply academic.

Cinderford were embarrassed by bottom-of-the-table Fleet, who left Gloucestershire with all three points after a 2-1 win.

Although Daniel MacDonald was quick to cancel out Meshach Williams’ opener, a second Fleet goal from Callum Abraham-Barlow on 37 minutes proved decisive.

Elsewhere, visiting Highworth came from behind to win 2-1 at Bristol Manor Farm. Ashley Kington’s penalty put the home side ahead, but Calum Ferguson and Darren Jefferies earned victory for the away team.

Larkhall, meanwhile, were 3-1 winners at Paulton thanks to goals from Mason Winter, Lewis Powell and Harry Hope. Liam Monelle struck the hosts’ reply late on.

And Mangotsfield went down 2-1 at home to Thatcham despite a 55th-minute equaliser from Jake Thomas. Lewis Coyle struck the winner with Ekow Elliott also on target for Thatcham.