Exiled Grecian's report covers matches played from Saturday, April 21 to Tuesday, April 24.
Alex Hartridge - Truro City - Vanarama League South
Saturday, April 21 | Truro City 1-2 Braintree Town
Alex was once again on the bench as Truro fell to a home defeat against fellow play off hopefuls Braintree.
Despite being second best in the first half, Truro went into the break on level terms thanks to Jamie Richards' quick reactions midway through the first half.
The visitors retook the lead just after the hour mark through Daniel Thompson and proceeded to frustrate the hosts for the remainder of the game to give their own play off push a major boost.
Tuesday, April 24 | Weston-Super-Mare 0-2 Truro City
Alex made his first start for Truro since February 24 for Tuesday night's trip to Somerset.
In an even first half it was Truro who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Connor Riley-Lowe, recently voted as supporters' player of the season, swung in a corner which eluded everyone in the box and bounced into the back of the net.
The hosts, who were captained by former Grecian Jacob Cane, spurned a number of chances throughout the half as they went into the break behind. And they were made to pay for their lack of composure in front of goal on 57 minutes when, from another corner, the ball somehow ricocheted off Aaron Lamont at the near post and into the back of the net.
The White Tigers held on for the precious three points, a result that means they need just a single point in their season finale at third placed Hampton & Richmond on Saturday to secure a play off spot.
Stats:
- League: 22 appearances, 17 starts, 1,628 minutes, 1 goal.
- FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 270 minutes*.
- FA Trophy: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes.
Last game:
24/4/2018, Weston-super-Mare 0-2 Truro, played the full 90 minutes.
*Assumption made that he played the full 90 minutes vs AFC Sudbury in 3rd Qualifying Round.
Max Smallcombe, Ben Seymour & Josh Key - Bideford - Evo-Stick South West
Thursday, April 19 | Bideford 2-0 North Leigh
Bideford followed up their Monday night win at Kidlington with a fourth successive league victory. Key and Seymour both started, while Smallcombe was absent again.
The Robins applied the early pressure, with Sean Downing forcing an excellent save from visiting keeper Ross Grimshaw following a Key cross.
The hosts eventually took the lead on 19 minutes. Key's initial effort was blocked on the line, and so too was Downing's follow up, but Ryan Turner was on hand to smash home the loose ball. Key also had a header cleared off the line late in the first half as Bideford dominated proceedings.
The Robins continued their dominance in the second half, as both Seymour and Dan Western were both denied by Grimshaw. But it was Grimshaw who was at fault for Bideford's second, as he misjudged the bounce and allowed Kevin Squire to score an easy goal with 10 minutes remaining.
The result put the hosts within two points of the play offs.
Saturday, April 21 | Slimbridge 4-3 Bideford
Bideford played their third game in five days last Saturday in a must-win game for both sides. Slimbridge needed a win to mathematically avoid relegation, while a win for the visitors would have kept the pressure on the play off pack. Only Ben Seymour was involved for the Robins, keeping his place in the starting XI.
It was Seymour himself who forced the first goal of the game. The Robins' top scorer was brought down in the box on 15 minutes, dusted himself off and converted for his 23rd goal of the season. The hosts equalised just after the hour mark through Sam Turl as the sides went in level at the break.
Slimbridge's Marley Thomas gave them the lead shortly after the break, finding the back of the net after Dean Turner's initial effort was parried by Steve Oliver. Squire then brought Bideford back on level terms on the hour mark, heading in at the back post for his 99th goal for the club.
The hosts recovered well however, scoring twice in the space of eight minutes to seemingly put the game beyond the Robins with 10 minutes to go. The visitors came straight back into the game as, just a minute later, Ben Wood scored straight from a corner, but they were unable to find another equaliser.
Tuesday, April 24, Salisbury City 1-0 Bideford
Bideford's play-off hopes suffered a big blow on Tuesday night as they travelled to second placed Salisbury. Seymour dropped to the bench, while Key returned to the starting XI.
Stuart Green gave the hosts the lead after 15 minutes, but the Robins responded by creating a number of chances. Ben Carter, twice, Key, Turner and Squire all put efforts wide as the visitors desperately searched for an equaliser.
Seymour replaced Squire at half time as Bideford continued to press for a goal that never came. The result means their play-off push is now out of their hands, despite having a game in hand. They face mid-table Cinderford Town on Thursday night, before hosting Winchester City for their final game of the season on Saturday.
Stats*:
Max Smallcombe:
- League: 11 appearances, 9 starts, 757 minutes.
- FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 243 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist.
Last game:
2/4/2018, Bideford 0-1 Taunton Town, subbed off after 63 minutes.
Ben Seymour:
- League: 31 appearances, 27 starts, 2,356 minutes, 21 goals, 2 assists, 1 red card.
- Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist.
- FA Trophy: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
24/4/2018, Salisbury City 1-0 Bideford, played the final 45 minutes.
Josh Key:
- League: 15 appearances, 14 starts, 1,262 minutes, 3 goals.
- Devon Bowl: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
24/4/2018, Salisbury City 1-0 Bideford, subbed off after 48 minutes.
*These stats aren't recorded on any website, so the minutes played is an estimate based on time-stamps on social media or match reports. Does not include stoppage time.
Joel Randall - Taunton Town - Evo-Stick South West
Saturday, April 21 | Taunton Town 2-1 Bristol Manor Farm
Joel Randall retained his place in the starting XI for the visit of play off chasing Bristol Manor Farm.
After spurning a number of good chances, one of which had seemingly crossed the line but was not given, Craig Veal set up Matt Buse to head home on 34 minutes.
Despite dominating the game Taunton let their lead slip on 67 minutes. Dean Stamp inadvertently set up Troy Simpson on the edge of the area, with the visiting striker placing his shot beyond the reach of Lloyd Irish.
But with 15 minutes to go the Peacocks retook the lead. With what was either a miss-hit cross or an outrageous attempt, Dan Sullivan volleyed over the keeper and into the top corner from a tight angle to give the hosts another three points.
Randall was replaced at half time by Toby Down.
Tuesday, April 24 | Taunton Town 9-0 Slimbridge
Taunton ran riot against lowly Slimbridge on Tuesday night, in a game where Joel Randall scored his first senior goal.
Randall had set up the Peacock's first goal, gliding in from the left and seeing his cut back deflected off Jack Twyman for an own goal.
Despite the opening goal coming in the 25th minute, Taunton were 4-0 up by half time. Dan Sullivan tapped in a second after his penalty was saved, before Randall's curling effort somehow ended in the back of the net despite being straight at the keeper. Matt Wright got his first of the night on the stroke of half time.
The Peacocks continued to score for fun in the second half, Dan Sullivan netting a brace, Matt Wright completing a hattrick, and Shane White and Ben Adelsbury adding further misery to the visiting Swans.
Stats*:
- League: 8 appearances, 5 starts, 424 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
24/4/2018, Taunton 9-0 Slimbridge, played the full 90 minutes, scored the third goal and set up the first.
*These stats aren't recorded on any website, so the minutes played is an estimate based on time-stamps on social media or match reports. Does not include stoppage time.