Exiled Grecian's report covers matches that took place from Saturday March 31 to Wednesday, April 4.
Alex Hartridge - Truro City - Vanarama League South
Friday, March 30 | Truro City 3-3 Hemel Hempstead
Hartridge returned to the matchday squad as Truro hosted fellow play-off chasers Hemel Hempstead, but was an unused substitute in what turned out to be a goal fest at Treyew Road.
The White Tigers came from behind three times, the third courtesy of Tyler Harvey in the 92nd minute, to extend their unbeaten run to five games. With seven games to go, Truro find themselves in fifth place, three points clear of Chelmsford; who are just outside the play offs in eighth.
Monday 2nd April, Weston-super-Mare P-P Truro City
Truro's Easter Monday game against Weston-super-Mare was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Stats:
- League: 19 appearances, 16 starts, 1,532 minutes, 1 goal.
- FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 270 minutes*.
- FA Trophy: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes.
Last game:
10/3/2018, St Albans 0-1 Truro, played the final 12 minutes.
*Assumption made that he played the full 90 minutes vs AFC Sudbury in 3rd Qualifying Round.
James Hamon - Gloucester City - Vanarama League South
Saturday, March 31 | Gloucester City P-P St Albans City
Gloucester were due to play on Saturday, but their game against St Albans was postponed following an early morning pitch inspection.
Monday, April 2 | Bath City 5-1 Gloucester City
Gloucester's faint hopes of a late play off push were extinguished in emphatic style on Easter Monday, falling to a heavy defeat at Twerton Park.
The visitors enjoyed near total domination in the opening half hour, but had to wait until the 24th minute to take the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Similarly to Lloyd James against Wycombe this season, Lewis Hall's free kick eluded everyone in the box and bounced beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper and into the back of the net.
That was as good as it would get for Gloucester as Bath, with their first real chance of the game, levelled proceedings on 35 minutes when Opanin Edward's effort was deflected beyond the reach of Hamon.
The tables had completely turned in the match at this point and, with the hosts now in control of proceedings, Bath took a deserved lead just before the break. Miles Welch-Hayes rose highest from a corner and his header bobbled past Hamon at the far post.
The second half began as the first ended: a cross from deep found Tom Smith inside the six-yard box and the diminutive midfielder, on loan from Swindon, headed beyond Hamon.
Gloucester's afternoon was summed up perfectly just before the hour mark. Edwards went on a surging run down the right wing and his dangerous low cross was cleared onto the post by Gloucester's Robbie Cundy, only for it to deflect straight onto the onrushing Antoine Semenyo to make it 4-1.
And whilst Semenyo won't have known much about his first goal of the afternoon, he did excellently to score his second. With less than ten minutes on the clock, he dispossesed Cundy on the edge of the box, before smashing into the far corner from an acute angle to round off the scoring.
Stats:
- League: 12 appearances, 12 starts, 1,080 minutes, 4 clean sheets, 19 conceded.
- Gloucestershire FA Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 clean sheet.
Last game:
2/4/2018, Bath City 5-1 Gloucester, played the full 90 minutes.
Archie Collins - Dorchester Town - Evo-Stick South Premier
It was announced last Friday that Archie Collins had been recalled to City, with the Dorset Echo explaining it was because of 'injuries to [City's] first-team'.
Collins was in the matchday squad on Monday against Cheltenham, but failed to make the bench.His final stats at Dorchester can be found below.
Stats*:
- League: 14 appearances, 10 starts, 981 minutes, 2 goals.
Final game:
10/3/2018, Kettering Town 4-3 Dorchester, played the full 90 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.
Max Smallcombe, Ben Seymour & Josh Key - Bideford - Evo-Stick South West
Friday, March 30 | Evesham United 3-0 Bideford
Bideford suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in the league this season, as they were beaten by fellow play off hopefuls Evesham on Good Friday.Smallcombe and Seymour started, while Key was on the bench.
The Robins started the game brightly, with Seymour forcing an excellent save early on, but two quickfire goals on the half hour mark put them on the back foot for the rest of the game. The hosts added a third shortly after half time to earn themselves a deserved win in a vitally important game.
Josh Key was brought on after 50 minutes, Smallcombe was replaced on 65, while Seymour played the full 90 minutes.
Monday, April 2, Bideford 0-1 Taunton Town
Bideford's play off hopes suffered a big setback as they fell to a third successive defeat at the hands of champions-elect Taunton Town. Smallcombe and Key both started, while Seymour dropped to the bench.
Taunton had not lost in their last 27 games before Monday and showed exactly why the title is by all intents and purposes already theirs with a dominant display.
The Peacocks created numerous chances throughout the game, but dogged defending and an inspired Steve Oliver between the sticks contrived to frustrate the visitors time and time again.
Taunton finally found the breakthrough on 73 minutes when Oliver could only parry a point-blank header from Ollie Chamberlain as far as the unmarked Matt Wright, with the Peacock's skipper slotting home his 24th of the campaign. Despite late pressure from the Robins, Taunton held on for the win.
The hosts are now seven points behind Evesham in the play offs, with two games in hand.
Smallcombe was replaced by Ben Seymour on 63 minutes as Bideford went in search of a winning goal. Josh Key played the full 90 minutes.
Wednesday, April 4 | Cinderford Town P-P Bideford
Bideford's game at Cinderford was postponed last night due to a waterlogged pitch, their 16th postponed game of the season.
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: 25 appearances, 23 starts, 1,919 minutes, 19 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:
2/4/2018, Bideford 0-1 Taunton Town, played the last 27 minutes.
Josh Key:
- League: 10 appearances, 9 starts, 860 minutes, 3 goals.
- Devon Bowl: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
2/4/2018, Bideford 0-1 Taunton Town, played the full 90 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.
Sam Haynes & Mitch Thomas - Barnstaple Town - Evo-Stick South West
Wednesday, March 28 | Slimbridge 2-2 Barnstaple Town
Last week's report briefly mentioned that both Mitchell and Haynes started for Barum in their relegation six-pointer at Slimbridge. The game proved to be a dramatic one, though it was mostly saved for the final 20 minutes.
Edjidja Mbunga had given Slimbridge the lead on the half hour mark, but it was in the second half when the game came to life.
Barum keeper Aaron Screech gave away a penalty and was sent off with just over 20 minutes to go. With no substitute goalkeeper named, defender Tony Radford went between the sticks and instantly made himself a hero by saving the spot-kick.
It spurred the visitors on, as Billy Hopcroft equalised for Barum with little over 10 minutes to go. The game remained level for just five minutes, as Slimbridge appeared to have won the game thanks to Korey Pring's late goal.
But with the final kick of the game Hopcroft rescued an invaluable point for Barnstaple which could prove crucial in their quest to avoid relegation. Both Thomas and Haynes played the full 90 minutes.
Friday, March 30 | North Leigh P-P Barnstaple Town
Barnstaple's trip to North Leigh was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Monday, April 2 | Mangotsfield United 0-3 Barnstaple Town
Barum's trip to Mangotsfield got off to a terrible start, as the game had to be delayed by 30 minutes due to the visitors being stuck in traffic. Both Thomas and Haynes started for the visitors.
Update for today’s game. It’s been confirmed that today’s game is a 3.30pm ko DUE to @barnstapletwnfc team coach being stuck on the motorway. GAME still on! But delayed!
— Mangotsfield United (@MangotsfieldUtd) April 2, 2018
Despite being on the back foot for the entire first half, Mitch Thomas gave Barum the lead after Archie Reay played him through on goal with an excellent ball over the defence. The City loanee showed great composure to slot it past the onrushing keeper for his first senior goal on the stroke of half time.
He almost had a second on 68 minutes. Nathan Cooper had directed a corner towards goal, but the onrushing Thomas completely missed the ball with a swinging leg. Thomas' intervention meant the 'keeper delayed his dive long enough for Cooper's effort to bounce into the back of the net.
Thomas did eventually net his second of the afternoon, cutting onto his left foot just inside the area before smashing an effort across the 'keeper to seal proceedings with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The City loanee was eventually subbed off on 84 minutes, whilst Haynes played the full 90 minutes.
Barum now sit 19th, one point above second bottom Slimbridge in 21st place, though it seems that there may not be any relegations from the division this season following Shortwood United's decision to withdraw from the league next season.
Highlights below (from 3:46 onwards):
Stats*:
Sam Haynes:
- League: 11 appearances, 11 starts, 990 minutes.
Last game:
2/4/2018, Mangotsfield United 0-3 Barnstaple, played the full 90 minutes.
Mitch Thomas:
- League: 7 appearances, 7 starts, 624 minutes, 2 goals.
Last game:
2/4/2018, Mangotsfield United 0-3 Barnstaple, subbed off after 84 minutes, scored twice.
*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, March 31 | Taunton Town 3-2 Kidlington
Joel Randall was on the bench again as Taunton came from behind to extend their unbeaten run to 27 games. Late goals from Ollie Chamberlain and Craig Veale secured an emphatic turnaround for the Peacocks and kept their march to the Evo Stik Southern League West title on track. Joel Randall was an unused substitute.
Monday, April 2 | Bideford 0-1 Taunton Town
Randall was again an unused substitute in Taunton's win against Bideford. The Peacocks now need just five points from their last six games to secure the league title.
Stats*:
- League: 4 appearances, 1 start, 109 minutes.
Last game:
24/2/2018, North Leigh 1-1 Taunton, played the last 16 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.