Exiled Grecian's report covers matches that took place from Saturday March 17 to Wednesday, March 23.
Alex Hartridge - Truro City - Vanarama League South
Saturday, March 17 | Truro City 2-0 Chelmsford City
Truro followed up their excellent win at St Albans with another big win against fellow play off contenders Chelmsford, courtesy of goals from Ed Palmer and Connor Riley-Lowe. Alex Hartridge wasn't involved, presumably because he was going to be involved in City's under-23 Premier League Cup tie the following day.
Tuesday, March 20 | Truro City 1-0 Havant & Waterlooville
The White Tigers continued their impressive resurgence with a victory over table-topping Havant & Waterlooville. Former City triallist Tyler Harvey headed home the winner from a Connor Riley-Lowe cross midway through the second half as the Cornish outfit moved three points clear of the play off chasing pack. Hartridge again missed out as the under-23s tie was rescheduled for Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 21, Wolves U23s 1-1 Exeter City U23s (Wolves win 3-1 on penalties)
Having missed two of Truro's biggest games of the season in order to accommodate this fixture, Hartridge started at left back in a very experienced City defense. He was involved for pretty much the entire game, being replaced by fellow loanee Ben Seymour in the final minute of extra time as penalties loomed.
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 17 | Gloucester City 4-0 Hungerford Town
Gloucester continued their rich vein of form with an emphatic victory over struggling Hungerford. The result marked the Tigers', and Hamon's, third consecutive clean sheet and moved them (at the time) to within six points of the play offs.
Hamon's biggest involvement came early on as, with former City loanee Nicholas Bignall rushing through on goal, the Channel Islander saved with his left foot to keep the scores level.
Despite creating very little in the first half Gloucester ran riot in the second half, thanks in large part to Ed Williams capitalising on a defensive error to give his side the lead shortly after the restart. The home side didn't look back after that, Joe Parker scoring a stunning curling effort before Harry Williams grabbed a brace to secure a thumping victory.
Very brief highlights here.
Stats:
- League: 10 appearances, 10 starts, 900 minutes, 4 clean sheets, 11 conceded.
- Gloucestershire FA Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 clean sheet.
Last game:
17/3/2018, Gloucester 4-0 Hungerford Town, played the full 90 minutes, kept a clean sheet.
Archie Collins - Dorchester Town - Evo-Stick South Premier
Saturday, March 17 | Hitchin Town P-P Dorchester Town
Dorchester's game at Hitchin last weekend was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
❌ | Our away match at @HitchinTownFC today has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.#WeAreDorch pic.twitter.com/VmsvAKa4uT
— Dorchester Town FC (@DorchTownFC) March 17, 2018
Wednesday, March 21 | Wolves U23s 1-1 Exeter City U23s (Wolves win 3-1 on penalties)
Collins started the game at right back and was tasked with marking Sherwin Seedorf, who is Dutch legend Clarence's cousin, with the two putting in a battling display that went on deep into stoppage time.
Stats*:
- League: 12 appearances, 8 starts, 801 minutes, 2 goals.
Last game:
10/3/2018, Dorchester 1-2 Merthyr 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.
Max Smallcombe, Ben Seymour & Josh Key - Bideford - Evo-Stick South West
Tuesday, March 13 | Cindeford Town P-P Bideford
Bideford's midweek trip to Cindeford was postponed for a second time this season. It means that the Robins will have to play three games in a week at some point this season, such is their backlog of fixtures due to the weather.
Saturday, March 17 | Shortwood United 0-6 Bideford
Bideford ran riot on Saturday as they put six past lowly Shortwood United. Max Smallcombe made his first appearance in almost six months alongside Josh Key. Seymour was again absent, but it is unclear whether this was a continuation of his tonsillitis or whether he was meant to be involved against Wolves.
Sean Joyce's men took the lead through Sean Downing on 12 minutes, but the first half remained close with visiting keeper Steve Oliver called into action a number of times.
But Bideford ran riot in the second half, with further goals from James Mayne, Kevin Squire and a 15 minute Downing hattrick securing the visitors' biggest league win of the season. Josh Key played the full 90 minutes, while Smallcombe was subbed off in the 63rd minute.
Tuesday, March 20 | Bideford 3-3 Mangotsfield United
The Robins were back in action on Tuesday night as, not for the first time this season, they came back from behind to secure a result against mid-table Mangotsfield. Seymour returned to the starting XI alongside Key, while Smallcombe dropped to the bench.
Despite starting on the back foot, the hosts took the lead on 26 minutes when Seymour shifted the ball to Craig Allan, who smashed into the back of the net from 12 yards. Mangotsfield should have levelled just five minutes later, but Kane Simpson completely missed the ball when presented with an empty net.
Bideford started the second period on top, with Seymour being brought down in the area only for the referee not to give a foul, before Key's cut back to Squire went just behind the foward.
A crazy nine minutes saw the visitors take a 3-1 lead, with Max Smallcombe being brought on straight after Mangotsfield's third on 61 minutes. But it was fellow substitute Ryan Turner's deflected effort the fell into Key's path just a minute later, with the City loanee sliding the ball under the keeper for his fourth goal since joining on loan.
Key continued to cause the visitors problems and was dragged back when through on goal, but the referee only booked the offender and Seymour's subsequent free kick was hit straight at the wall. With 10 minutes to go Seymour took a high boot to the face inside the box for a stonewall penalty, which he duly converted for his 18th league goal of the season.
Turner did see a late curling effort sail past the upright, but the Robins couldn't find a winner that would have put them level on points with the play offs.
Wednesday, March 21 | Wolves U23s 1-1 Exeter City U23s (Wolves win 3-1 on penalties)
Seymour and Key were both on the bench, with Seymour coming on in the final minute of extra time, seeing his effort saved in the penalty shootout.
Stats*:
Max Smallcombe:
- League: 7 appearances, 6 starts, 518 minutes.
- FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 243 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist.
Last game:
20/3/2018, Bideford 3-3 Mangotsfield Town, played the final 29 minutes.
Ben Seymour:
- League: 21 appearances, 20 starts, 1,663 minutes, 18 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:
20/3/2018, Bideford 3-3 Mangotsfield Town, played the full 90 minutes, got an assist and scored a penalty.
Josh Key:
- League: 6 appearances, 6 starts, 540 minutes, 3 goals.
- Devon Bowl: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
20/3/2018, Bideford 3-3 Mangotsfield Town, played the full 90 minutes, scored the second.
*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
Tuesday, March 13 | Paulton Rovers 1-2 Barnstaple Town
Barnstaple were finally back in action last Tuesday and extended their unbeaten run to four games with victory over Paulton Rovers. Both Sam Haynes and Mitch Thomas started.
First half goals from Billy Hopcroft and Niall Heeney lifted Barum out of the bottom two, with both Haynes and Mitchell completing the full 90 minutes.
Saturday, March 17 | Barnstaple Town 0-2 Cirencester Town
Despite their excellent mid-week win over Paulton, Barnstaple were unable to keep their unbeaten run going at the weekend as they fell to their first defeat since early February.
First half goals from Ben Whitehead and Thomas Anderson gave the visitors the victory, while Mitch Thomas' cross-cum-shot was one of Barum's best efforts in the game. Both he and Haynes were again involved for the full 90 minutes.
Tuesday, March 20 | Barnstaple Town 0-2 Taunton Town
Barnstaple fell to another defeat on Tuesday night against table-topping Taunton Town. The visitors were in control for large parts of the game and took the lead after 18 minutes. Haynes was unable to cut out a cross to the back post which former Grecian youngster Craig Veal volleyed under the 'keeper.
The Peacocks sealed the victory when a downwards header from a corner ricocheted of Haynes and into the far corner of the goal, in what summed up a tough evening for Barum. Mitch Thomas was involved in the hosts' best chance, pulling off a Zidane-esque roulette outside the box before forcing an excellent stop from the home goalkeeper.
Barnstaple now drop back into the bottom two with nine games remaining.
Stats*:
Sam Haynes:
- League: 8 appearances, 8 starts, 720 minutes.
Last game:
20/3/2018, Barnstaple 0-2 Taunton, played the full 90 minutes, scored an own goal.
Mitch Thomas:
- League: 4 appearances, 4 starts, 360 minutes.
Last game:
20/3/2018, Barnstaple 0-2 Taunton, 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.
Joel Randall - Taunton Town - Evo-Stick South West
Saturday, March 17 | Salisbury City 2-2 Taunton Town
Joel Randall missed the Peacocks' top-of-the-table clash at Steve Claridge's Salisbury on Saturday, having picked up an injury with City.
Goals from Shane White and Matt Wright had cancelled out Stuart Green's early opener, but Green's second of the game midway through the second half earned the hosts a point.
Tuesday, March 20 | Barnstaple Town 0-2 Taunton Town
Joel Randall was still absent on Tuesday night as Taunton extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.
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.