Exiled Grecian's report covers matches that took place from Saturday March 24 to Wednesday, March 28.
Alex Hartridge - Truro City - Vanarama League South
Saturday, March 24 | Eastbourne Borough 1-3 Truro City
Hartridge was again absent as Truro extended their winning run to four games on Saturday. Yemi Odubade, who some City fans may remember from the play off games against Oxford, had given the hosts the lead, but goals from Tom Owen-Evans, Jamie Richards and Cody Cooke gave the White Tigers the three points.
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 24 | Hemel Hempstead 3-1 Gloucester City
Gloucester fell to their first defeat in four games on Saturday at the hands of Hemel Hempstead. Hamon had kept the visitors in the game with a couple of smart saves early on.
Gloucester rallied as a result and deservedly took the lead when Ed Williams showed great technique to dribble past two defenders before wrongfooting the keeper and slotting in his ninth goal of the campaign.
The second half started much like the first ended, with Gloucester on top and creating chances. But sloppy defending from a set piece allowed David Moyo to hammer home at Hamon's near post completely unmarked in the area.
A superb curling free-kick by Jordan Parkes won the game for the hosts with just over ten minutes left to play, curling beyond the wall with Hamon unable to get a strong enough hand on the ball. The Channel Islander did pull off an excellent one-on-one save as the hosts pressed for a third, but there was little he could do when Karl Oliyide was squared the ball for an easy tap in in the final minute of the game.
Stats:
- League: 11 appearances, 11 starts, 990 minutes, 4 clean sheets, 14 conceded.
- Gloucestershire FA Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 clean sheet.
Last game:
24/3/2018, Hemel Hempstead 3-1 Gloucester, played the full 90 minutes.
Archie Collins - Dorchester Town - Evo-Stick South Premier
Saturday, March 24 | Dorchester Town 1-0 Royston Town
Dorchester came away with a hard-fought victory over play-off chasing Royston Town on Saturday, courtesy of a late Aaron Rodriguez strike.
Collins started for the Magpies and was involved in most of their good play, from defensive blocks to setting up his team mates and having chances of his own. The City loanee had a number of shots either saved or cleared off the line as Dorchester put the high-flying visitors to the sword.
At the other end, keeper Chris Weale was kept busy by the Royston attackers. The visitors were looking to keep their slim play off hopes alive with a win at the Avenue Stadium, but Rodriguez's late strike leaves them seven points adrift, having played more games than 6th placed Slough.
For the hosts it was a first win in five league games and put them 11 points clear of 21st placed Kings Langley.
Tuesday, March 27 | Kettering Town 4-3 Dorchester Town
The Magpies suffered a cruel defeat at the hands of fourth placed Kettering Town on Tuesday night in what the match report described as a 'barnstorming clash'.
Dorchester took the lead just two minutes into the game when Ash Pope finished from a tight angle against a side who had conceded just eight home goals all season prior to this evening's clash.
Both sides created chances in an even first half and, with Dorchester being reduced to ten men, the hosts levelled the game on 44 minutes through Brett Solkhon before completing a rapid turnaround in stoppage time thanks to Aaron O'Connor's first of the night.
The Poppies continued to apply the pressure early in the second half but it was the Magpies that took the lead again against the run of play. Five minutes separated Egan's leveller and Billy Lowe's one-on-one finish, but the game was yet to take a final dramatic turn.
Rodriguez netted his second with 15 minutes to go when he was first to pounce on a loose ball from Rene Howe's saved effort, before completing his hattrick late on when he swept home Wilson Carvalho's cross in what the club's own Twitter account described as a 'burglary'.
89’ BURGLARY IN PROGRESS AT LATIMER PARK. Carvalho breaks on the right. Squares it and who else but O’Connor scores. Tremendous scenes here. We somewhat fortunately take the lead.
— KTFC Official (@KTFCOfficial) March 27, 2018
Collins had an uncharacteristically quiet game, but completed the full 90 minutes for the Dorset outfit on his 14th outing for the club.
Stats*:
- League: 14 appearances, 10 starts, 981 minutes, 2 goals.
Last 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
Saturday, March 24 | Bideford 2-2 Salisbury City
Bideford held Steve Claridge's high-flying Salisbury to a respectable draw on Saturday. It was the sides first encounter since the referee abandoned their game after 43 minutes back in December (the rearranged fixture for that match is due to take place on April 24).
Salisbury were leading 3-0 when the referee called time in December and they eventually took the lead on Saturday after Daniel Young was on hand to capitalise on a defensive mistake on the half hour mark.
Despite the visitor's dominance the Robins had still created chances, with Josh Key seeing an effort blocked and James Mayne heading wide from a corner. That pressure told on the stroke of half time, when Mayne was brought down in the area following a Matt Bye free kick. Up stepped Ben Seymour to level the scores with his 19th league goal since joining Bideford.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with the hosts conjuring sporadic chances, Seymour with their best when he shot over from outside the area; in large spells of Salisbury dominance. The visitors eventually retook the lead when, after a soft free kick was given their way on the edge of the area, Lewis Benson curled in an excellent shot beyond the reach of Steve Oliver.
Bideford began pushing men forward, creating a number of chances but leaving themselves exposed at the back. It required a superb stop from Oliver to deny Young when one-on-one to keep the Robins in the game. The save turned out to be a crucial one as, in the 94th minute, Ryan Turner turned in an Ian Sampson cross to salvage a vital point in his side's play off hunt.
All three of City's loanees started the game, with Smallcombe being replaced by goalscorer Turner on 70 minutes.
Tuesday, March 27 | Bristol Manor Farm 1-0 Bideford
The Robins' five game unbeaten run came to an end in a crucial game in the chase for the play offs on Tuesday evening. Seymour and Key started for the visitors, with Smallcombe dropping to the bench. Former Grecian Dean Stamp featured in Bristol Manor Farm's starting XI.
It was the hosts who dominated the first half, creating a number of chances whilst Bideford were frustrated throughout. The pressure was finally rewarded when Steve Kingdon gave Bristol Manor Farm the lead just before half time.
Despite Bideford rallying in the second half they couldn't find a way past a resolute home defence. A bad evening could have got even worse for the visitors when Ben Carter was taken to hospital with a suspected neck injury. Fortunately for the Robins player, it seems to be a far less serious muscle tear in his shoulder.
Seymour was replaced by Smallcombe on 49 minutes, though it is not clear whether it was a tactical substitution or whether it was due to an injury. The result leaves the Robins five points adrift of sixth placed Didcot Town with three games in hand.
Stats*:
Max Smallcombe:
- League: 9 appearances, 7 starts, 629 minutes.
- FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 243 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist.
Last game:
27/3/2018, Bristol Manor Farm 1-0 Bideford, played the final 41 minutes.
Ben Seymour:
- League: 23 appearances, 22 starts, 1,802 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:
27/3/2018, Bristol Manor Farm 1-0 Bideford, subbed off after 49 minutes.
Josh Key:
- League: 8 appearances, 8 starts, 720 minutes, 3 goals.
- Devon Bowl: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
27/3/2018, Bristol Manor Farm 1-0 Bideford, 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
Saturday, March 24 | Wimborne Town 5-2 Barnstaple Town
Barnstaple were soundly beaten by fourth placed Wimborne Town on Saturday. Both Sam Haynes and Mitch Thomas started for the North Devon side.
Having lost their previous two games 2-0, Barum found themselves trailing by the very same scorline just 33 minutes into the game, courtesy of a Tobias Holmes brace. The visitors rallied in the second half and were level after just 10 minutes, but further goals from Holmes, Luke Burbidge and Ben Walker consigned the visiting side to a third straight defeat.
Both Haynes and Thomas played the full 90 minutes again, as the duo desperately try to help Barum avoid relegation.
Wednesday, March 28 | Slimbridge - Barnstaple Town
Barnstaple travelled to fellow strugglers Slimbridge last night knowing a win would see them leapfrog their opponents. Haynes and Thomas both started. Full details and stats to follow in next week's report.
Tonight’s teams @SouthernLeague1 pic.twitter.com/a0fWpBBfEz
— Slimbridge AFC (@slimbridgeafc) March 28, 2018
Stats*:
Sam Haynes:
- League: 9 appearances, 9 starts, 810 minutes.
Last game:
24/3/2018, Wimborne Town 5-2 Barnstaple, played the full 90 minutes.
Mitch Thomas:
- League: 5 appearances, 5 starts, 450 minutes.
Last game:
24/3/2018, Wimborne Town 5-2 Barnstaple, 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 24 | Taunton Town 5-2 Larkhall Athletic
Joel Randall was absent through injury as the Peacocks marched on to a record-breaking 25th game without defeat. An even first half ended 1-1, before goals from Dan Sullivan, Les Afful and a Craig Veal brace gave Taunton a 13 point lead at the top of the table.
Tuesday, March 27 | Taunton Town 3-3 Wimborne Town
Eight more points would secure the league title for Taunton going into Tuesday night's game. It looked like that would be cut down to five when Sullivan scored in the 90th minute, but Wimborne salvaged a point in the 95th minute through Billy Maybury's free kick. Randall returned to the bench but was an unused substitute.
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.