Linnets Back On Top After Poppies Lose To Last-Gasp Winner

The K clubs swapped places again at the top of the Evo-Stik League South Premier table on Saturday after King`s Lynn Town won at home to Dorchester Town and overnight leaders Kettering Town lost to a last-gasp goal at Basingstoke Town.

At The Walks, a crowd of 646 saw King`s Lynn blow the lowly Magpies away in the first half, thanks to a brace Leon Mettam on 33 and 44 minutes – the second from the penalty spot – after a wonderful strike from skipper Michael Clunan had given them a 28th minute lead.

At the Camrose, Terry Brown`s youthful Basingstoke side took a 2-0 lead against the Poppies, through goals from Sam Smart after 29 minutes and then Callum Bunting on 65 minutes.

It looked as though the title-chasers were heading for a valiant point when they pulled back on level terms with two goals in 2 minutes, starting in the 82nd from Aaron O`Connor and then loanee Matt Stevens.

But in stoppage time, Basingstoke were awarded a free-kick which was sent into the far post by Ben Wright and Bunting headed home to give `Stoke victory at the death.

Lower mid-table Bishop`s Stortford did the top two a favour by holding third-placed Weymouth to a 1-1 draw at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

A frustrating afternoon for the Terras in front of 730 as Calvin Brooks put them in front on the hour-mark, only for Darren Foxley to earn the Blues a point 17 minutes from time.

And fourth-placed Hereford FC earned a last-gasp point at Arbour Park against sixth-placed Slough Town.

The Rebels will be kicking themselves as they led 2-0 with goals in the 45th minute from Chris Flood and 50th minute from recent signing Ben Harris.

In front of a terrific crowd of 1,561, the Bulls eventually scored what was surely a consolation from Jamie Oates from just outside the area in the 3rd minute of stoppage time at the end of the game.

But amazingly, in the 96th minute, Keyon Reffell levelled it up for Hereford.

And to make it a good day for King`s Lynn all round, fifth-placed Tiverton Town were also beaten, 2-1 at Ladysmead by mid-table Chesham United.

The Generals led when Adam Watkins scored right on the stroke of half-time.

Tom Bath pulled Tivvy level just past the hour-mark, but 5 minutes later, Shane Bush restored Chesham`s lead – a lead they held.

Tiverton now face a `six-pointer` against Kettering on Tuesday.

Hitchin Town also missed an opportunity to close the gap on the top five when they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Banbury United and are now seventh.

Jack Self broke the deadlock to give the Puritans the lead 2 minutes into the second half, and they had to hold on for the final 20 minutes or so after Leam Howards was sent-off for a foul on Ben Walster.

Tim Harris enjoyed a good afternoon as his new Redditch United side demolished a Farnborough side who seem to either win well, or lose heavily!

It was an especially good day for experienced striker Stuart Fleetwood, who helped himself to four goals in 17 minutes from the 43rd to the 60th minutes.

Josh Higgins had actually given Boro an early 9th minute lead that Adam Page cancelled out 2 minutes later.

Marcel Simpson made it 2-1 on the half-hour mark and, after Fleetwood`s four, Lewis Wright added a seventh in the 80th minute.

Royston Town weren`t far behind the Reds, beating bottom-markers Gosport Borough 5-0 at Garden Walk.

Sam Corcoran after 32 minutes and Adam Marriott 2 minutes later gave the Crows a good start which John Frendo continued with a third 5 minutes before the break.

Nine minutes after it, Frendo added his second and Royston`s fourth, with Marriott wrapping things up with a penalty 2 minutes into time added on.

There was a big win for St Ives Town at fellow strugglers Kings Langley.

The Saints won 3-0 to move above their hosts into fourth-bottom spot.

Ollie Snaith broke the deadlock 9 minutes into the second half, and Tom Knowles added a second for the visitors in the 65th minute.

Peter Clark`s third came just 2 minutes later.

Frome Town also won away, 2-0 at Langford Road against Biggleswade Town.

Marcus Mapstone gave the Somerset outfit the lead a minute before the break.

Two minutes after it, Ollie Knight doubled the visitors` lead, with Tony Burnett pulling one back for the Waders 15 minutes from time.

Just up the A1, St Neots Town and Stratford Town shared a 2-2 draw in which the visitors took a 15th minute lead through Ed Ahenkorah.

Dylan Williams levelled 12 minutes later, only for Ben Stephens to restore Stratford`s lead 5 minutes later.

Nabil Shariff eventually earned the Saints a point with an 86th minute equaliser

Source Pitchero Non League / Steve Wintney