Party Time At Taunton – Salisbury Are Promoted

It was party time at the Viridor Stadium on Saturday where Taunton Town were presented with the Evo-Stik League South West trophy after their home game against Bristol Manor Farm, who are chasing a play-off spot.

A crowd of 638 saw the Peacocks win 2-1 and kill off any slim hope that Manor Farm had of finishing second.

Matt Buse gave the champions a 34th minute lead that Troy Simpson cancelled out after 67 minutes.

But a Dan Sullivan second with 15 minutes remaining gave Taunton their 29th win of the season, their 32nd game unbeaten and are on course to score 100 goals and gain 100 points – quite some season!

And Salisbury FC will go up alongside the Peacocks after they beat another of the play-off chasers, Didcot Town, while both Manor Farm and Wimborne Town dropped points.

A crowd of 759 at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium saw Stuart Green put the Whites in the lead after 18 minutes.

Felipe Barcelos, whyo has proved to be a shrewd signing, equalised for Diddy on 27 minutes.

But Steve Claridge`s side sealed victory and automatic promotion with a penalty 12 minutes from time converted by George Colson.

Wimborne shared a 1-1 draw with AFC Totton at Testwood Stadium – a result that suited neither.

Matt Oldring put the visiting Magpies in front after 24 minutes, and although Callum Chugg equalised just 3 minutes from time, the Stags couldn`t find a winner that would have given them an outside chance of sneaking into the top six next weekend.

It`s now four from six for the play-off places, with Evesham United now in third spot, and Swindon Supermarine joining Manor Farm and Wimborne in trying to hold-off Cirencester Town and Bideford AFC, who currently sit seventh and eighth respectively.

Evesham have one game left to reach 76 points which will be enough and they reached 73, thanks to a 2-0 win at Cossham Street against Mangotsfield United, courtesy of goals from Adam Mann and the on-loan Ollie Mehew just before half-time.

Supermarine all-but condemned Bishops Cleeve to the drop after a 5-0 hammering at Kayte Lane.

Ryan Campbell helped himself to a hat-trick in the 8th, 30th and 76th minutes, with Brad Hooper after 15 minutes and Bradley Gray in stoppage time adding the others.

However, `Marine are the most vulnerable as they currently sit on 71 points and have only one game left – and that against second-bottom Barnstaple Town.

Cirencester maintained their top six hopes with a best-of-five win at the Corinium Stadium against Kidlington.

Ciren fell behind as early as the 4th minute to a Declan Benjamin effort, but were level through Alexandru Albert on 32 minutes.

Duran Martin restored the Oxfordshire side`s lead 6 minutes into the second half, but Ben Whitehead on 68 minutes and Aidan Bennett 9 minutes later, sealed Ciren`s win to leave them on 67 points with two games remaining.

Bideford are on 66 points but have three games to go and play Tuesday and Thursday in the week.

They could have been in an even better position had they not suffered a surprise 4-3 defeat at lowly Slimbridge, who were hammered 9-0 by Cinderford Town in midweek.

After falling behind to a 15th minute Ben Seymour spot-kick, the Swans raced into a 2-1 lead through Sam Turl and Marley Thomas by the 48th minute.

Kevin Squire equalised on the hour-mark, but Dean Turner on 72 minutes and Henry Birkett 8 minutes later saw Slimbridge lead 4-2.

An Adam Thomas own goal a minute later gave Biddy hope, but they couldn`t find a leveller.

Barnstaple require a point to be sure of staying up but will have to look at their last two games to get them, unless Bishops Cleeve drop points in either of their final games, after Barum lost 3-1 at home to Shortwood United.

Nick Humphreys gave the visitors a 11th minute lead they held for only 3 minutes as Billy Hopcroft levelled.

Sam Taylor restored United`s lead on 27 minutes and then a goal a minute into stoppage time at the end of the game sealed Shortwood`s win.

Elsewhere on Saturday, a Dan MacDonald goal just before half-time gave Cinderford Town victory at Larkhall Athletic, while Jack Ball and Joe Guest scored second half goals to seal Paulton Rovers` home win over Yate Town.

And goals in either half from Rob Carr and Ollie Bailey saw Winchester City win at home against North Leigh.

Pitchero Non League