Saturday's Premier Division review

By David Watters

Newly-promoted Banbury United and Leamington both continued their great starts to the new EVO-STIK League Southern's Premier Division season on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The Puritans won 4-0 at home against King`s Lynn Town while the Brakes edged out Hayes & Yeading United at their new stadium to make it three wins from three matches.

Four first half goals put Banbury on the way to a comfortable win over their Norfolk visitors. Mark Bell opened the scoring after just three minutes.

That was followed by a Felipe Barcelos strike on 12 minutes to make it 2-0 before Duran Martin scored the third just after the quarter-hour mark. Barcelos scored his second of the afternoon and United's fourth a minute before the break.

Jack Edwards scored the goal at the SKYex Community Stadium after six minutes that would eventually prove enough for Leamington against Hayes & Yeading.

Merthyr Town and Chippenham Town are the only two other teams yet to taste defeat in the EVO-STIK League Southern's embryonic top flight campaign.

The Martyrs inflicted a first defeat on Dunstable Town with a 4-3 Penydarren Park success.

Kayne McLaggon gave the home side a 12th minute lead that the Duns turned round through Shane Bush on 29 minutes and Danny Talbot nine minutes later.

Ryan Prosser eventually equalised on 69 minutes, only for Alex Cathline to seemingly win it for the visitors five minutes later. However, strikes from Scott Barrow and Jarrad Wright in the final seconds turned the game in the Martyrs favour.

Chippenham won 3-1 at St Ives against Cambridge City, Andy Sandell putting the Bluebirds ahead after 14 minutes.

Alex Ferguson doubled the visitors` advantage seven minutes after half-time and his second four minutes later virtually assured victory before Charlie Woolfe`s 71st minute consolation for City.

Frome Town and Redditch United both suffered their first defeats of the new season on Saturday.

The Somerset side were beaten by the odd goal in five at St Neots Town, whose Declan Rogers gave them a first-minute lead.

Harry Davies pulled Frome back on terms from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark but Peter Clark restored the Saints` lead with eight minutes to go. Jake Jackson looked as though he`d earned a point for the visitors with a goal as stoppage time arrived, only for Rogers to pop up with a last-gasp winner for the hosts.

Darren Byfield suffered his first defeat as Redditch manager, losing 1-0 at the Bob Lucas Stadium against Weymouth after the Terras snatched victory with an injury-time Charlie Davis goal.

Slough Town`s first visit to newly-promoted Kings Langley ended in victory by the odd goal in five.

Lewis Toomey`s brace in the 14th and 27th minutes had the home side in command. But the Rebels were level by half-time, courtesy of Simon Dunn after 32 minutes and James Dobson three minutes later. And Callum Mooney won it for the visitors with seven minutes to go.

St Ives Town won for the first time since coming up, beating fellow promotees Cinderford Town, thanks to a 27th minute Ben Seymour-Shove effort.

Cirencester Town were also celebrating a first win in 2016-17 as Ben Brown`s goal on the hour-mark sealed victory against Biggleswade Town at the Corinium Stadium.

Kettering Town were held in a goalless encounter at Latimer Park by Hitchin Town while Stratford Town drew 1-1 at home to relegated Basingstoke Town.

Guy Clark gave Stratford a 15th minute lead that George Hallahan cancelled out for `Stoke 10 minutes into the second half.

Where next?

Saturday's Central Division review Chalfont St Peter are the only team in the EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central with a 100 per cent record after Saturday`s round of matches, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.
Sporting challenge for thirsty fans! A sporting community day on Sunday at the home of the EVO-STIK League Southern's Canaries will see the running of the first ever Hitchin Beer Mile and Milk Mile.

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