Saturday's South & West action review

By David Watters

Hereford FC`s march towards the EVO-STIK League Southern's Division One South & West title continued on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win at Slimbridge, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The Bulls had Mike Symons on target after 36 minutes and then added a second from top scorer John Mills nine minutes into the second half. Tristan Plummer rounded things off with a third on the hour-mark to see the Bulls extend their already massive lead at the top to an amazing twenty-one points after second-placed Evesham United were held to a 1-1 draw at Yate Town.

A Michael Baker own goal eight minutes from time looked to have inadvertently won it for United but Jake Slocombe grabbed a point for Yate four minutes later.

Third-placed Tiverton Town moved level on points with Evesham after beating second-bottom neighbours Bridgwater Town 2-0 at Ladysmead with goals from Levin Ladricombe after 11 and 46 minutes.

Steve Claridge`s Salisbury FC moved into fourth after former Gosport Borough favourite Justin Bennett`s 35th minute effort eventually proved enough at Didcot Town.

The Whites moved above Swindon Supermarine, who dropped to fifth after losing 4-2 at home to Bishops Cleeve.

Jack Horrell had Cleeve ahead after 17 minutes, only for Ryan Campbell to level after 34 minutes. Three minutes later, Joe Bates restored Cleeve`s lead and Jacob Davidge stretched it to 3-1 just before the break.

Callum Parsons pulled one back for `Marine five minutes from time, meaning the next goal was crucial, if there was to be one – and Cleeve got it through Bates`s second of the game in the 88th minute.

Mangotsfield United are a point behind `Marine after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Barnstaple Town, whose Craig Allan gave them a 12th minute lead, Matty Groves earning the Mangos a point with a 27th minute leveller.

Taunton Town in seventh have games in hand on those above them but could have done without a 2-1 defeat at Paulton Rovers, where Ryan Radford after 50 minutes and Kallan Gould 12 minutes from time outgunned Matt Wright`s stoppage time reply.

The bottom two, Bridgwater Town and Wantage Town, are both eleven points behind third-bottom AFC Totton – all three losing on Saturday.

Wantage lost 3-0 at Winchester City, whose Craig Feeney bagged a brace, sandwiched by Stuart Green, while the Stags lost by the same scoreline at Wimborne Town, where Toby Holmes and Carl Preston`s first half efforts were added to by Jack Lovell immediately after the break.

Bideford beat hosts Larkhall Athletic 1-0, thanks to a 65th minute Sean Downing goal, in the day`s other game.

Follow the EVO-STIK League Southern on Twitter at @SouthernLeague1

Where next?

First performance kings crowned! Promotion-hunters Hitchin Town, Taunton Town and Royston Town are the EVO-STIK League Southern's first Team of the Month Award winners of 2017!
Digging deep for Jamie down under! A team of Australian footballers raised more than $7,000 Aussie dollars on Saturday for former Frome Town player Jamie Mines who lost a leg and both hands after a workplace accident.

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