Around the League in the New Year’s Day Matches
Ok so our 4 game Christmas & New Year record ended as
PLD 4 WON 1 DRAWN 1 LOST 2 = 4 of 12pts
But really that did not reflect how well we played over those games. A fairer record would have been
PLD 4 WON 3 DRAWN 1 LOST 0 = 10 of 12 pts.
However, when you down the bottom results don’t always go your way and they certainly didn’t for us.
We are now firmly in the relegation battle, unless we pull out 3 league wins this month. Results against Chesham Utd which are now both scheduled for this month, are critical for our survival. This won’t be easy as they have steadily improved in November & December and took all 3pts again on New Years Day as they got a very late winner at Hendon FC.
There has been an awful lot on the forum in the past 48hrs with regards to our team needs. Quite simply in my view we need a tall pacy defender, preferably a centre-back in the Guri Demuria role.
Kuhly, knows that our next three games are huge, with league matches at Hartley Wintney and a big home game against Chesham Utd massive for our league position, with the final game against Hartley Wintney in the League Cup in 5 day’s time.
Yet again a Bank Holiday brought out fans to games in larger than normal crowds for some teams.
Top of the table Taunton Town were taken apart at Merthyr Town 3-1, with Taunton’s goal a mere consolation on 81 mins. Owain Jones (not of Gavin & Stacey fame), grabbed a brace and Ian Traylor added the other. With other results, this still gives them a 6-point lead at the top.
Second placed Weymouth failed to take full advantage as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against nearby Poole Town. Striker Brandon Goodship again got the scoresheet for Weymouth who led twice in the game in front of another 1,270 fans.
Third placed Salisbury eked out 1-0 win at home against lowly Frome Town, scoring the only goal on 39 mins by Christopher Shephard.
Harrow Borough stayed in 4th place as they thumped Staines Town 1-5 at Wheatsheaf Park. Staines actually took the lead, but then after a lot of confusion had the goal disallowed. This prompted Harrow to then put three past Staines by halftime then add two more with Staines only reply on 74 mins. Harrow Borough are now the second highest scorers with 58 goals, behind league leaders Taunton with 59.
At the bottom, I have already covered the bottom three teams, with us sitting just above them. We dropped those two places to 19th after, Dorchester Town got a late winner in a 2-3 road win at Tiverton Town. Benjamin Seymour bagged a first half brace in between a brace by Levi Landricombe before Aaron Rodriguez got the winner on 84 mins to send then into 18th. Above them on 27 pts is Wimborne Town who nearly threw away a 3-0 lead as Gosport Borough pulled back two goals back with 15 mins to go.
This leaves us with the two remaining New Year’s Day matches as Kings Langley won again as they held on to a 5th minute Louis Collier goal to beat Walton Casuals at home. They now sit in 8th place and are now just 6pts behind the playoff places. The other match saw our hosts this Saturday Hartley Wintney who were held to a 2-2 draw against the improving Swindon Supermarine.
Then last night the final match-up up in the New Year games was played as the Metropolitan Police continued on their impressive form with a 3-1 win at home to Beaconsfield Town. This pushed the ‘Old Bill’ back into a play-off place in 5th place.
Points of Note
Hendon FC who were sitting in the playoff places two months ago, have now lost 8 of their last 9 league games, and like Staines Town, are a team that everyone wants to meet. Even Basingstoke on it’s current form were able to pick up a win against them.
Leading League Goals Scorers
All the leading goals scorers added to their tallies yesterday and this leaves the table looking like this;
Brandon Goodship – Weymouth 18
Ricardo German – Hendon 17
Andrew Neal – Taunton Town 14
Conor McDonagh – Swindon Supermarine 14
Ryan Penney – Gosport Borough 12
Brendan Matthew – Beaconsfield Town 12
Ian Traylor – Merthyr 12
Jack Mazzone – Met Police 12
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