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This tweet coming from a Leiston supporter makes me so happy:

Leiston FC Retweeted      

Stephen Barker @Stephen20691436 
As a regular away supprter with @leistonfc I wanted to say what an absolute pleasure it has been visiting @ilkestontown_fc today. Great ground and facilities and even better hospitality. Met with a warm and friendly atmosphere from start to finish. A real credit to the league   
5:41 pm · 13 Aug 2022


 

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Disappointed to drop another two points by conceding late on. Two draws in our opening two games is a steady start but it could easily have been six. After two draws the next result is crucial. A win at Barwell makes it a good start but a defeat makes it a bad start. Leiston proved to be a much better side than I expected and deserved their point. We now really need to win at Barwell tomorrow night to kick start our season.  Judging by the two games so far it’s not going to be easy scoring goals. Both Tamworth and Leiston defended solidly and made it difficult for us to create scoring opportunities, I thought we were unlucky a few times when crosses didn’t quite find one of our forwards. On another occasion they will do. Cracking goals though from Gibson and Goodson.The Leiston No 7 Finlay Barnes was really good and was always willing to take on our defenders.


 

Last edited by Matchman (14/8/2022 6:19 PM)

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DATE: SAT 13 AUG 2022  BY STEVE WHITNEY
Saturday's Premier Division Central Round-Up

Coalville Town and St Ives Town are the only two clubs in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central to have won both of their opening matches of the 2022/23 season.

It was quite some turnaround at the MCSS Stadium as Coalville beat Alvechurch 4-1 after being 1-0 down at the break to a 10th-minute Tyrell Hamilton effort. Seven minutes after the interval, Luke Shaw was fouled in the box and Ashley Chambers equalised from the resulting penalty. And less than 2 minutes later, Shaw put the hosts in front and 10 minutes later made it 3-1, with Tom McGlinchey adding a fourth just 3 minutes after that.

St Ives went nap at Westwood Road against Stratford Town in quite some game! The home side went in front after just 5 minutes after a push was spotted by the referee and Dylan Williams converted from the penalty spot. Six minutes later and the Bards were reduced to ten-men with a straight red card for Jack Storer after an elbowing incident. On 20 minutes, Jonny Edwards doubled the Saints lead and then 3 minutes after half-time, Nabil Shariff made it 3-0.Shariff scored again 9 minutes later, and St Ives were awarded another penalty on 67 minutes but this time Stratford `keeper Liam O’Brien saved Williams` effort. But on 78 minutes, Shariff completed his hat-trick to make it 5-0 and 3 minutes later, the visitors even missed a chance of a consolation when Will Grocutt’s spot-kick was saved by James Goff

.In contrast to St Ives and Coalville, Barwell have now lost both of their opening matches after they were edged out by the odd goal in five at The Eyrie by promoted Bedford Town, who had drawn their first game back at Step 3 level. A crowd of 455 saw Connor Tomlinson give the Eagles a 14th-minute lead that summer signing Tyrone Lewthwaite doubled on the half-hour mark. Max Brogan pulled the Canaries back into the gave just 3 minutes later, and then on 74 minutes, Brady Hickey equalised with a well-worked goal. However, Tomlinson popped up with Bedford’s winner with 10 minutes remaining.

There were also first wins of the new campaign for Kings Langley, Nuneaton Borough, Bromsgrove Sporting and newcomers Basford United.

Kings Langley won 3-2 at the Trico Stadium against a Redditch United side who had won their opener last weekend. A lively game saw Kennedy Feyi give the visitors a 13th-minute lead and an own goal off Kieran Donnelly made it 2-0 on 28 minutes. Kings held that lead until first-half injury-time when firstly Bernard Mensah equalised and then seconds later, Ryan Wollacott headed Redditch level. A draw looked likely until the 88th minute when Ryan Case popped up with the visitors` winner.

Nuneaton also beat a team who had won last weekend, Royston Town, 3-1 at Liberty Way .And they had to come back from being a 29th-minute Danny Newton goal down too. But Camron McWilliams equalised within 3 minutes and just past the hour-mark, Charlie Dowd put Boro in front. Revarnelle James secured the win with a third in stoppage time.

Bromsgrove Sporting lost at home on opening day but sealed three points on their travels with a 1-0 success at Bloomfields against Needham  Market, who drew last weekend.And it looked as though this one was also heading for a point apiece until the 7th minute of time added on at the end of the game when Sporting were awarded a penalty which Dan Sweeney duly converted.

Basford, who lost their first ever Southern League game last Saturday at Royston, won their first home game at Greenwich Avenue against AFC Rushden & Diamonds.The visitors, who drew 0-0 on opening day, broke the deadlock here 4 minutes after half-time through Pat Casey. But non 67 minutes, a tackle on Owen Betts was deemed a penalty and, despite Diamonds` keeper Dean Snedker going the right way, Anthony Dwyer's spot-kick was too well struck. It looked like being a draw until the 89th minute when Tyreace Palmer poked home from close range to win it for the Nottinghamshire side.

Newly promoted Ilkeston Town, made promotion favourites by the bookmakers, are yet to lose, but are also yet to win after a second draw, this time at the Microlise New Manor Ground against a Leiston side who won their opener. A crowd of 668 saw Montel Gibson put the home side in front after 32 minutes with a terrific strike. Finlay Barnes eventually pulled the visitors level on 65 minutes and then Zak Goodson looked to have won it for the Robins when he made it 2-1 in the 89th minute, only for George Quantrell to earn the Suffolk side a point in stoppage time.

Hednesford Town, Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge all picked up their first point of 2022/23 on Saturday.

Hednesford shared a 1-1 draw at newcomers Mickleover, whose experienced Stuart Beavon scored after 10 minutes. But another veteran striker, Leroy Lita, grabbed the visitors a point in the 67th minute.

Rushall shared a goalless draw with Hitchin Town, who had won their opener, at Top Field in front of 419 in what was described as a none-too-thrilling encounter in the heat!

Stourbridge shared a 1-1 draw with fancied Tamworth in front of 522 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground. It was the home side who scored first after just 5 minutes through Jason Cowley. But on 32 minutes, Stourbridge were reduced to ten-men for the second time in two weeks as Alex Moore was shown a straight red card for a late challenge in the middle of the field. Dan Creaney pulled the Lambs level 6 minutes after half-time, but the ten-men managed to hold out for a hard-earned point in the sun.

 

Last edited by Matchman (15/8/2022 6:11 AM)