Week ending 9th March by Mason Norton

The Everards Brewery Premier Division this weekend featured both a top-of-the-table tussle and a bottom-of-the-basement battle. Starting with the top, and leaders Allexton and New Parks travelled to Aylestone Park Reserves, first away to second. Daryl Russell gave ANP the lead in the first half, but Park pegged them back and the League's top scorer Aaron Preston scored his 35th goal of the season after the break to give the hosts a share of the points in a 1-1 draw. 


That gave Desford & Caterpillar the chance to go into second place and cut the gap to Allexton, but instead, they had to come from behind at Sileby Town after Shaun Smith had given Sileby the lead, Yaro Phillips equalising in the second half, but Desford were unable to build further on that, final score 1-1. Situation at the top is still very much advantage Allexton; despite having dropped five points in their last two games, seven points from their last six games is all that they need to secure the LSL title. Aylestone Park stay second on goal difference alone and only have one game left in the League, so Desford in third with three games in hand look favourites to take the runners-up spot. 


At the bottom, Barrow Town found themselves staring down the barrel at half-time away to Friar Lane & Epworth, after Kyle Avossa gave FLAE the lead. Barrow hung on in there however, and Mohammed Faicel equalised for them in the second period, final score at Knighton Lane East being 1-1, Barrow picking up points for only the second time since New Year. Had Barrow lost, they could have found themselves on the brink of relegation, but as it is, they stay in with chances of survival, nine points adrift of FC Khalsa, with Friar Lane a point above them. 


Khalsa, for their part, lost 3-2 at home to Cottesmore after having taken the lead twice in the first half through Tayo Tucker and Delroy Chikuza, before Craig McJannet and Aaron Ridout cancelled them out each time. The second half was a stalemate until a ball that seemed to be overhit slowed up for Ewan Simmons who beat the dawdling defender and poked it through the keepers legs for what turned out to be the winner. Khalsa hit the post late on as they went in search of the equaliser, but Cotts hung on, and moved into the top 6 for the first time this term.


That was a three-place jump which came at the expense of Sileby, but also Burbage & Huncote and Highfield Rangers. The former hosted Hathern, and after a scoreless first half, Liam Walton gave Hathern the lead before Cam Atkinson equalised for B&H. The game looked like it was going towards a draw before Walton added his second late on to secure Hathern's winner in a 2-1 victory. Rangers came undone 5-2 at Ellistown. The home side raced into a 3-0 lead within 15 minutes thanks to a brace from Tom Vyce, one of his goals coming from the spot, and Hashim Bakar. Seon Shippley pulled one back for Highfield, but Bakar then secured his hat-trick with a goal before the break and another one after it to end the game as a contest, though a late penalty converted by Shaun Richards gave Rangers a late consolation. Hathern stay fourth and Ellistown fifth. 


There was just one other game, which saw AFC North Kilworth win 2-1 at home to Magna 73, Joe Williams and Josh Wright for NK, Dan Jones for Magna, who missed out on the chance to definitely secure their Prem status for next term, though that will be assured anyway if Barrow drop any more points this season.  


Looking likelier than ever to be going in the opposite direction and joining the Premier is Anstey Town, who put Dunton & Broughton United to the sword on Saturday in the only game to be played in Everards Brewery Division One, running out 6-2 winners, Joe Harris (2), Jordan Small (2), Josh O'Brien and sub Dan Page scoring for Anstey, Callum Briers and Louis Patrick providing second half consolations for DBU. A win for Anstey next week at Birstall United Reserves will be enough to secure a top 3 finish, and two wins from their last four games enough to win the title. 


The other game scheduled for Div1 was postponed, after Kirby Muxloe Reserves were unable to field a side at Sutton Bonington. That will be referred to the League's Management Committee, but should they decide to follow the precedents of earlier this season and award Sutton a walkover, then Barrow Town Reserves could be relegated next Saturday if they lose at home to Holwell Reserves and Sutton win at home to Dunton & Broughton. 


Next week sees the return of League action in Everards Brewery Division Two, and a title decider at Holywell Park, as Loughborough Students Development welcome St Patricks. We'll be covering the best of the action then- see you next week.