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Title Is All On The Final Week (by Steve Whitney, Non League Pitchero)

Title Is All On The Final Week (by Steve Whitney, Non League Pitchero)

Steve Rogers21 Apr 2015 - 09:41
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Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division leaders Corby Town earned a crucial 1-0 win at play-off chasing Weymouth on Saturday.

Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division leaders Corby Town earned a crucial 1-0 win at play-off chasing Weymouth on Saturday.

Greg Mills scored the vital goal for the Steelmen in front of 510 at the Wessex Stadium with less than 5 minutes remaining.

Weymouth now need to beat second-placed Poole Town on Tuesday to keep their chances of making the play-offs alive – and do the Steelmen a massive favour at the same time

Poole remain a point behind but with that game in hand after beating inconsistent Chesham United 3-1 at Meadow Park.

Chesham took an early 6th minute lead through Dave Pearce, but the turning point in the match arrived in the 34th minute when Chesham`s George Fenton was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Poole striker Richard Gillespie and Steve Devlin punished the hosts fully by firing home the resulting free-kick.

Gillespie made it 2-1 a minute before the break and Devlin confirmed victory with another free-kick on 66 minutes.

Third-placed Truro City still had an outside chance of taking the top prize if the top had lost, but they are assured of third spot after beating Arlesey Town 3-1 at Treyew Road – a result that sent the Bedfordshire side down.

It was a poor first half for the White Tigers and they went in a goal down after Shane Krac gave Arlesey the lead in stoppage time.

But a wake-up call at the break saw Truro perform much better in the second half, and the 516 crowd saw Matt Wright equalise 11 minutes in, substitute Cody Cooke give them the lead 10 minutes later and Ed Palmer`s free-kick make it game over a minute from time.

Hungerford Town are fourth and virtually assured themselves a top five spot after a last-gasp draw at the Corinium Stadium against Cirencester Town.

The home side took a 25th minute lead through Ian Herring and they could have increased that before a crucial moment came midway through the second half when they had Jacob Davidge dismissed for dissent, only for Mark Draycott to miss the resulting spot-kick.

But sub Isaac Osei-Tutu rescued the Crusaders with a close range equaliser in injury-time.

St Neots Town, Redditch United and Weymouth go into the final week of the season still harbouring hopes of making the play-offs.

The Saints currently occupy fifth spot and should they win against Frome Town next week, should take their place in the semi-finals as they have a far superior goal difference to Weymouth.

However, Redditch`s goal difference is better than the Saints, so although a point will be enough to keep the Reds at bay, anything less will give them a chance.

Saturday saw a 514 crowd at Rowley Park as St Neots saw off Chippenham Town 3-0 with goals from Lee Clarke a minute before half-time, Drew Roberts just before the hour-mark and then sub Luis Vieira 2 minutes from time.

Redditch kept in touch with a 1-0 Valley Stadium triumph over Biggleswade Town, courtesy of a 39th minute George Carline goal.

Results elsewhere meant, despite defeat, the Waders stay up.

At the opposite end of the table, Banbury United's chances of avoiding relegation still alive after convincing 4-0 win over Histon.

Banbury go into Tuesday's home game against Slough Town knowing that victory will take their relegation battle to the wire on the last day of the season at Chesham next Saturday.

With Frome drawing at Slough on Saturday – Chris Henry giving the Rebels a 36th minute lead that Jack Vallis cancelled out with a free-kick 19 minutes from time - they are six points ahead of United. However, Frome have just one game remaining whilst the Puritans have two, thus wins for Banbury in both their games and a defeat for Frome at home to play-off chasing St Neots next Saturday will see both sides finishing level on points.

Whilst Frome's goal difference is currently better by four goals, it will only need for Banbury to win one of their two games by more than a one goal margin or Frome to lose their game by more than a one goal margin to turn it around as United have scored more goals.

In Saturday's game, Kynan Isaac put United ahead in the 19th minute. Leam Howards made it 2-0 on the hour-mark before he got his second after 83 minutes.

Four minutes later Carl Tappin got on the scoresheet to make it 4-0.

Already-relegated Burnham lost 4-0 at Top Field against a Hitchin Town side who can now go on holiday as this was their final league game of the season.

David Corran broke the deadlock to give the Canaries a 56th minute lead that Callum Donnelly doubled 9 minutes later.

A brace from Lucas Fitzpatrick in the 71st and 73rd minutes completed the scoring.

Andrew Phillips scored the only goal to give Cambridge City a 1-0 win in their final game at their temporary Glassworld Stadium home against Bideford, while Dorchester Town won 2-1 at Paulton Rovers, courtesy of goals from Sam Lanahan after 2 minutes and then Bradley Tarbuck on 88 minutes – Rovers` replying in the first minute of time added on through Sam Teale.

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