Green Lions climb to the edge of safety, Hall go eighth, whilst Sports and Rovers share the spoils in a six goal thriller

Our Wednesday night South Central focus centred on the bottom end of the table, and it was advantage Guernsey as the Green Lions continued their fine recent home form to make it four home wins from five matches. The visitors, Hanworth Villa, saw unavailability force them to make five changes from the side which defeated Merstham on Saturday, and it showed as they fell three goals behind in the first thirty five minutes.

Matt Loaring opened the scoring for the hosts on two minutes, assisted by Ross Allen- and the second goal followed just after the half hour, Jacob Fallaize rising highest to head home. Three minutes later we had a third goal, Sam Murray finding the top corner from thirty five yards. At this point the Villains decided enough was enough, and Tom Bender scored a stunner to get them back into the game, but that was that- a win which delighted most of the seven hundred and thirty seven watching on and lifted the Green Lions to within a point of safety. Image from Andy Dovey- more here.

Our thoughts go out to the Villa players who were roused from their beds at 5AM this morning to return home- and to the poor unfortunate who had to be up even earlier to wake them up. Proper commitment!

Bedfont Sports are the side one point above Guernsey, but they will perhaps believe the gap should be larger after Sutton Common Rovers responded three times to take a point at the end of the runway. Sports went ahead as early as the sixth minute, Sam Evans returning to the fray and scoring his thirteenth goal of the season. Five minutes before half time an own goal gave Rovers parity, but within five minutes of the restart Kevat Serbonij had restored home advantage. It was restored for only two minutes before Bertie Lloyd equalised, but with twenty two minutes to go the hosts were awarded a penalty, and Evans made no mistake. That wasn’t the final word, however- eleven minutes from time another spot kick, this one at the other end, saw substitute Nabeel Ghannam earn his side a point.

Rovers remain three points from safety, in eighteenth.

Further up the table, Southall continued their fine campaign by climbing to eighth place with a win over Leatherhead. Michael Bryan got the only goal of the game on forty eight minutes- and once ahead it was unlikely that the hosts would lose. They have only five defeats all season- the same number as leaders Basingstoke Town, and fewer than anyone else in the division. The Tanners remain thirteenth, five points behind their opponents- and are now without a win in three.

In Pitching In Isthmian North, Grays Athletic failed in their attempt to narrow the gap on the top five when they were held to a goalless draw by New Salamis- a reault which leaves them seventh, one place and six points ahead of their visitors and three points behind fifth place Heybridge Swifts, although Athletic do have a game in hand. Athletic are now four games without a win, and perhaps more worryingly haven’t scored in any of them- whilst Salamis are three unbeaten.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.