One-two again at the top

Leaders Hungerford held at Yate while Thatcham romp home and back into the top two

HUNGERFORD and Thatcham are again locked together as the top two in the Evo Stik League Division One South and West.

Hungerford were held to a 1-1 draw at Yate Town but remain clear at the top, while Thatcham closed in by completing an early season double over Bridgwater Town with a 4-0 win at Waterside Park.

It was a comfortable win against a Bridgwater side that was reduced to 10 men inside 20 minutes when Matt Thorne was sent off for a wild challenge on Thatcham midfielder Tom Melledew.

Thatcham were already a goal to the good after Melledew had crossed for Sean Cook to head home after only three minutes. Scott Rees was close to adding a second when he rattled the bar before Thorne dived in over the top on Melledew and was shown a straight red card.

Thatcham had other openings before the interval before Melledew gained his revenge when firing home from 30 yards out early in the second period. James Clark struck number three just after the hour mark and Marc Green punished hesitancy in the visiting defence to complete the tally with 15 minutes to go.

A LAST minute goal denied Hungerford full points as Yate Town followed up their FA Trophy win over the league leaders last week by securing a point.

Hungerford never really hit top form against a Yate side that was clearly up for the task, although they should have gone ahead in the first period when Dean Stow put a clear header well off the mark.

Goalkeeper Josh Dempsey also saved point blank from Luke Hopper, but Yate regularly had Hungerford back-tracking until second half substitute Harry Goodger added some impetus to the visitors. He might have scored himself, and also had a hand in chances for Hopper and Mark Draycott before the latter eventually raced onto a flick to fire past Dempsey with 20 minutes to go.

But deep into stoppage time, Hungerford goalkeeper Stuart Wood and his defenders got into a tangle in meeting Tristan Ferguson' long throw and Tom Warren pounced to curl the loose ball back the empty net for a point-saver.

NEWBURY won 4-1 at Wantage Town Reserves on Wednesday night to reach the third round of the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup.

They will be joined by Lambourn Sports, who beat Woodley Town 3-1, while Hungerford and Thatcham Reserves won 2-1 and 3-0 at Finchampstead and Ashridge Park respectively.