Toolstation League: Keynsham's artificial pitch to the rescue

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE

Keynsham's artificial pitch prevented all the action in Division One being frozen out as the hosts drew 2-2 with Almondsbury UWE.

Steve Machin put the home side into an eighth-minute lead when he latched onto Rob Sheriton's pass to lob goalkeeper Chris Coles.

The visitors were behind for only six minutes, though, Danny Lane beating Lionel Fear with a free-kick after Russ Church had been fouled.

Fear then saved from Church and Wayne Pearce, while Scott Brain struck the bar at the other end.

However, two minutes before half-time, Almondsbury went 2-1 up, Lane scoring his second after being set-up by the lively Church, who almost added a third straight afterwards.

Keynsham equalised immediately after the break, Brain nodding in after Coles could only parry Jake Coggins' header from a corner.

The closest either side came to winning the game was 20 minutes from time when the hosts' Marcus Sharrad struck the post and Connor Kingdon hit the rebound over the bar.

The point was enough to lift Keynsham up one place to sixth, 11 points behind leaders Gillingham.

Should the weather improve, Cadbury Heath could go top of the table if they take a point from their home game with fourth-placed Calne on Wednesday night.

Keynsham are scheduled to be back in action at Portishead on Tuesday, while Welton entertain Almondsbury the same evening.

Two of the seven Premier Division fixtures beat the weather, both in Devon, with games going ahead at Barnstaple and Willand.

Second-placed Willand could have returned to the top of the table with victory over Wells, but it was the visitors that triumphed 2-1.

Jamie Howson fired Wells into a tenth-minute lead with a shot on the turn.

Danny Jee struck the Wells crossbar before half-time and Willand improved after the break as Darren Hawkings, Danny Bailey and Dean Stamp all went close.

Twenty minutes from time, though, Jake Brown found the net with a cross from the right to put Wells two goals up.

Perry Carpenter pulled a goal back with three minutes remaining, but it was not enough to save the home side.

Willand remain two points behind Bitton and have now played a game more, while Larkhall, Bishop Sutton, Merthyr and Hallen all remain in title contention.

Bitton could extend their lead to five points with victory over Brislington on Wednesday, while Merthyr go to Corsham the same evening.

At Barnstaple, the hosts ran out 3-0 winners against fellow-strugglers Bridport after a dominant display.

Connor Clifford, Billy Tucker and Kyle Bassett got the goals.

Larkhall's FA Vase tie at Herne Bay and Shortwood's game at home to Ashington were both postponed