by Robert Butler
Friday January 5th, 2012
14:27
NIGEL ADKINS’ survival seeking Saints climbed out of the
bottom-three with a hard-fought draw against Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium. Gaston
Ramirez’s strike had given the hosts a shock lead before Guly’s own goal five
minutes before half time wiped out the advantage.
In League One Bournemouth’s renaissance under Eddie Howe
continued as the Cherries moved to 16 unbeaten. The Goldsand side sit on the
cusp of the play-off places following their goalless draw at Brentford.
At the County Ground penniless Portsmouth held off Swindon
for over an hour but eventually the floodgates opened. Substitute James Collins
netted four as the rampant Robins ran out 5-0 winners.
Another side at the wrong end of the table is Aldershot, in
League Two, but unlike Pompey the Shots are beginning to find form. Dean Holdsworth’s
men snatched a 1-0 win away at fellow strugglers Barnet, and have now lost just
one of their previous six.
A seven goal second half at The Camrose saw Delano Sam-Yorke
score four and Basingstoke thrash Farnborough 6-2. Alan Inns had given the
visitors a first-half lead before their capitulation.
Richard Hill’s Eastleigh were also involved in an eight goal
thriller, away at league-leaders Salisbury. The Spitfires managed to haul back
a 3-1 deficit to go in to the break level but the table-toppers showed their
worth, going on to win 5-3.
Elsewhere in the Blue Square South late goals from Sahr
Kabba and Dan Strugnell were not enough for Havant & Waterlooville as they
went down 3-2 to Eastbourne at Westleigh Park.
Honours were even in the Evo-Stik Premier’s Hampshire derby
at The Recreation Ground. The Bash opened the scoring in the first half before
the prolific Justin Bennett levelled with six minutes to go.
Perhaps the result of the week belongs to Steve Riley’s
Totton. His men, who were without a win in three, stunned top-of-the-table Hemel
Hempstead with a 2-0 win at Testwood.
In Division One Central Fleet were also at home to a top of
the table team but they could not match the Stags’ win. Craig Davis’ men fell
behind on the stroke of half time before Godalming scored two more to win the
match 3-0.
The only New Years fixture in the Sydenhams Football League
saw Blackfield & Langley beat Fawley AFC 3-0.
