Rendell keeps Bitton's Toolstation title hopes alive

Goalkeeper John Rendell ensured Bitton took three points from a 2-1 win at Bideford with a series of late saves to deny the home side an equaliser and keep their Toolstation League Premier Division title bid alive.

Bitton now occupy third place, three points behind leaders Dawlish and two points behind Bristol Manor Farm but with five games in hand.

"We didn't play well but ground out a result thanks to late saves from John Rendell and two superb first-half goals," manager Andy Black said.

Bitton went ahead with a superb individual effort from striker Mark Reynolds, who burst from the halfway line before crashing home from 30-yards.

Then on the half-hour a superb pass from Michael Meaker opened up Bideford for skipper Danny Hallett to burst clear and score a rare goal.

Bideford pulled a goal back just before half-time when Mark Andrew broke from halfway to score, but Rendell's saves from Robbie Gough and Ellis Laight in the second half denied them an equaliser.

Table-topping Dawlish crashed to a shock 1-0 home defeat against Corsham Town, with Adam Heath scoring the winner, while second-placed Bristol Manor Farm won 1-0 at Frome Town.

Phil Vice scored the winner, crashing a shot past Frome goalkeeper Richard Fey.

Brislington's poor run of results continued when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Hallen despite having the better of the first half.

The half-time introduction of Ronnie Mowatt and Tony Beacham swung the game Hallen's way and Paul Owen scored the winner when he headed home on the hour mark.

Bishop Sutton continued to edge their way to safety by taking a point from a 1-1 home draw against Devizes Town. Sutton manager Lee Lashenko said: "If we had won half of those games we would be up with the leaders rather than worrying about relegation."

Welton Rovers dominated their home game against struggling Ilfracombe Town but took until the 55th minute to score the only goal of the game through Dean Evans.

In the First Division Oldland Abbotonians took a 2-0 lead in their local derby against visiting Longwell Green Sports but were pegged back to 2-2 before snatching a late winner.

Wayne Pearce headed in a Matt Huxley corner to give Oldland the lead and they added a second on the hour when Pearce's cross was headed in by Tyrone Fudgell, but Longwell Green struck twice in three minutes through the Summers brothers, Andy and Mark, to equalise. However, Huxley headed a late winner for Oldland.

In another local derby, Cadbury Heath were 3-2 home winners over Roman Glass St George. Simon Brown headed Heath infront on 11 minutes, but Chris Astley equalised.

Cadbury Heath regained the lead when Nick Dyer headed home, and Sacha Tong made it 3-1.

Nathan Baird's shot deceived goalkeeper Simon Crawford to make it 3-2 with eight minutes left, but Cadbury Heath held on for a deserved victory.

Portishead took the lead at Westbury United through Mark Mapstone, but a late equaliser from Dan Kovacs meant they had to settle for a draw.

Two goals from Greg Andrews and one from Ryan King gave Clevedon United a 3-1 victory at bottom-of-the-table Odd Down, while Hengrove Athletic won 3-0 at Elmore with goals from Ricky Charlton, Gary Shorley and Ben Crewe.