After last week’s promising performance expectations were high in achieving victory in this first round cup game against first division side Hengrove Athletic Reserves. For the first time in a long while the same starting line up was available for selection with Chris Bradley replacing George Martin on the bench.
The first half saw the home side facing a gale force wind which was being used to their advantage by Hengrove with long balls being struck forward and plenty of movement up front placing pressure on the ‘keeper and his defence. In the early stages Matt Hill was called into action on a number of times with the closest chance falling to Mickey Parsons who struck the cross bar. At the other end an Ollie Clements free kick was comfortably gathered by Aaron Greatbanks.
Approaching the half hour Hengrove took the lead when Mitch Purnell latched onto the rebound of a shot from Joe Goddard pushed away by Hill falling in his path. Shortly after Bradley replaced Louis Rouvrais suffering from an ankle injury picked up in the warm up and aggravated by a knock in play. Wrington Redhill were able to hold the score to 1-0 down to the break thanks to a goal line clearance by Leigh White from a corner and the cross bar keeping out a free kick by Jack Burgess.
At the start of the second half inter passes between Rory Thomas and Bradders saw a cross struck wide by Whitey. The wheels fell off any attempt to get back in the game with two goals in quick succession by the visitors. From a free kick Parsons struck home off a post and a breakaway by Burgess down the left flank ended with him driving the ball past Hill at 3-0. Despite this setback Wrington Redhill stuck to their task and efforts from Bradders, Callum Briggs on for Jake Horton, Whitey and Jason Potter just could not be converted into goals. Briggs thought he’d pulled one back when his deft flick looked to be goalbound until Greatbanks saved miraculously.
The score line flattered Hengrove when a long punt forward held up in the wind and drifted over Hill’s head into the net and near the end Purnell poked home another loose ball for 5-0 result although further chances from Chris Holland and Bradders were kept at bay.
Its back to league action nest week with another home fixture against high riding Watchet Town and the Club will be anxious to start picking up more points to move away from the bottom end of the league table.
Team:-
GK, Matthew Hill
Defence, Christopher Holland, Sam Clements, Jason Potter, Ethan Johnson,
Midfield, Ollie Clements, Leigh White, Mike Rowcliffe, Rory Thomas
Forwards, Jake Horton, Louis Rouvrais
Subs: Adam Caulfield (for Leigh White), Chris Bradley (for Louis Rouvrais),
Callum Briggs (for Jake Horton)