HENGROVE 1 RADSTOCK TOWN 4
A fine team performance saw the Miners leave Paprika Park with the three points and the supporters enjoying another pure footballing ninety minutes.
The Miners almost went ahead in the first couple of minutes when James Rustell rattled the woodwork with a blistering shot that rebounded to Morgan Skipp, whose effort clipped the bar. Home keeper, Aaron Greatbanks, was in top form and made a fine save, turning a Morgan Skipp free-kick against the bar before he turned away a Jack Biddescombe drive.
However, the charmed life that the home goal was enjoying was broken on 22 minutes, when a Morgan Skipp corner was headed home by Sam Gregory, and they could have gone further ahead immediately after, but the woodwork again came to Hengrove’s rescue from both Sam Gregory and Morgan Marsh. It wasn’t all one-way traffic, and it took a brave save at the feet of debutante, Troy Walters, by Jack Scrivens to ensure the Miners went into half-time with a slender lead.
The second half started with the home side determined to get back into the game, and they did exactly that thanks to a fine effort from substitute, Simon Knight. The status-quo didn’t last long though, as Morgan Skipp’s free-kick flew past Greatbanks two minutes later, and Sam Gregory added a third and his second when he slipped the ball past the advancing keeper following a through-ball from Morgan Marsh.
The visitors continued to press forward and it was no surprise when James Rustell added a fourth thanks to a Morgan Skipp through-ball, which capped a fine team performance, but Manager, Brett Partner, will be concerned about Sam Gregory having to be substituted through injury and is likely to be keeping his fingers firmly crossed that all will be well after some rest.
Dave Wilkinson