Radstock Town 2 Gillingham Town 0

Goals from Jack Hopper and a Craig Sheppard penalty saw Radstock Town see off the challenge of league ‘new boys’, Gillingham Town, in their Toolstation Western League Division One game at Southfield.

Radstock lost 3–1 at

Gillingham in August, but avenged the defeat with a determined team effort that could have been by a bigger margin.

In all truth the first half was a cagey affair, with neither side able to take control although both teams did create opportunities without really working the keepers. However, that changed two minutes before half-time when Ali Sen got past a couple of defenders and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box where Jack Hopper was on hand to slide the ball into the net.

The home side started the second half in determined mood and both Morgan Skipp and Jack Hopper were just off target with well hit shots, but it took until mid-way through the half when visiting keeper, Miles Fielding, unceremoniously upended Morgan Skipp when he was through on goal to concede not only a penalty but also get a red card from the referee. After waiting patiently for what seemed like an age, whilst the referee dealt with the fall-out from his decision, Craig Sheppard stepped up to drill the ball past stand-in keeper Walters.

With Gillingham down to ten men Radstock looked to increase their lead but couldn’t find the target despite creating a number of opportunities – it wasn’t all Radstock though and Gillingham could have reduced the arrears ten minutes before time, but Burpitt sliced his shot wide when it looked easier to score!

The home side were reduced to ten when following a foul on Radstock Captain, Luke Ingram, a number of players got involved in a bout of pushing and shoving which resulted in a yellow card for the original foul and a red card for Ali Sen.

The win saw Radstock climb to third in the table on level points with second place Oldland Abbotonians and into the play-off places for the first time this

season.

Dave Wilkinson