A dominant second-half performance was rewarded with four unanswered goals as the Colts rounded off their home fixtures in style against Highworth Town T.
The hosts could even afford the luxury of a number of missed chances and a penalty that crashed back off the crossbar, while at the other end keeper Luke S ensured the team’s first clean sheet in a Division 1 match for almost a year.
And the game might have been very different had the Whites' number one not pulled off a sensational save to claw away a free header from the net when it appeared certain Highworth would open the scoring.
Josh, Callum and Bradley all defended resolutely to shut out a lively frontman as the Highworth keeper’s booming kicks switched play from end to end quickly and chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes.
The Colts then began to exert some control and George and Sam both carved out opportunities, while Tom went close from Toby’s low cross. The deadlock was broken when Liam B – the shortest player on the field – evaded a number of tall defenders to brilliantly head a left-wing corner from Toby into the net. He almost made it 2-0 moments later after latching on to Sam’s fine pass.
A strong wind more than cancelled out the disadvantage of playing up the Combe slope in the second half and the final half-hour was largely one-way traffic. Max, who deserves praise for a disciplined display, and Liam F found plenty of space to work in midfield and, along with Sam, used the ball sensibly to keep the Colts on the front foot.
Toby, Liam B and Tom were all denied by the visitors’ imposing keeper before the latter collected another fine pass from Sam and drove in from the right to finally double his team’s lead and give them some breathing space.
It was 3-0 when Toby’s right-wing corner was helped into the net by a Highworth defender under pressure from Luke VDB, whose pace also caused problems out wide.
Toby shone up front and deservedly added his own name to the scoresheet thanks to a solo run and confident finish. Luke S advanced from his goal to deny Highworth a consolation before the scoring was completed by Sam, who connected with Bradley’s driven cross from the left with the final kick of the game.