The Whites were on top from start to finish against a Highworth Town T side who are finding life tough in North Wilts League Division 1 this season.
Only a lack of composure in front of goal and some excellent work from the visiting number one prevented an even more lop-sided scoreline as an understrength Colts team coped admirably in the absence of three players who spent the weekend on tour in Sweden with the Bath & Wiltshire squad.
Despite creating chance after chance, it took until the final ten minutes of the first half for Colts to make the breakthrough. Callum fired just wide during a lively start, Tom was narrowly off-target from a corner, Luke S and Toby were thwarted by fantastic saves and Liam B had two goals disallowed for offside before winning a penalty and putting it over the bar.
Liam made amends soon afterwards, however, after cutting inside from the left to score from close range and ran the Highworth defence ragged with his pace, tenacity and close control throughout. He turned provider for the second goal just before the interval, running on to Bradley’s accurate through ball before squaring for Brandon H to finish emphatically at the far post.
Bradley also created Liam’s second goal of the day and, after threatening to do so on several occasions, the diminutive striker finally completed his hat-trick in the closing stages after winning – and this time converting – another spot-kick. In between those two efforts came an own goal, which saw a Highworth player find his own net after finding himself under pressure in a crowded area. Toby lashed a couple of shots wide after breaking forward on the left and swung over a number of dangerous corners that came to nothing due to a lack of bravery and movement in the box – an area that needs to be addressed in training.
While the front players grabbed the glory on this occasion, Luke S was a dominant force in midfield, using his strength to win back possession and using it effectively as the Colts looked to play in the correct manner, and Josh grew in stature at the heart of the defence and snuffed out anything Highworth had to offer on the counter-attack.
Max had one of his quieter days but can be satisfied with a clean sheet and displayed a safe pair of hands when the visitors had a sight of goal in the second half. Luke VDB and Tom were solid at the back and made impressive forward runs whenever the space opened up in front of them.
While more testing assignments undoubtedly lie ahead, the victory and improved performance should at least restore some confidence following the Colts' defeat to Highworth T’s club-mates seven days earlier.