The Whites made sure of a top-six finish in North Wilts League Division 1 for the third year running thanks to an away win over Ferndale Rodbourne.
The margin of victory masks the fact that the outcome hung in the balance for much of contest, before the visitors’ third goal of the morning led to a one-sided final 20 minutes.
Ferndale settled quickest on a dry and bumpy school pitch and asked early questions of Luke S, Callum and Bradley at the back. Colts slowly gained the initiative, however, and George was narrowly off target twice after being put through on goal by Brandon H and Max.
Max also threatened with a flick from Luke’s long throw and Matthew headed over from a corner before playing in Toby on the left for a fierce drive that flew just wide. Colts were perhaps guilty of taking an extra touch too often in the final third but the goal they deserved arrived when Toby’s corner was not cleared and Liam B’s shot from the edge of the box slipped through the keeper’s hands and into the net.
Another shot from Max was parried to safety before half-time but Colts doubled their lead two minutes after the break when Liam beat three men on the right and planted a close-range effort past the keeper.
Bradley cleared a shot off the line at the other end but Colts did not heed the let-off and Ferndale halved the deficit from their next attack after they were afforded too much space in midfield. The hosts’ tails were up once again but Josh and Callum battled away on the flanks to cut out the supply line and clear chances were kept to a minimum.
Matthew’s surging run from deep created the Colts’ third goal, with Liam on hand to apply the finishing touch and complete his hat-trick.
The goal seemed to deflate a Ferndale side who have won once in the league this season and Colts created a glut of chances in the closing stages. George grabbed two late goals either side of an emphatic far-post finish from Tom, his second coming after some unselfish play from Liam on the left.
The result made it back-to-back league wins for the Colts for the first time this term and they will look to round off their season with another away to Swindon Supermarine N on May 7.