Andrew Harris’s Reserves continued their league campaign with a resounding home win over Newbridge Reserves at Forest Road this evening, with the game ending 9-2 to the hosts. Doubles from Jake Atkinson, Rob Snedden and Will Goodwin were added to by solitary strikes from Kevin Goodwin, Gareth Jenkins and Dan Jones; Josh Davies and Jamie Howard also got their names on the scoresheets but for Newbridge, contributing with an own goal each.
The Saints took the lead early in the game when a through ball from Snedden was caught sweetly by Atkinson, drilling the ball into the far corner. The striker was soon to be celebrating a second when Howard’s pin-point corner was met by Atkinson with a header that flew into the back of the net. Atkinson’s strike partner K. Goodwin got on the act soon after when a cut-back by Atkinson was controlled by Goodwin, who slipped past one defender in the box before firing home with his left-foot. Howard and Snedden went close with long-range efforts whilst K. Goodwin hit a fierce snapshot half-volley just over the crossbar from 25 yards. A good move on the right nearly resulted in a fourth when Josh Davies’s ball inside found K. Goodwin, who flicked on for Atkinson but the striker’s shot hit the post after the ‘keeper had pushed it away. With half-time approaching, the visitors were given a lifeline when a defensive mix-up was punished as the attacker headed the ball over Chris Lloyd, and Davies had the final touch when his attempted clearence went in his own net.
The second-half continued with the Saints dominating proceedings and they added to their first-half tally courtesy of half-time sub W. Goodwin, who fired in the far corner from a tight angle. Snedden then got his first of the night, and fifth of the season, when a crossfield pass from Howard was bought down by Jenkins who picked out Snedden on the edge of the area; he superbly slipped past a defender before shooting goalwards and an awkward bounce deceived the goalie. More goals were to follow, as Jenkins, after a flurry of shots had been fluffed, managed to get his goal when a ball into the box from W. Goodwin was hit in by Jenkins at the back-post with his effort hitting the post before going in. Newbridge pulled another goal back when their pacey right winger broke from his own half and got lucky with a cross. He was tracked all the way by the hard-working Howard, but as he peeled away to try and stop the cross, Howard could only manage to slice the cross into his own net. In the final ten minutes, Hay added two more goals with sub Jones getting in on the act when Jenkins crossed in with his left-foot to find Jones, who showed neat foot-work before shooting through the ‘keepers legs. Snedden then had the final say on the match by scoring his second, and the Saints’ ninth of the evening when he drilled in from an inside right position after good work by W. Goodwin.
The Saints have scored seventeen goals in their past two games with some competent finishing; however, with no dis-respect to the opponents they have faced there are much tougher games to come starting with Prestiegne Reserves this coming Tuesday at Forest Road. Man of the match tonight goes to Howard, whose tireless work-rate and range of passing was a highlight of the Saints play.
Saints Reserves: C. Lloyd, J. Davies, S. Bradley, L. Pugh, W. Evans, G. Jenkins, J. Howard, T. Johnson, R. Snedden, K. Goodwin, J. Atkinson.
Subs: C. Ward, D. Jones, W. Goodwin.