| Gadeside Rangers produced a stunning first half performance to blow away rivals Colne Valley and make it 5 wins from five in the league. Gadeside went in 6-0 up at the break and whilst Valley fought back well in the second half, the damage had been done in a 45 minute spell that was without doubt one of the most impressive put in by a Gadeside team. |
| Justyn Walcott missed out with the injury he picked up from last weeks game against Cassiobury Rangers so Jay Evans dropped to left back with the fit-again Russ Popplewell coming in on the left side of midfield. Both were to have excellent games. Tariq Khan started on the right hand side and Dan Campbell returned to partner Tom Mitchell up front. Gadeside started brightly with some neat interplay down the right hand side. Valley had an early chance when Bonnick was brought down on the edge of the box but Tom Seamons' free-kick was blocked by the wall. The opening goal came in the 7th minute when James Bridges deep free kick was not cleared and Dan Campbell was on hand to smash the loose ball past the stranded Read in the home goal. An early goal always seems to settle Gadeside and this was no exception as they began to knock the ball around with guile. |
| John Wilkins was the main architect, pulling the strings in the middle of midfield and it was he who grabbed the second with an early contender for goal of the season. A good flowing move found Mitchell who superbly turned his marker before sending in a teasing cross to the near post to where the onrushing Wilkins didn't have to break stride to plant a diving header in the back of the net. It was Wilkins who was on hand to make it 3-0 on 17 minutes when his deflected drive found its way home after Popplewell had chased a lost cause and forced Read into a mistake. Tom Mitchell was having a superb game up front linking up well with Cambell and the pair combined to set up Wilkins on the six yard box. Just as he was about to shoot he was challenged from behind and the referee awarded the penalty. A rather dubious decision as the Valley defender seemed to play the ball but Wilkins picked himself up to confidently score the penalty and complete a superb 18 minute hat-trick. |
| Gadeside were awarded a second penalty on 28 minutes when a marauding run by Jay Evans saw him tripped by Kalic in the box leaving referee Walsh no alternative but to give the penalty. This time it was Dan Campbell who stepped up to smash the ball home and further increase Gadeside's lead. It was soon six as Popplewell ran onto a flicked header by Mitchell to confidently finish past Read and round off a fantastic half of football. Playing up the hill and with the wind against them in the second half, Gadeside didn't come anywhere near the heights of the first half - but the job had already been done. Bonnick grabbed a goal back with a superb drive from the edge of the box and Dave Rooney capitalised on a mistake at the back to finish and make it 6-2. Gadeside did have their chances at the other end with Campbell hitting the post and Mitchell, deserving a goal - seeing his header superbly saved on the line by Read. The game ended on a sour note as Toby Zhou clashed heads with Valley's Williams and needed to go to hospital. |
| After the game, a beaming Adam Hills commented: "That's more like it. We murdered them in the first half and that performance was as good as you will see at this level of football. I told the guys that they needed to match Valley's workrate and passion. If they did that the quality would shine through and we would be successful. That's what we did and what a joy it was to watch. I am especially pleased for Russ [Popplewell], as he has missed a lot of football over the last year and he looked back to his best today. We need to carry this performance on, the standard has been set." |
| Tom Oliver, Danny Everritt, Jay Evans, Matt Evans, James Bridges, Tom Shurville, Tariq Khan (Daniel Brooks), John Wilkins, Dan Campbell, Tom Mitchell (Toby Zhou), Russ Popplewell (Ivanz Mani) |