Reserves run riot at home to Halstead winning 9-0

Photo- Ben Spencer who curled his shot into the top corner of the net for our 9th and final goal of the game.

RIDGEONS RESERVES SOUTH - SATURDAY JANUARY 15th
BRANTHAM RESERVES 9 HALSTEAD RESERVES 0
It was top versus bottom of the reserve south division as we hosted Halstead looking to maintain our lead at the top of the table( writes Nathan Burrell). Play was mainly in midfield as for the first 10 minutes we struggled to get our passing game going. On 15 minutes we made the breakthrough with Ben Green chesting the ball down to the feet of Shaun Webb who in turn crossed for Alex Stocker to hit home. This goal settled us down and we started to play our football. Lee Willcox was unlucky not to increase our lead when he broke through from midfield and saw his well struck effort saved well by the Halstead keeper. Young Ross Cooper, who was making his first start for the reserves, then had two great chances, the first a glancing header which was only inches away and the second he drilled the ball into the side netting. We made it 2-0 on 25 minutes when Ben Spencer did well to get to the by-line and cut the ball back to veteran Kevin Mann who made no mistake from 6 yards to put us firmly in control. Ben Green then got into the action when, from the edge of the area, he curled in a beauty of a shot that gave the keeper no chance at all. 3-0. We scored our fourth right on half time when Ben Green's free kick was pushed out by the Halstead keeper and there was goal machine Shaun Webb to tap it home. 4-0
Half time and we stressed to the boys to keep things simple and more goals will come. Almost immediately as Merch and myself were making our way back to the dugout Alex Stocker picked the ball up on the left hand side, beat the full back, and spanked in a low shot into the corner of the net 5-0. It was all one way traffic with Halstead struggling to get out of their half and we scored our 6th of the game when Ben Green got in down the right flank and put in a lovely cross which was well finished by Shaun Webb for his second of the game.We then made some changes and brought on Ben Sparrow and Adam Thompson for the last 30 minutes and quickly scored our 7th when Ross Cooper broke down the right and put in a great cross ball which fell nicely to Alex Stocker who smashed the ball home to complete his hat-trick. Adam Thompson then got into the act with probably the goal of the game. He picked the ball up 30 yards out and drove forward and unleashed a screamer to put us 8-0 up. The last goal was also a superb effort when some lovely one touch football found Ben Spencer and he curled one into the top corner of the goal with his left peg to complete the rout at 9-0.
Impossible to name a man of the match with the entire 14 players putting in a great shift, have to mention Speedy's fantastic hat-trick from left midfield and two great finishes from Webby, do just have to mention the centre forwards of Street,Cooper and Sparrow or failing to score in a 9-0 victory, enough said!!
No game on Saturday but we back on duty on Tuesday 25th at home to AFC Sudbury in the league.
Brantham - 1.Ross Welton., 2.Ben Spencer ( 1 goal). 3.Alex Drouet. 4.James Long. 5.Kev Mann (1 goal). 6.Shaun Webb (2 goals). 7.Lee Willcox. 8. Ben Green (1 goal). 9.Alex Stocker (3 goals). 10.Alex Street. 11.Ross Cooper. subs- Adam Thompson (1 goal), Ben Sparrow and James Glen.
(Thanks again to Nathan Burrell for the report- and well done to the lads for that great victory-keep the good work up gentlemen.)------------barry felgate------)