Brantham thump 7 past a stunned Kirkley & Pakefield

Photo= Sean Gunn who had a good match at Kirkley & Pakefield and opened the scoring for us with the first goal in the 7-0 win.

RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION - SATURDAY MARCH 19th KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD 0 BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 7 We made the journey to Lowestoft looking to get back to winning ways after the defeat at the hands of Walsham - and didn't we do just that with a superb 7-0 win. The team welcomed new signing Thomas Wray to the team and he lined up in the back four. A great result for us and the entire team proved the point that they are as good as anybody in the league with a superb showing. Ryan Bedingfield, in goal, when called upon made some top class saves, while the back four of Thomas Wray, Jack Sibbons, Adam Bloss and Chris French didn't put a foot wrong and were superb in the fact that they were limiting Kirkley to a lot of long range efforts. Kieran Lawler, David Grimwood, Simon Mann and Sean Gunn patrolled the midfield and got involved in everything that was going on and they all more than played their part in the win. The two main front men, Ollie Mann and Lee Grimwood both caused the Kirkley defence a lot of problems with their direct running at goal.Ollie Mann finished on a well taken hat-trick while Lee Grimwood was rewarded for all of his non-stop running with a goal late in the game. Subs Lewis Blanchett and Andy French came on during the second half and both made their mark on the game. We started well and and within minutes Lee Grimwood was put through and shot at goal only to see the keeper Attridge make a good save. The keeper had to do the same again when when Lee and Sean Gunn combined to set Ollie Mann through on goal and the Kirkley keeper did well to get a hand to the ball let alone push it round for a corner. From the corner Adam Bloss, stationed at the far end of the goal, saw a header go just over the bar. We took the lead in the 8th minute when Lee and Ollie combined to play the ball through for Sean Gunn to run onto. Sean raced through and slotted past the oncoming keeper. David Grimwood was in the wars,getting hit in the face by the ball, and with David laying injured, for some reason the referee allowed play to continue! Ollie Mann then headed just wide and a great move ended with Simon Mann hitting the ball on the run, beating the keeper only to see it hit the woodwork. David and Ollie both had chances before we added number 2. From a throw in on the left the ball was played onto Ollie Mann who made ground, looked up and from distance sent in a great shot that beat the keeper at his near post. It was 3-0 just prior to the break when Lee and Olle combined to set Kieran Lawler off. Kieran side-stepped his marker and from a good 35 yards out sent in a blistering shot that the keeper could only help on its way into the net. We started the second half with some good passing and attacking football and Simon Mann made ground down the right, got to the edge of the box and put a teasing cross into the area and Ollie Mann beat the keeper to the ball to head firmly home. Simon Mann then made ground down the flank, beating three opponents on the way only to see Attridge in the Kirkley goal make a very good save to deny him. Ollie Mann notched up his hat-trick when he went straight at goal, held of two challenges before stroking the ball home. It was all us at this stage and Lee Grimwood went into the area, dinked past a defender as though he wasn't there only to be brought down and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped David Grimwood, made sure the ball was in the right place before blasting it home. Kirkley were starting to get into the game and had a ball cleared as it raced towards the Brantham goal line. We were still not finished and Lee Grimwood, who had run and chased the entire game, was rewarded for all of his hard work with a goal. The ball had been played back to the keeper and Lee seeing what was going on ran straight at the ball and with the keeper making a right hash of things, Lee calmly walked the ball into the back of the net. Almost at the end Ryan Crisp broke through and onto the Brantham goal and only a very good save from Bedingfield stopped him getting a consolation goal for the Royals.What a game and what a result!! Our thanks to the supporters who again made the trip to support the team and I can assure you that your support was very much appreciated.

Brantham - 1.Ryan Bedingfield. 2. Thomas Wray. 3.Chris French. 4. Jack Sibbons. 5.Adam Bloss. 6. Simon Mann. 7. Kieran Lawler. 8. David Grimwood. 9.Ollie Mann. 10. Lee Grimwood. 11. Sean Gunn. subs used - Lewis Blanchett and Andy French. Sub not used - Nathan Munson

---barry felgate---