Football - Bourton Rovers (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Football - Bourton Rovers

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 1 Bourton Rovers 5 Cheltenham Civil Service 1

Civil Service, the side who the previous week had inflicted a first home defeat on title favourites Smiths Athletic, were put to the sword in a blistering opening spell from the Rovers.

The first ten minutes was a good as anything the Cotswold side have produced all season and they were rewarded with three goals that made the remainder of Saturdays encounter something of a formality.

Hudson set the ball rolling, his direct corner eluding everyone and going in off the far post. That was only a minute in. The second goal, the best of the game was superbly crafted. Harvey and Stroud worked the ball across the pitch from the right, before Odoms inch-perfect cross was coolly headed in by Matthew Winter. And it got even better for the home side minutes later when Hudson picked up on a defensive error and slipped the ball under the advancing keeper for number three.

Harvey and Stroud both went close to increasing the lead, and the shell shocked Cheltenham side had huge difficulty coping with the rampant Odoms penetrating solo runs as he cut in from the left flank.

After the blistering opening spell, there was little to choose between the two sides. Service, particularly in the second period kept plugging away looking for a lifeline.

Heming swept one away from his own goal line and goalkeeper Herbert had to be brave on a couple of occasion to snuff out the danger. The visitors grabbed a consolation though, when a low 25-yard drive flew into a corner past an unsighted Herbert.

It served only to gee up the home side once more and Odom, once again cutting in from the left flank reinstated the three goal cushion with a deflected finish.

The fifth goal was a personal triumph for veteran Neil Teague, Hauling his creaking limbs from his position on the subs bench, he found himself with half the pitch to run into as he latched onto Harveys early through ball. Teague showing the composure gained from his years of experience, played a one-two with Odom, drew the goalkeeper and tucked the ball away into the far corner.

Next week, the first team travel to Gloucester to play Longford, a side fighting for survival at the foot of the division. All players should meet at the Rissington Road ground at 1.15pm.