Rovers raise promotion hopes by putting ten past Ruardean (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Rovers raise promotion hopes by putting ten past Ruardean

WITH the battle for the second division of the senior league a tight one, goal difference may prove to be the critical factor in deciding the eventual champions - and Bourton Rovers FC did theirs a power of good last weekend with ten against Ruardean Hill Rangers.

Having put six goals past their relegation-bound opponents in the initial fixture between the sides in December, Rovers were always going to be favourites going in Saturday's match.

And three first-half goals were followed by seven in the second period to wrap up a resounding victory.

Front-runners Mark Larner and Mark Payne bagged a hat-tricks apiece with Matthew Winter adding a brace and Stuart Hughes and substitute James Luney completing the rout.

Payne put the home side in front inside ten minutes and was then involved in the second by chipping a cross to the back post to give Larner the simplest of headers.

Then came Ruardean's best spell in which they had a penalty appeal turned down yet failed to trouble Andrew Herbert with any shots on target.

Goal number three arrived before half-time when Stuart Hughes put Payne away and the pacy striker hooked the ball over the advancing keeper.

After the break, Payne completed his hat-trick with a back- post header before being replaced by Luney up front.

Larner climbed well to score with a looping header before leading scorer Winter finally got on the score sheet as he finished off Hughes' pull back.

Stuart Hughes strode through unchallenged to notch a seventh before a deflected clearance fell nicely for Winter to roll in number eight.

Luney, played in clear down the middle, saw his first effort hit an upright, but he recovered to force in the rebound.

The final goal was the best of the game and completed Larner's first hat trick for the Cotswold side when he unleashed a 25-yard curler into the corner.

The victory keeps Bourton in third hard on the heels of Berke-ley Town and Cam Bulldogs.

This Saturday, Rovers visit the Forest of Dean to play Lydbrook Athletic and, for next Wednesday's County Senior Cup Final against Warden Hill United at Bishop's Cleeve, Rovers are looking for a first cup success at County level for 36 years.