Uhlsport Hellenic Div One West

Woodstock Town 2

Purton 7

PURTON moved into third place in the Hellenic Div One West table after Saturday’s 7-2 away win at basement league side Woodstock Town, writes Alan Eastwood.

Victory extended Purton's recent excellent run to nine league and cup matches unbeaten.

Purton travelled to the match with just 13 players. Matt Bennett, Joe Herbert, Steve Davies, Joe Dorey and Jamie Sheppard were all unavailable and a debut was given to Karl Spencer, with manager Justin Miller and Josh Kirby named as substitutes.

Despite having almost all the possession in the first half, Purton were only 1-0 up at the break, the goal coming from a brilliant Ed Herbert free kick after 32 minutes.

Purton should have netted three or four more goals but some poor finishing let them down.

Eight goals came in the second half. Robert Gosling levelled for the home side just two minutes into the second period when he chased a lobbed ball that split the Purton defence.

Three minutes later, however, a cross by Joe Hiscock was turned in by Shannon Pocock.

On 56 minutes, a good run and clinical finish saw Hiscock score again and two minutes later it was 4-1 when skipper Aaron Stevens netted.

Woodstock got back into things following a corner when Gosling scored his second goal with a header on 64 minutes.

Three minutes later a cross by Hiscock was forced in from close range by Herbert and it was the same player who completed his hat-trick with a 30-yard free kick after 75 minutes to make it 6-2.

Purton finished the scoring after 87 minutes when Herbert was fouled in the box and Ollie Hunt despatched the resulting spot-kick.