Kingswood turn the tables (From Gazette Series)

Kingswood turn the tables

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two Kingswood 5 Lydbrook Athletic 0

MANAGER Ricky Walker was confronted with a difficulty decision prior to kick off when ace keeper Andy Rodman failed a fitness test and with no goalkeeping cover available the manager had to don the jersey and gloves himself.

With the memory of a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Lydbrook still fresh in the minds of the players, this was not the kind of news anyone wished to hear.

Any worries were dismissed early on as Kingswood soon took control of the game, and went on to complete a convincing turn around in the score.

The first ten minutes were fairly evenly contested with Walker tested out from a couple of crosses which he dealt with confidently, while at the other end Tony Berry should have given his team the lead.

The home team gradually took control, but found the visitors' defense difficult to break down, until on 20 minutes a cross from Gavin Dibden was expertly struck home by Paul Bleaken.

The Kingswood defense of Danny Iddles, Owain Clement and Steve Lovegrove were protecting their goalkeeper superbly, and with the Dibden brothers, Simon Clarke and Bleaken working hard, the chances were coming more regularly and it seemed a matter of time before the goals would follow.

Ten minutes into the second half a great run by Barrie Dibden saw the ball arrive at the feet of Clarke and he made no mistake finishing with style.

Lydbrook lost a defender with a knee injury and with the pressure constant they began to wilt in the heat from their efforts and let in three more goals in the last 15 minutes.

Substitutes Mat Sansum and Mike Walker combined for the third, Walker scooping the ball over the keeper's head from a Sansum cross, and shortly after Clarke got the forth with a well placed free kick.

Two minutes from time Sansum got the final goal when he was set up by Clarke.

This was sweet revenge for the defeat at Lydbrook and Kingswood, with the two bottom clubs left to play, now look odds on for a top six finish.