Sharpness put five past beleaguered Warden Hill (From Gazette Series)

Sharpness put five past beleaguered Warden Hill

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One Sharpness 5 Warden Hill United 1

SHARPNESS produced a five-star performance as they thumped Warden Hill United at Vale of Berkeley College.

The Sharks created numerous chances in the first half and could well have regretted not being more than 1-0 up at the break.

However, they rattled in four more in the second half to put down an early marker for their rivals to see.

Several chances had already gone begging by the time the home side took a deserved lead on 25 minutes.

Mike Sherman did well out wide and his cross was turned past the goalkeeper for 1-0 by Scott Young.

A second should have arrived before half-time but Ian Watkins missed the pick of the chances for the hosts.

The second half was a different story though.

Sherman made it 2-0 early in the half and although 17-year-old Leo Kent pulled a goal back against the run of play for the visitors, the Sharks never looked in danger.

Watkins scored Sharpness' third within five minutes of United's goal and with 25 minutes remaining things were looking extremely dangerous for Hill.

Watkins, who was only playing due to the club's long injury list, then set up Sherman for the home side's fourth of the afternoon.

Five minutes from time Watkins was rewarded for a fine display with his second and the Sharks' fifth to make the final score 5-1.

Sharpness player-manager Terry Gibbs was happy that his side had bounced back from their defeat to Tetbury so convincingly.

He said: "It was a good performance, although we really should have scored a lot more.

"We could well have been three or four goals up before the first one went in."

He also praised Watkins for his display when stepping up from the reserve team.

"We have got a lot of injuries at the moment but Ian has come in and done very well."