By Malcolm Carr

Gloucestershire County League

Thornbury Town 8 Little Stoke 0

LITTLE Stoke arrived at the Mundy Fields on Saturday with one of the meanest defensive records in the County League, but goal hungry Thornbury Town exposed their weaknesses with an impressive attacking display.

They almost took the lead in the 2nd minute when Craig Lancastle outpaced O’Loughlin at the heart of the Stoke defence but steered his shot wide of far post.

Five minutes later Stoke keeper Amin Jones pulled off a superb save to prevent Mark Viner netting from one of his trademark overhead kicks.

The visitors gradually played their way into the game and Robertson’s shot was tipped over the bar by Thorns keeper Tom Sheppard and moments later Owen had his shot blocked by Aaron Clark.

Town finally took the lead they had been threatening on 30 minutes after Brandon Benjamin had been brought down.

Toby Bennett’s low free kick went through the wall and into the bottom corner of the net beyond Jones’ despairing dive.

Jones then saved from Bennett before Thorns went 2-0 on 39 minutes when Brandon Benjamin cut inside onto his left foot before curling a great shot into the far corner.

Town extended their lead on 55 minutes when Benjamin and Bennett linked up well to set up Craig Lancastle who tapped in Toby Bennett’s cross for the first of his three goal haul.

Lancastle then put Joe Guest clear down the right and his cut back across the face of the goal found Marcus Wormwell who steered the ball home for number four on 68 minutes.

A minute later, Wormwell was in action again picking up a poor defensive pass to square the ball across goal for Lancastle’s second.

On 72 minutes Toby Bennett struck another superb free kick into the top corner from 25 yards out giving Jones no chance in the visitors goal.

With four minutes left, Bennett almost scored his hat trick of free kicks, but this time Jones got his fingertips to the ball to put it round the post for a corner.

Substitute Asher Budd then set up Lancastle to complete his hat-trick with a header at the far post.

The scoring was complete in stoppage time when Tom Webb jinked into the penalty before shooting past Jones and into the net.

This Saturday Thornbury will look to maintain their position at the top of the County League when they travel to Gloucester to face Gala Wilton, kick off 2pm.