Gloucestershire County League

Berkeley Town 4 Southmead CS Athletic 0

BERKELEY Town recorded their first win of the season against basement club Southmead CS Athletic.

The visitors looked the better side in the first 15 minutes and went close on several occasions.

Berkeley should have opened the scoring in the 17th minute but a good cross in from the right saw Sam Strickland skew his header wide from four yards.

One minute later the visitors' keeper Ashley Newman made a brave tackle on Strickland to deny a certain scoring chance.

The home side took the lead on 20 minutes from a free kick taken from the half way line that was floated into the box and Tom Palmer’s header caught Newman out of position as he saw the ball float over his head into the net.

Four minutes later the home side scored again, this time from the penalty spot after Strickland was fouled in the box. Strickland took the penalty himself and sent Newman the wrong way.

Newman then brought off a great save to deny Strickland getting a third goal for the home side.

Dan Gaynor should have given the home side a 3-0 lead one minute into the second half but shot wide with only Newman to beat.

Southmead were reduced to ten men in the 51st minute when Luke Coghlan was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The visitors did rally and only a great clearance form Richard Reece denied Southmead a goal before Dwayne Pope's shot from the edge of the box had home keeper Ryan Neale at full stretch.

Berkeley went three up in the 72nd minute from a free kick just outside the box well struck by Palmer and, although Newman got his hand to it, he could not prevent it going in.

Right on full-time Strickland was put clear down the right and fired the ball across Newman and into the far corner of the net for a fourth goal.