Gloucestershire County League

Thornbury Town 4 Wick 1

By Malcolm Carr

A large crowd at the Mundy Playing Fields on Saturday saw Thornbury Town go 10 points clear at the top of the table after what eventually became a comfortable 4-1 win against visitors Wick.

However Thorns made a sluggish start and apart from one chance when Wick keeper Edmunds made a good save from Craig Lancastle, it was the visitors who enjoyed the early possession.

Wick went in front after 12 minutes from a long ball over the Town defence and as keeper Tom Sheppard came out to clear the danger, his clearance struck Dan Payne and the ball fell kindly for the striker to slot the ball into an empty net.

However Thorns hit back on 20 minutes to level after Matt Davis’s cross to the far post was acrobatically turned in by Craig Lancastle.

Town settled after this and gradually took control of the game and Luke Franklin’s long range effort ten minutes from the break curled just the wrong side of the post.

Wick threatened only occasionally with Joe Guest heading clear under pressure.

Just three minutes before the break a quick break forward saw Brandon Benjamin slot the ball through to Lancastle who took the ball in his stride and fired the ball past Tyler Edmonds.

The pair combined again moments later but this time Lancastle’s effort went just wide.

An early goal three minutes into the second half saw Town extend their lead following a strong 30 yard run from Benjamin who pulled the ball back across the face of the goal for Matt Davis to finish off at the far post.

Davis got his second on 62 minutes in almost identical circumstances but this time he tucked home a cut back from Luke Franklin.

Wick threatened rarely after this although Tom Sheppard did well to push a Payne effort around the post following a freekick. With ten minutes remaining Benjamin set Lancastle clear again but having outpaced Nurse, the striker’s effort found the side netting.

Marcus Wormwell then looked certain to extend the lead further but as he was about to shoot a desperate challenge from Stephens saw the ball go out for a corner.

Town’s unbeaten run goes back to the beginning of November and they will be looking to extend that on Saturday when they make the short trip to face Patchway Town, kick off 2pm.