BCAFL Division One

Thornbury Baptist Church FC 4-0 VCF Santos

 

An absolutely blistering first 20 minutes from Thornbury put this game to bed before the visitors had even had chance to test the Thornbury goal.

To their credit they responded strongly and Davis Newcombe pulled off a couple of fine saves late in the first half to maintain an early three-goal lead.

Will Ponting had the honour of joining his brother on the scoresheet mid-way through the second half to complete a perfect morning for Thornbury.

Thornbury were electric off the whistle and had the lead on six minutes when James Ponting crossed from the left flank and Jimmy Cooke headed home his 178th goal for the club to draw level at the top of the all time statistics with club legend Chris Beddoes.

It was 2-0 on ten minutes when John Cordle broke up a Santos attack in the middle of the park and his pass found Ben Paddy who set Aidan Maddox clear to chip the onrushing keeper.

Thornbury were in complete control and playing some of their best football of the season against a stunned Santos team who had picked up some good results in recent weeks.

The third goal, on 19 minutes, saw Ben Paddy and Aidan Maddox linking up again before Nile Haskins-Spellman burst through from the right wing and when his shot was saved James Ponting coolly finished with the outside of his right boot inside the near post.

Remarkably the visitors rallied and had much the better of the remaining 25 minutes of the first half. They ought to have at least one but for Newcombe bravely diving at the feet of the centre-forward for the pick of his saves.

The second half was a fairly well-matched affair with fewer clear-cut chances. Rich Ocone, up from full-back for a corner collected a loose ball on the edge of the box before striking his left-foot drive right against the base of the post on 70 minutes but Thornbury were to be rewarded with a fourth when Cooke’s deep cross from the left was met perfectly by Will Ponting’s right-foot volley at the far post.

Further chances fell to Maddox, Cordle and a fierce volley from Ben Paddy whilst Thornbury were resolute at the back with new signing Nathan Winner particularly impressive on debut at centre-half alongside birthday boy Dexter Foorde.

For 70 minutes this was a very competitive affair but Thornbury had simply blown their opponents away in that opening burst and will now set their sights on struggling Cairns Road Corinthians on Saturday.