UHL Hellenic League

New College Swindon 1

Shortwood United 6

PROLIFIC striker Luke Soule bagged a hat-trick as Shortwood United got their promotion aspirations back on track, writes Jim Cunneen.

Hot-shot Soule has netted 19 goals in 14 starts, including two hat-tricks against New College and four goals against Tytherington Rocks.

And from the get-go, Wood were on the front foot and took the lead after four minutes. Ellis Harper’s far post corner was met by the head of Josh Kerr who headed home. The lead lasted two minutes as New College Swindon netted parity through Cremin.

Shortwood regained the lead with a sumptuous second after 17 minutes. Nowell and Black played a double one-two down the flank and Nowell’s low cross was perfect for Kalnins to side foot home. Wood then took complete control and with shots peppering the College goal and it was no surprise that Wood scored twice more before the break. After 36 minutes Harper made a strong run down the flank and his cross to the far post bas knocked home by Soule and then on the stroke of half-time Nowell and Black combined again to set Soule up for his second.

Mills came on at the break and was a constant thorn in the flesh for New College with his tricky skills.

Kerr sneaked in at the far post and was unlucky to see his shot pass inches wide before Black made it 5-1 after 51 minutes. A rare mistake from keeper Harper presented Black with the ball to his feet 30 yards out and the Wood man wasted no time knocking the ball into the empty net.

Mills had an excellent strike ruled out as Kalnins had carried the ball over the byline before crossing and Kalnins smacked the bar from 20 yards.

Chance-after-chance went begging as keeper Harper made a succession of saves.

Finally, with 4 minutes to go a Finlay Byrnes cross into the box found the predatory Soule who completed his hat-trick.

SHORTWOOD: Clark, Langworthy, Nowell (Harper – Emerson 50), Hoskins, Kerr, Snook, Kalnins, Byrnes, Soule, Black, Harper (Mills 45).

Wood face difficult trips to Hereford Lads club Saturday, Cirencester Academy, Tuesday and Hereford Pegasus on Saturday, December 14.