Depleted Race thrive in rout (From Free Press Series)

Depleted Race thrive in rout

Race First XI 5 Abertillery FC 0

Following the disappointing heavy defeat earlier in the season against Tillery, the Race were looking to put things right, but were hampered by the fact that the side had no less than six first team regulars missing for varying reasons and the fact that the side hasn't played together since February 11.

Manager Mark Williams picked the side with what was available to him, giving a first team debut to Chris Bartlett. Chris repaid the faith shown in him by giving the Race the lead with a well-taken lob off the away keeper, after ten minutes.

Race doubled their lead via the penalty spot when captain for the day Delme Clark was brought down in the box, following his recent miss David Goodchild handed the responsibility to Robert Tovey who sent the keeper the wrong way.

Tovey got his second and Races' third when he coolly slotted home from good work on the right by Bartlett and Hayward. Tovey also hit the post, which denied him a first half hat-trick.

Race fell asleep in the opening five minutes of the second half allowing Abertillery to come back into the game.

It took a further 15 minutes for Race to increase their lead through a simple tap in by Daynar Thorpe, reacting from an exquisite free kick by Mark Drinkwater, which hit the crossbar, and the ball bounced kindly for Daynar Thorpe to slot home. The points were made secure via a 20-yard thunderbolt from Lee Price, as he drove the ball home into the top left corner of the net.

This was a good all round team performance by the Race and a morale boosting win, with the side playing some nice football to open up the away defence, something that they will need to take into this weeks local derby versus Tranch.

Fixtures for Saturday, March 18, 2006 First XI versus Tranch AFC (home) kick off 3pm. All players to meet at the club for 1.30pm. The next Second XI game is on Saturday, March 25, when they are at home to Usk Town, kick off 3pm.