SDFL division four

Meadowbrook Athletic 6,

Meadowbrook Athletic came from a goal down to emphatically win 6-1 against division four new boys Kingsbridge and Kel­laton.

Robin Lee’s deflected corner kick was enough to give Kellaton an early lead, but the Kings were unable to hold on to their advantage as Athletic romped to a comfortable victory when Kellaton’s legs began to tire.

Kingsbridge lined up with an unfamiliar first XI as goalkeeper Richard Thuel was ushered out of retirement and Jon Blewitt reverted to a role in the centre of midfield.

Luke Harvey led the line with Elliot Brad­bury, with the former coming back to prominence following a lengthy injury lay-off.

There was a cagey start to proceedings – as is so often the case in early-season matches – and both sides were working hard to take the upper hand.

Kingsbridge took the lead with 10 minutes on the clock and once again Lee’s corner kick was the creator of the goal for the away side.

The veteran winger whipped in the ball to the front post and the home goalkeeper tried to punch clear, but succeeded only in deflecting the ball in to the back of his own net.

The goal gave Kella­ton an unlikely foot­hold in a game they weren’t banking on any points from and to their credit the Kings did try to retain their advantage.

Paul Dixon and Adam Phillips were getting the better of their opposite numbers in the early stages, but the goal was always going to come as the Meadowbrook midfield began to seize control of the ball.

Eventually their pressure told and the home side got level around the 20-minute mark.

Kellaton almost took the lead minutes later when Chris Lynn slipped the ball in to Bradbury inside the penalty box, but the striker’s effort was uncharacteristically weak and was palmed away by the burly ‘keeper.

The Brook managed to nose themselves in to the lead before the half time whistle; this time working the ball nicely through the centre of the pitch before an onrushing midfielder slammed the ball home.

The second half was a largely forgettable affair from Kellaton’s point of view as heavy legs seemed to be the order of the day. The home side grew in confidence as Kings­bridge’s stamina de­serted them.

The home side ran in four goals in the second period to add a shade too much gloss to their victory and Kellaton only had rare sights of the opposition goal.

Meadowbrook’s sixth came in remarkable circumstances as Thuel tried to catch a well-struck effort but dislocated his finger in the process and spilled the ball to th striker, who almost apologetically passed the ball in to the net.