Toby’s treble leads Hanham to emphatic win over Grace

TOBY Werrett and his Hanham Abbotonians high-fliers were in unstoppable mood once more in Bristol and District League Division Three – as AFC Grace discovered to their cost.

The Lees Hill hosts, delighted to be back in action for the first time since their 3-3 October 31 away draw with Oldland Abbotonians Colts, showed few signs that the extended lockdown lay-off had affected them as they sped to a 9-1 win, with Werrett the chief destroyer.

Hanham had gone into the contest brimming with belief on the back of an encouraging campaign start which had reaped five wins and three draws from their nine games.

So it always promised to be an arduous afternoon for an AFC Grace outfit who had lost seven of their ten outings heading into the fixture.

The one-way Hanham traffic proved too much for gallant Grace, who had just Josh Johns issuing a reply amid the onslaught, as Werrett’s hat-trick, Reece Prous’ brace, Sam Cooper, Callum O’Connell, Elliott Pearce singles and an own goal ensured the relentless home team three more points in pursuit of leaders AFC Mangotsfield District Reserves, who they now trail by only two points having played a game more than the table-toppers.

While Hanham strive to pile more pressure on Mangotsfield’s pacesetters at home against Fishponds Athletic this Saturday, and Field’s second string aim to maintain their unbeaten record at Oldland Abbotonians Colts, AFC Mangotsfield District’s first team fliers will be out to protect their perfect start to Senior Division duties at home against Chipping Sodbury Town A.

Mangos took their run to five wins from five in the top-flight’s only fixture at the weekend as Josh Hocking’s double, and Joshua Jones and Jordan Powell efforts, condemned winless travellers Greyfriars Athletic Reserves – Tom Haim registered for them - to a 4-1 defeat to go third in the standings heading into Saturday’s fixture with fifth-placed Sodbury (2pm).

Elsewhere in a depleted District League programme, Old Sodbury kept a firm grip on second spot in Division One thanks to a 5-0 home success over a strong Thornbury Town Reserves team taking a tumble for the first time this term following five straight victories.

Jordan Miller led the procession with two of Sodbury’s goals as Kelvin Martin, Paul Meacham and Darren Bell also pitched in.

Jason Mellor’s goal for Highridge United A proved a consolation only as his team went down 3-1 at the hands of Scott Park hosts Stoke Lane Athletic in a second division mid-table affair. No such problems for second-placed Shaftesbury Crusade Reserves , however, who had Danny Simpson’s double and Kevin Mills’ strike to thank for seeing them past spirited strugglers Pucklechurch Sports Reserves 3-2 to stay tight to the tails of Winterbourne United Reserves.