GEORGE’S GORGEOUS DEBUT

GEORGE Jeacock marked his Thatcham Town debut in style by scoring a hat-trick in his team’s 3-2 victory over Barnstaple

Town at Waterside Park. Two penalties and a second-half lob helped the Kingfishers to record their second Southern League win of the season whilst condemning the visitors to their sixth consecutive league defeat.

The game started with an action-packed first minute.

First, Barnstaple went close after Mark Hughes gave the ball away to Steve Holland on the edge of the area but his looping shot hit the crossbar.

Thatcham then took the ball straight up the other end as Lewis Coyle went one-on-one with the Barnstaple goalkeeper Robert Holmes but his effort tumbled just past the far post.

Then, Jeacoack received the ball on the edge of the penalty area before turning his defender and being brought down to hand Thatcham their first spotkick ten minutes in.

The striker stepped up from twelve yards and smashed the ball past Holmes to give the home side the advantage.

But in the 23rd minute, Jack Rice-Lethaby’s clever trickery on the right was matched by his pinpoint cross to Jack Langford, who made no mistake to level the scores.

The hosts were awarded their second penalty of the game seven minutes before half-time after James Clark was brought down by Ross Jones, Jeacock slotting in his second of the game.

Early in the second period, Scott Rees’ welltimed flick over the Barnstaple defence was met by a looping effort from Jeacock to record his first hat-trick for the club.

But Barnstaple captain Jack Jenkins fired home a free-kick to tee up a tense finale.

Elsewhere, Slimbridge and Larkhall Athletic drew 1-1.

Lewis Powell opened the scoring for Larkhall on 21 minutes, Harry Hope heading against the bar from a cross on the left, Powell the first to react, heading past the stranded Eric Edge in the

Slimbridge goal.

Slimbridge came out a different side in the second half and finally got on the scoresheet on 89 minutes, Korey Pring’s header looping in off the inside of the far post.

Sam Pearce’s late leveller handed

Moneyfields a 2-2 draw at Yate Town.

The visitorswent in front after 59 minutes when Conor Bailey followed up to score after his penalty kick had been saved.

Adam Price levelled for Yate, volleying in from Josh Ford’s delivery, and then Dave Sims-Burgess fired in to put them 2-1 up.

But Moneyfields grabbed a deserved stoppage time equaliser, Pearce arriving at the far post to slam in a low cross from substitute James Guthrie.

Kevin Squire’s 30-yard stunner hauled Bideford back to winning ways as they edged out Fleet

Town 2-1 at the Sports Ground.

The Robins took the first step towards licking their wounds with just 15 minutes gone when Toby Down headed home from a Matty Bye corner.

Just past the half-hour mark, Squire lit up the contest, the striker cracking home a scorching long-range effort that gave Norris no chance.

Midway through the second period, sloppiness allowed Fleet back into the game, an error from James Mayne leading to Meshach Williams reducing the deficit but the Robins held their nerve to claim a welcome three points.

Phil Ormrod’s brace proved in vain as Street let a two-goal lead dissipate against Highworth Town, who snatched a 2-2 draw.

The frontman put the Cobblers in front with just 18 minutes gone and shortly after half-time, he was at it again, converting from the penalty spot.

But Callum Parsons reduced the deficit before the Worthians levelled things up eight minutes from time, Parsons seeing his delivery turned home.