Kings Stanley 3, Longlevens 0

KINGS Stanley followed up last weekends successful venture in two cup competitions with an impressive win, as they returned to Division One action, against a useful Longlevens side.

Stanley had the perfect start within two minutes when Tim Haddock chased down a back pass to the opposition keeper and was rewarded for his efforts when he got the rebound and it was then only a formality for Haddock to roll the ball into an empty goal.

This early setback stung the visitors into action, but they were met by a resolute Stanley defence who were in no mood to concede their early advantage.

The Bluebells midfield quartet, Craig Hampson, Lee Davis, Russell Chamberlain and Haddock, dominated play quickly closing down their opponents giving them little opportunity to threaten the Stanley goal.

On the odd occasion that the visitors got the ball through to their front men they found the back four of Adam Smith, Russell Tritton, Tony Francis and Darren Neary providing a formidable defensive barrier.

Minutes later Stanley had a fine chance to add their second, but Jon Whittaker was unable to direct his firm header on target from a deep cross.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Lee Pritchard made a characteristic surging run into the Longlevens penalty area and for once he curbed his natural desire to rip the back of the net out and instead wrong-footed the keeper before steering home the second inside the right post.

The remainder of the first half saw Stanley mainly in command as the game developed into a midfield battle.

Any thoughts the visitors might have had of making an early breakthrough in the second half were soon dashed within minutes of the restart when Pritchard ran at their defence, pushed the ball past the last defender and slipped the ball under the oncoming keeper for a very well taken goal.

That third goal more or less killed the game off, although Longlevens never gave up trying, but they rarely troubled Martyn Pearce in the Stanley goal, who dealt confidently with the few shots that they managed to get on target.

This was an excellent performance by Stanley and with current leaders Bredon losing again the Bluebells bid for the title is now very much back on.