Stroud & District Football League Division 2

Minchinhampton FC 4

Longford 0

Minchinhampton's fine run of results continued with a comfortable victory over struggling Longford.

A front-foot start saw Minchinhampton rewarded when Jamie Lees's through ball fell to Jack Hornsby who stretched and hooked the ball across the keeper and into the net.

This lead was extended further when Charlie Farrington sent a long ball over the Longford defence for Hornsby to utilise his blistering pace and double the home side's lead.

Chris Earle was then denied a further goal seeing his effort ruled out for offside. Undeterred, from the next passage of play Earle whipped in a wickedly inswinging corner which was met by Riki Noble to head home from close range.

The second period was played out in a typical end of season style with the match already won and Minchinhampton were guilty of squandering a hat full of chances.

Longford huffed and puffed and apart from a fantastic free-kick which was acrobatically clawed away to safety by Jame Crowest in the Minchinhampton goal the visitors offered little in an effort to get back into the match.

Late on a Riki Noble incisive pass was pounced on by Hornsby who ignored Earle's pleas for a square ball to dance around the keeper and fire the ball into the net from an acute angle. Another hat-trick.

Minchinhampton's star man, voted on by the players, was Tom Moss, who is fast becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.

Stroud & District Football League Division 6

Horsley United Reserves 1

Minchinhampton Reserves 7

A RESURGENT Minchinhampton Reserves side opened the scoring when Ed Gosling fired in a ferocious finish which the Horsley keeper, Kevin Pride, could only parry it into the net.

Gosling was soon on hand to add a second, cooly finishing into the far top corner across the keeper from just inside the box to make it 2-0.

Horsley threatened with long balls down the slope but found Ash Hallett and the rear guard of Liam Linnane, Philip Ellis, Ash Hands and Dan Matthews in no mood to give an inch defensively.

Minchinhampton found themselves three to the good when Nick Matthews cutely finished left-footed through a crowd in the box 3-0.

Horsley gave themselves faint hope when a free-kick on the edge of the box was hammered in by home custodian Pride with minutes of the first-half remaining. 3-1.

Not to be outdone Minchinhampton managed to restore their three-goal advantage before the break when a corner, partially cleared, was worked back out to Nick Matthews whose pinpoint delivery left the unmarked Ed Gosling with the simplest of headers to complete his first hat-trick.

Minchinhampton resumed with the lively Jonny Hoppner, combined with Phil Ellis and was adjudged to have been upended in the box and Nick Matthews stepped up to resume penalty duties and bag his second of the match.

Minchinhampton buoyed by their dominance soon found themselves further in front with Calum Moylan heading in from a corner to make it six.

Horsley played their part, always willing to work on a difficult surface and were unlucky when a wayward cross from the right made sure Ash Hallett was on his toes, colliding with the post in diving to make his save.

Time ebbed away and as legs tired Minchinhampton were unlucky not to take further advantage Jake Williams goal disallowed for an obstruction off the ball, but the seventh put the cherry on the cake, Jake Williams with a great reverse pass to release Calum Moylan who calmly chipped the onrushing keeper to double his tally for the afternoon and put Minchinhampton Reserves firmly in the hunt for a promotion spot.