Minchinhampton 8

Taverners Reserves 1

Stroud & District Football League Division 2

Minchinhampton made it 13 goals in two games after they thrashed local rivals Taverners Reserves at the weekend.

A quick-fire start to this local derby against an experienced Taverners Reserves side saw Minchinhampton take the game to their visitors and after failing to put the finishing touches to their bright approach play the deadlock was finally broken whenJosh Button fired Minch into the lead from close range before they doubled their advantage soon after when Jack Hornsby’s shot came back off the post and Ollie Osborne-Shill was alive to slam home the rebound. Taverners eased back into the match and snatched a goal on the stroke of half time with Brad Jones curling a free kick in off the bar.

The second period saw Taverners almost hit back with a Mark Harsant effort hitting the cross bar. Minchinhampton regained the upper hand with Hornsby alive to extend their lead. Ollie Portlock then fired home a free kick against his old club before Hornsby converted a penalty awarded for a bit of afters following a corner. Taverners were then reduced to ten men with Jamie Bish dismissed for a last man foul and Minch ploughed on with further goals from Riki Noble and Osborne-Shill to add to the rout. Mark Harsant again saw another effort hit the frame of the goal before Jack Hornsby added another via a Taverners defender to complete his hat trick and to give the home side an emphatic victory which has seen them go fifth into the table just three points off second.