Hellenic League Division 1
Shortwood 0 SC Inkberrow 4
Shortwood boss Marcus Foxwell insisted the cobwebs of inactivity played a part in his side’s lacklustre display.
The Nailsworth side have hardly played in the past two months and it showed in this 4-0 home defeat to an impressive SC Inkberrow outfit.
Foxwell said: ” We looked rusty after the lack of games recently and had a couple of players missing, but we should still have had enough, but Inkberrow are strong and organised and we need to be more street wise for games like today.”
Foxwell was however, delighted with debuts off the bench for Tom King and Will Davis, who stepped up from the reserve team after playing for the U18s last season.
Earlier, Wood had a debut to goalkeeper Joe Wright from Fairford Town.
Wright could not be faulted for any of the goals and the score could in fact been worse if not for some fine saves.
Wood had an early chance when a Fin Byrnes free-kick was cleared to Dom Kent who was only inches wide with a 20 yard effort.
Smith had a shot blocked and Wood then had their best chance of the match after 17 minutes. Dan Gayner hooked the ball forward and Martin ran through and shot against keeper Frank’s legs.
Inkberrow broke at speed and the impressive Speer created space and fired past Wright into the far corner. On such instants are games decided. Higgins – Pugsley clipped the Wood bar from 25 yards and Wright saved impressively from Oli Smith. Benson then whistled a shot inches wide but just before the break Gayner curled a shot just over and a low cross from Smith was taken off the toes of Kent.
Wood made a bright start to the second half and Gayner had a shot deflected inches wide but were undone after 54 minutes when Spear headed a corner powerfully home. The game became scrappy with little cohesive play but Gayner’s cross was inches too high for Smith as he came in. With 10 minutes to go Inkberrow killed the game when Benson finished from 6 yards and their fourth 5 minutes before time was just icing on the cake
Shortwood: Wright, Loveridge (Sabally 81), Price, Byrnes, Tryner, Whelan, Duncan (King 67), Kent, Martin (Davis 81), Smith, Gayner D