Moreton Rangers 0
Shortwood 3
UHL Hellenic League
New signing Jacob Eakers inspired Shortwood up jump up to third after a comprehensive victory at Moreton, writes Jim Cunneen.
Eakers, a Gloucester City U18s starlet, pulled the strings for Shortwood in a comprehensive team performance.
Earlier, Alfie Bradshaw replaced Max Harper – Emerson after only10 minutes with a quad strain.
Jake Rhodes and the returning Ben Tunnicliff were also outstanding.
After only 4 minutes Wood were desperately unlucky not to take the lead. Eakers won the ball in midfield and put Luke Soule in but his shot was tipped onto the inside of the post by keeper Hollings and the ball ran along
the goal line before being hacked clear.
Wood took the lead after 22 minutes. Rhodes clipped the ball down the line to
Chris Earle who beat his man and crossed low into the area for Soule to score a trademark Soule goal – receiving a nasty whack on the ankle for his trouble.
Moreton came back and twice fizzed shots across the goal and narrowly wide. Penfold picked up a booking for a foul on Soule and from the free kick Bradshaw headed too close to the keeper.
In the second half, Wood were completely on top. Bradshaw was unlucky with a header before Wood doubled their lead after 56 minutes. Eakers and Rhodes combined and Rhodes’s excellent through-ball set Earle free. He danced through the middle, rounded the keeper and finished neatly.
Eakers forced the keeper into a sprawling save before Wood scored the third with 15 minutes to go. Nathan Payne sent in a free kick and Tunnicliff powered an unstoppable header into the roof of the net.
Shortwood: Muir, Harper – Emerson (Alfie Bradshaw 11), Evanson B, Tunnicliff, Tryner, Tosdevine, Payne, Rhodes, Soule, Eakers, Earle.
Star man: Jacob Eakers
