A brace from Shortwood hot-shot Luke Soule maintained his side’s progress in a 3-0 Hellenic League Division One West victor over Milton United, writes Jim Cunneen.
Earlier, Wood introduced new signing Jahiem Clarke from the bench and he looked as if he is going to be a real handful for defences – while Soule scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season and Lennon Lewis fizzed in the goal that was the icing on the cake.
Fin Byrnes was Wood’s star player and Dan Brabham again showed his worth in goal with a couple of excellent saves.
The game turned in the 22nd minute. Soule turned his defender and was brought down as he raced clear and the official showed Ty Lee a straight red card. Lewis Fogg replaced the injured Billy Montague.
Soule opened the scoring on 60 minutes – with a sublime chip over the keeper. A second goal came just four minutes later in bizarre circumstances. Josh Beadle fouled a defender and Milton took a quick free-kick. With Milton switched off the free-kick was knocked straight to Soule who raced through, rounded the keeper, and planted the ball into the net. Nowell had a header cleared off the line before Wood scored their third five minutes from the end. Chalmers Phin’s through ball was perfect for Lewis to power his way through the heart of the defence and shoot into the bottom corner.
Shortwood: Brabham, Montague (Fogg 45), Barrett, Nowell, Tryner, Byrnes, Hobbs, Beadle, Soule (Lewis 78), Harper Emerson (Jahiem Clarke 59), Phin
