Sponsored by
Hunter's treble helps Town to emphatic win
United Counties League Premier Division Raunds 1 Sleaford Town 4 AN emphatic victory on the road against the league's bottom club saw Town move up to eighth in the Premier Division table.
They began the game playing an unfamiliar 4-3-3 system, with Martin Wormall, Miles Hunter and Jamie Shaw providing a three-pronged attack.
Shaw was involved in the action early on, forcing the home keeper to push away his well struck free kick for a corner. From the subsequent corner, Sleaford full back Stewart Smith headed over the bar.
Shaw found Hunter in space but Town's leading scorer saw his shot saved.
Hunter then came close to opening the scoring when he met an accurate pass from Tom Ward on the half-volley sending the ball thudding against the crossbar.
With so much early action it was no surprise when Town took the lead, Hunter's shot being deflected into the net with the game still only seven minutes old.
A poorly judged back pass by Khameel Spence put Town keeper Jack Drury in trouble and he was injured when a Raunds' player clattered into him. However, Drury carried on, with the Town bench incensed that firmer action wasn't taken against the offending Raunds' player by the match official.
The home side drew level after 25 minutes, which gave them renewed confidence and they enjoyed their best spell of the game, with their number six blasting over having burst through the Town defence and Drury being forced to push a dangerous shot over the bar.
For the second half, Town boss Brian Rowland reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, with Shaw dropping back to left midfield.
Shaw should have scored when he was put in the clear by Matt Hodgkin but the normally clinical striker spurned the opportunity on this occasion.
With Sleaford starting to take control of the game, Wormall won the ball in the air setting up Miles, who shot over, before Paul Ward headed a McCormack corner just wide of the mark.
Town did eventually regain the lead and it was that man Hunter who again applied the finish after good work by Wormall.
Moments later Wormall put his name on the score-sheet to make it 3-1.
Twenty minutes into the second period Kris Jones and Ryan Oliver came on to replace Spence and Shaw and five minutes later Simon Bolland was brought on for Paul Ward. Bolland quickly made his presence felt, testing the keeper with a fierce 20-yard shot.
Sleaford were now in total command and eight minutes from time Hunter completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Wormall was brought down in the box to wrap up the match for Town.
It was a result and performance that pleased Town boss Brian Rowland, who said: "It was a game we were expected to win but you can take nothing for granted at this level.
"I felt we played well and were convincing winners in the end.
"I thought Martin Wormall had a particularly good game. He is a quality player on the ball."
Town: Drury; Hodgkin, T Ward, Spence; Smith; McCormack, P Ward, Bishop; Wormall, Hunter, Shaw. Subs: Bolland, Oliver, Jones, Ajimoko
* On Saturday, Town travel to Holbeach.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sleaford
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
