Five-star show puts Rovers top of pile (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Five-star show puts Rovers top of pile

Bourton Rvrs 5, Cheltenham CS 1

A SECOND successive home victory ensured maximum points and an encouraging start to the season for Tony Spedding's side.

Civil Service, looking for their first points of the season, and including former Bourton forward Mark Larner in their squad, started the brighter, with Rovers looking drained from the heatwave that had engulfed the north Cotswolds last Saturday afternoon.

Yet the visitors failed to capitalise on any of their early pressure, coming closest with a quickly-taken volley from a right wing cross.

Bourton improved following the early introduction of James Luney when Tim Heming departed with a pulled muscle that forced Matthew Winter to drop into the back line.

The reshuffle and the extra presence of Luney left its mark on the game and the Service goalkeeper, who needed treatment for several minutes after a heavy collision with the bustling forward.

Whether he was still suffering from the effects of this when Bourton took the lead on 35 minutes isn't clear, but the stopper let a low drive from Kevin McPhilimey slip from his grasp and Stuart Hughes reacted quickest to drill the loose ball into the net.

Luney lobbed over at the start of the second half when he should have done better, before McPhilimey again turned provider for the second goal.

His free-kick from the right was arrowed in towards the far post and Winter provided the slightest of touches to turn the ball home.

This was a cue for the visitors to ring the changes and it was one of the substitutes who gave them a lifeline when the offside trap was split and the ball was lifted over onrushing goalkeeper Andrew Herbert.

With the visitors enjoying their best spell of the game, the impressive Michael Hughes had to stand firm at the heart of the defence, ably supported by full backs Tim Hudson, and Duncan Habbitts.

The decisive third goal came from Luney who turned his marker from a throw-in and, catching the keeper unawares, thrashed a volley into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Bourton were now in full control and Winter claimed his second and Bourton's fourth when he connected with a powerful header from another McPhilimey set- piece.

The fifth goal, right on time, came from substitute Tom Chanin after Luney's unselfish square pass.

On Saturday, with a depleted squad due to unavailability and injury, Bourton travel to another Cheltenham side, Smiths Athletic, looking to continue their good start to the season.

The Rissington Road outfit have been drawn at home against Cheltenham League first division outfit Star FC (formerly Eagle Star) in the first round of the County Senior Cup on Saturday, October 2.

Bourton will be hoping to go one better this season after losing in last May's final against Warden Hill United.