New Hedges Saundersfoot United (NHS) travelled the short journey down to London Road Pembroke Boro on Saturday, after the heroics of the previous weekend’s 3-3 home draw with promotion chasing rivals Cosheston.
The players and management were keen to get the team back on track with a win. Bolstered with the return of the experienced pair Rhys Bates and Gethin Hewson at left back and right back respectively, Ben Gray slotting back into his usual role of centre back and the ever-reliable stalwart Geoff Marsh, coupled with captain Justin Silver between the sticks, the foundation was laid with a Boro side that rarely threatened throughout.
Midfield comprised of the central organised pairing of Sam Coleman and Dan Bates, with the wide channels occupied by the return of top goal scorer Joe Simmons along with a debut from the highly exciting Evan Owen.
Up top the experienced Nick Cope and the versatile Jack Franklin formed a formidable front pairing ensuring that it was to be a day of plentiful goal opportunities for the attacking players.
The away side started with a bang, and with barely two minutes on the clock Nick Cope opened his account with an impressive assist from full back Gethin ‘Kev’ Hewson.
This was quickly to become three nil within 19 minutes, and a quick-fire hat-trick for Cope. The plucky Boro team, although under siege throughout, battled well but couldn’t compete with the constant bombardment of NHS attacks.
Time and time again they were cruelly exposed by an NHS side who were well and truly on song.
Indeed, as is often the case in these sort of demolition scorelines, only the home goalkeeper heroically prevented many more goal bound efforts.
As the goals rained down on the hapless Pembroke Boro side throughout the match from the 27th minute, a fourth goal for the NHS side was scored by the ever-reliable Franklin with a neat finish to add to his season tally.
Cope added two more to make it five for the day as they say. Simmons finished with two, and the highly impressive Evan Owens scored three to make it a memorable debut hat-trick and sublime possible man of the match performance from the youngster.
With fresh legs to enter the fray, and to see the task fully completed enter Stuart Maclaren, Taine Brace and the ever-committed Steff Howells.
Together as the Boro fatefully wilted under extreme pressure, the scoreline quickly became 0-13 with two own goals in quick succession.
The bombardment was completed with a plucky two goals and a near third hat-trick of the day for the ‘aerial salmon’ Marsh to mark a near perfect 1-15 scoreline and momentous result.
Next weekend’s fixture is on the road again against Milford Athletic. Saturday’s match was kindly sponsored by Goofy’s Garden services, many thanks to Andrew Brace for his support.