From the moment skipper Joe Macklin launched into a crunching tackle that sent the ball for a goalkick at the other end of the pitch in the opening seconds of the game, you could sense that Lydney were in the right frame of mind. With Steve Jones having a run out for the Reserves, Ricky Elliott on honeymoon and both Ross Lindsay and Luke Barker unavailable, Town welcomed back Jonny Kear now cricket has finished and Matty Foxwell was fit enough to make the bench. With the squad getting back to something like full strength, Town opened up in confident mood although it was the visitors who threatened first.The lively Junior Howards giving Macklin and Elliott plenty to think about with his pace and trickery. The first big chance came on 34 minutes when Liddington laid the ball off for Halford who's shot was knocked wide by Meadows in the visitor's goal.From the resulting corner Halford then had a header cleared off the line. Town were not to be denied and went in front after 39 minutes. Glen Stallard sent a lovely ball into Adam Price who held off his marker and chipped a superb goal past Meadows to give his side a 1-0 half time lead.
The second half saw Lydney on the front foot with Easington settling to catch them on the break. Inside the first 10 minutes it very nearly paid dividends. Once again Howards broke at pace and when his cross went into the box James Hastie just failed with a far post volley. Town's James Morse(pictured) was getting through a mountain of work in midfield,ably assisted by Kear and Stallard, while upfront Halford was proving to be the perfect target man when Lydney came under pressure. Lydney sealed the points with a brilliant team goal on 58 minutes. Thomas easily claimed a cross to the far post and quickly released Morse down the left flank. His superb ball sent Price away and he played a neat one two with Liddington before sending a first time cross to the back post where Halford(pictured) applied a volleyed finish. Easington continued to threaten and their best player Howards was desperatley unlucky when he cut inside Macklin only to see his effort come back off the post. Just as Dan Reeves looked set to knock in the rebound, Macklin was there to block the ball for a corner. Lydney should have increased their lead on 65 minutes but Liddington flashed his header wide after being set up by a superb Morse cross.
Reeves had another goalbound effort blocked by Stallard, and Thomas had to get down smartly to deny the same player. Lydney sent on Bishop for the tiring Halford with 10 minutes left and they ended the game ontop. Both Price and Liddington shooting wide from good positions.
This weekend Lydney travel to Western League outfit Keynsham Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the F.A.Vase. The game is to be played on a brand new 3G artificial surface. As it only passed an official inspection by the F.A.last week this will be the first competative game on it.