PENARTH 7-1 Devizes

Penarth’s 1st XI welcomed Devizes to Stanwell School following back-to-back draws against top-of-the-table opposition, at two weeks the longest run without a victory for the Vale side in over a year.

As a result, the Bears were determined to get themselves back into the habit of collecting three points rather than one in Conference North, and this resolve was evident within the first five minutes, as Andrew Willemite claimed his first league goal for the club following good work from Chris Baker on the right side of midfield.

Clearly liking the feeling he got from his opener, Willemite duly doubled his tally just minutes later, this time after a series of intricate passes around the Devizes 'D' between Joe Thomas, Ben Croxall and Phil Lane. With tails firmly up, Penarth continued to apply pressure to their West Country visitors and quickly found themselves 3-0 up with the clock still showing fewer than 20 minutes of action as Usman Dhami fired the ball inside the goalkeeper's near post after a penalty corner.

Meanwhile, any attempts by Devizes to turn the game around were thwarted by a strong defensive performance, as captain Tom Haran, Richard John, Mark Thomas and Marcus Powell consistently beat their opponents to the ball and effortlessly turned defence into attack.

Last season's top goalscorer, Laith El-Khatib, has some work to do if he is to retain his crown after a late start to 2016-17, but opened his account with Penarth's fourth, before Croxall found the back of the net in the only manner he is familiar with this year, from the penalty spot.

That brace sent Penarth into half-time with a commanding 5-0 lead but, after a quiet first period, goalkeeper Adam Putt was called on more frequently after the break and made a number of good saves to keep Devizes at bay. The visitors did manage to get themselves on the board after 50 minutes via a penalty stroke of their own, but this only spurred Penarth on to greater heights, and forwards Lane, Willemite and Jack Jopson continued to test the opposing 'keeper.

In the end, it was Willemite who added to his rapidly burgeoning tally with a further two goals to bring the final score to 7-1, capping an impressive team display by the Bears.

Goalscorers: Andrew Willemite (4), Usman Dhami, Ben Croxall (pen), Laith El-Khatib