Thumping Ransomes victory

Connor Morley notched a brace as Ransomes turned in a dominant performance to crush Old Newton in their first home game of the season. The only surprise of the afternoon was that it took the hosts a full hour before they registered their opening goal of the game.
With the visitors coming into this match with a decent record at Sidegate Avenue, it looked as though it would be a competitive affair, particularly with Old Newton gaining an impressive win last weekend. That was soon proved not to be the case. The Newts were in trouble from the start with both Franco Mallardo and Connor Morley trying their luck in the opening two minutes. Drew Connick then glanced a header wide when well placed before Old Newton had their first sight of the Ransomes goal. Bradley Barber conceded a poor free kick directly on the edge of the penalty area but the visitors attempt sailed harmlessly over.
A Ransomes corner then hit the post and Hindley saved well from Connor Morley as Ransomes continued to create chances. Franco Mallardo was next to strike the woodwork as his effort cannoned off the cross bar but the best opening of the game so far fell to Josh Caraccio on 36 minutes. As Ransomes broke, Drew Connick's perfect left sided delivery found Caraccio all alone but the midfielders first time effort was too close to Hindley and the keeper saved the visitors from going behind.
As the interval approached, half chances fell to both Drew Connick and Jamie Cole but somehow the half remained score-less.
After Jamie Cole had a shot blocked in the opening minute of the second period, Old Newton did begin to step forward as they attempted to gain a foothold in the match. They struck the side netting on 48 minutes and then Callum Deacon had to palm over a long range snap shot from Ransome, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.
In retaliation, the home side responded immediately. Franco Mallardo, who had probed with attitude and drive all afternoon, albeit with no end product, passed up two good opportunities but eventually, the smooth outweighed the rough.
The gulf in class was evident as the match wore on and Ransomes finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Bradley Barber was the architect with a telling diagonal ball into the box which was met first time on the full by Connor Morley. The goal was certainly merited on the balance of play, and from that point onwards Old Newton never looked able to muster even a smidgen of a response.
Ransomes were now in their element with Nay Woollard knitting things together in the middle, and their threat continued every time they were able to work their strikers into dangerous positions. They essentially extinguished any lingering Old Newton hopes with a second goal on 66 minutes as a Nay Woollard pass released Drew Connick on the angle. Calmly he rounded Hindley to slot home despite the attempts of a recovering defender.
A chastening defeat was compounded for Old Newton in the final 15 minutes of this match as Ransomes added a further three goals.
The visitors could not defend the second phase of an Adam Todd corner as Bradley Barber flicked his header across the face of a crowded penalty area where Nay Woollard simply wanted it more than Old Newton's defenders and his goal meant Ransomes would have nothing to blemish from there.
The midfielder was also involved in Ransomes fourth. His committed challenge set up a chance by winning possession in the final third as Adam Todd pinched the loose ball. He ran at the Newts defence before smashing an angled drive into the far corner from just inside the box as Ransomes continued to stretch the visitors with every attack.
Ransomes final goal came in the 90th minute as Jamie Cole's route to goal was closed off but his pass found Connor Morley who delivered a stunning strike from outside the box that left Hindley rooted to his line thus completing an impressive and clinical second half showing.
Pressure had been building on Ransomes throughout the first period after a raft of missed chances but the floodgates finally opened following Morley's opener, and as a result, it turned in to an otherwise perfect afternoon for the hosts.