Goals glut as Newbury score nine

NEWBURY 9
ABINGDON TOWN 1
The 52 spectators who turned up at Faraday Road on Tuesday evening, certainly got their money’s worth, as Newbury demolished their near neighbours with a controlled game of one-touch football, to record their second home victory in the Premier division of the Hellenic League.
A torrential downpour, an hour before the start, freshened up the pitch, as Newbury pinged the ball around, leaving Abingdon chasing shadows.
A hat-trick apiece for Ray Spence, and substitute Darren Jones, led the scoring rout.
Some people were still entering the ground when Jamie Green put the home side on their way, in the second minute, converting Ben McCready’s cross from the right wing.
five minutes later, the visitors enjoyed their moment to shine. A fine move upfield, resulted in Tom Larman beating Andy Bayliss from the edge of the box.
On 16 minutes, Newbury edged in front again, when Callum Willmoth sent a free kick into the box, and Carl Jenner beat keeper Rob Hambling with a powerful header.
On 24 minutes, Bayliss pulled off a fine save to keep Newbury in front, and two minutes later, Jason Peters crossed from the left and Chris Collins cheekily backheeled the ball into the net from three yards.
A class run and lob from Ray Spence after 32 minutes, saw the striker grab the first of his three on the night.
Jamie Green was clear three minutes later, but hit the bar with just Hambling to beat.
As half-time approached, Willmoth had an incredible miss. Standing almost on the goal line, he put his header over the bar from Green’s right wing centre.
After the break, Darren Jones replaced Carl Jenner, who had taken a knock, and with almost his first touch, Jones scored Newbury’s fifth goal, converting McCready’s cross on 48 minutes.
Spence hit his second after 54 minutes, converting another cross from McCready, before Peters was replaced by Danny Lachacz.
Spence completed his hat trick on 71 minutes, a strong run into the box taking him past several challenges, before he blasted the ball into the top of the net.
Keeper Andy Bayliss left the field with an injury, after 67 minutes, to be replaced with Simon Digweed.
Jones hit his second and Newbury’s eighth on 77 minutes, and rounded off his evening in style five minutes later, scoring his side’s ninth.
Next up for Newbury, is a home tussle with Kidlington on Saturday. Kick off is at 3pm.
Newbury: Bayliss, McCready, Peters, Sadler, Jenner, Pearce, Elmore, Collins, Spence, Green, Willmoth. Subs: Jones, Digweed, Lachacz, Care, Lavisher.
Referee: Kevin Norris (Kidlington)
Attendance: 52