Tadley take three but is the leading chances

Bight start goes awry but Calleva still score comfortable win to go second

Andover New Street 0 Tadley Calleva 3

TADLEY should have been sitting atop the Sydenhams Wessex League’s Division One this morning but instead find themselves tucked in behind Downton on goal difference after a surprisingly frustrating Wednesday evening at Foxcotte Park.

Top spot should have been wrapped up in the opening quarter when Tadley ripped open the home defence before all the decisive build-up work fell apart and Tadley were left scrapping for more than an hour before netting a calming third goal.

They should have had three in the opening three minutes, all by Brett Denham. He put a free header at goalkeeper Dave Tasker in 35 seconds and sent another over the top, in between meeting Dan Vickers’ cut-back to beat Tasker.

Vickers struck 10 minutes later when meeting Glen Gabriel’s corner at the near post and Tasker twice denied him before Tadley seemed to forget what they had done right and slowed Street to get back into the game.

They made few chances though, not testing Tom Hindmarsh until he had to fly to keep out Nathan Rae’s free kick and then Jesse Todd’s stubbed shot after a long run.

Tadley continued to spurn openings while throwing away the chances to make more through over-elaboration and Street harried and hustled a bid to claw back something.

Even substitute James Tennant wasted a couple of good chances but he did take a beauty, collecting Scott Kinge’s perfectly angled free kick to weave inside and drive a poweful effort past Tasker.

Tadley rose to second, one goal short of the side they meet at Barlows Park on Saturday with manager Danny Dolan promising a major work-out at training.

Tadley Calleva: Hindmarsh; J. Kingston, Kinge, Barlow, Thomas (Milford); Kalinga (Tennant), Vickers, Bush, Gabriel (Thorne), Hamlton, Denham. Subs: O’Brien, D. Charsley.