After the weekends wonder show against 2nd division Inky F.C. it was another late venue change, and another trip up to Netherthorpe School for Boythorpe, to take on Division 7 side, and local rivals Red Lion Brampton. Manager Dave Bennett lost goalkeeper Martin Potter and defenders Phil Lawrence, and Alan Hardy through injury and work comitments, but on the plus side could welcome back Paul Walton and Scott Bennett who were both thrust into the starting line up.
Boythorpe defending the slight slope were almost caught in the 1st minute, when the left winger got beyond the back 4 but wasted a good chance. It was soon business as usual though after 5 minutes as Shane Bennett and Dean Brown started to impose themselves in midfield, and a good ball from Bonson to Brown saw the influentual skipper put the chance just wide. Seconds later Bonson again put a great ball through to Wright this time but Red Lion and ex Boythorpe stopper Gavin Richards smothered the ball well.
It was begining to be one way traffic as Boythorpe tightened thier grip on the game, and a great ball through to Lee Walton saw the shot tipped over for a corner. This was whipped in and Wright went close with a smart header. Another corner after 12 mins saw Shane Bennett also head just wide.
The goal all this pressure deserved came on 20 mins with a flash of utter brilliance, and great vision by Paul Walton. Boythorpe gained a free kick just outside thier own area Paul Walton looked up and saw his Brother LEE WALTON in a great position way up the field, he launched a peach of a pass right onto his brothers toe and he did the rest slotting the ball in for 1-0. This signalled a 5 minute spell where Boythorpe and BROWN in particular took the game by the scruff of the neck. First the skipper bent a free kick beyond the wall and into the net from 22 yards then within 2 mins added his 2nd, winning the ball before making space and firing home. SCOTT BENNETT then got into the act getting the goal all his hard pre season work had deserved, he latched onto a wonderful pass from Wright before taking his time, drawing the keeper and firing past him for 4-0.
Boythorpe then seemed to think "job done" and took thier foot right off the gas. Furniss who had hardly seen the ball previously had to watch a long shot that was just going in under the bar but he held it well. Things seemed to become disjointed all over the park as Red Lion started to make inroads through midfield. At times anyone watching could have mistakingly thught the score was 0-0 and after 41 mins a ball over the back 4 was not dealt with and the Red Lion striker swivelled and turned the ball past Furniss for an unlikley life line. Further joy came Red Lions way right on half time when Miles got the wrong side of the striker, and had his hands all over him holding him back, the resulting penalty was smashed past Furniss giving him no chance. HALF TIME Red Lion Brampton...2 Boythorpe...4
Benny then delivered " THE MOTHER OF ALL TEAMTALKS" during the half time break, laying into a number of players and introducing Kev Widerman up front to add pace to his attack, replacing Paul Walton. This bore fruit within a minute, Wright found WIDERMAN whose shot was pushed up by the keeper but the in form striker finished putting the rebound home. He added his 2nd after 52 mins, Brown broke up a Red Lion attack and laid the ball on to Walton, who in turn found WIDERMAN who lobbed the keeper from quite a distance out from goal. He almost completed his hat trick within 10 mins of coming on clipping a Brown pass beyond the keeper but onto the post
On the hour Bettney replaced the tiring Scott Bennett to heap more misery on the opposition, and he did just that within 5 mins finding the on fire striker whos shot hit the post and found WRIGHT who SMASHED the ball onto the bar and bouncing up into he roof of the net On 69 mins Higginbottoms bad challege saw him injure himself and be replaced by Johnson. Within a minute Brown found Bettney but he shot inches over. With just 15 mins remaining he found BROWN from a quickly taken corner and the skipper although about 30 yards out bent his shot through a gap in the defence giving the keeper no chance notching his hat-trick for 8-2.
Red Lion got a half chance winning a corner off Whitehead but they put the shot wide. With just 10 mins left and the game NOW comfortable Benny brought on Cartwright for Whitehead in the heart of the defence, but his first action was to give away a free kick for pushing. On 82 mins Red Lion themselves hit the post and then we witnessed a 8 minute hat-trick from Bettney, First a great run by MOM Widerman found BETTNEY who beat a defender before firing home. 2 mins later Walton put a superb ball through to BETTNEY and he lobbed the ball over the shell shocked keeper to give Boythorpe DOUBLE figures. The last of Boythorpes goals and BETTNEYS hat-trick came with just 2 minutes remaining Wright broke into Red Lions box with a fine run knocking the ball past the diving keeper, as the ball was going out wide BETTNEY picked it up and crashed it high into the net from a riddiculous angle. As time was running out Red Lion had the final say as a corner gained from a fine clearance behind by Cartwright, saw Miles appear to be fouled, but the striker bundled the ball over the line. FINAL SCORE Red Lion Brampton...3 Boythorpe...11
