Casuals and Pelham finally got the performance, clean sheet and goals they were looking for as they ran out 8-0 winners away from home against Birchwood Rangers. Pelham went into this game with some serious goal difference to catch up with on Foxton Old Boys and didn't think they would get that against an alleged very good Birchwood side. With only 12 men available too they knew the win could be a big task and the away side started very quickly. They took and early lead as some good work from Tim Shaw saw him find Jamie Richards who tucked the ball away, 1-0 after 4 minutes. That lead wasn't doubled until the 20th minute as Lee Simper broke forward after a good ball in over the top from Ant Hamilton-Pilot. Simper took the ball down with one touch and lashed it into the net with the other 2-0. 5 minutes later Joe White made a good run forwards and was taken out in the box just as he was about to get a shot off, with the ref pointing to the spot, penalty Pelham. Tim Shaw stepped up and made no mistake, 3-0 to Pelham. Another 5 minutes later Shaw doubled his tally for the game, a ball over the top from Liam Perry saw Shaw latch on to the ball and smash it past the keeper, 4-0 Pelham. The blue's weren't done yet and 5 minutes before the half saw some good work from Matt Newman with the ball then breaking to Dan Boycd, who poked a ball through for Jamie Richards who then dinked the ball over the keeper making it 5-0 to Pelham. Pelham had other opportunities in the half to score more as Boyce and Shaw both got through on goal, but couldn't convert, 5-0 was how it stood at the half. Even after a great first half, Pelham did not want to get complacent and spoke strongly at the half about carrying on as they had started. Birchwood pushed hard at the start of the half, but a 6th Pelham goal killed those hopes off. A ball from the right hand side from Ant Hamilton-Pilot saw the ball break through in the box to Jamie Richards, with a couple of players on him he tee'd himself up, shot and swivled and tucked the ball away in the corner, 6-0 and a Richards hattrick. Pelham continued to create chances and play some nice football, and they made it 7-0 with around 25 minutes left. Joe White once again made a run into the box and was tripped giving Pelham their second penalty of the game. Tim Shaw stepped up again and put the ball the other way, grabbing himself a hattrick and giving Pelham a healthy lead. With 10 minutes to go it was another hattrick complete, a third penalty given for another foul in the box on Joe White. With Shaw off the pitch Ant Hamilton-Pilot stepped up for this one, and made no mistake finishing, rounding off a brilliant performance making it 8-0. The final 10 minutes were played out but there were to be no more goals, 8-0 was how it finished and the performance of the season from Pelham. It's the result and performance we wanted, and we will be looking for more of the same over the next few weeks to give us an even greater goal difference and put us in the driving seat for the league title. No one put a foot wrong today and therefore everyone who played a part is awarded with man of the match today. On to Hatfield Heath next weekend and another big performance needed.
