Roger Wiltshire's Cavalier side were hoping to win back to back league games for the first time in 3 years when they entertained a strong Buttercross FC sporting several experienced Sunday league players.
Wiltshire's first headache of the day came when Carl Ledbury - one of the first names on the team sheet, failed to turn up, joining the likes of Delvin Keane on the name and shame list. This forced Wiltshire into calling up Chris Underwood to the matchday squad, showing his commitment to turn up at such short notice.
Utility man Mike Booth slotted in at the unfamiliar role of left-back, but had a great game, rarely being threatened.
The match started brightly for the home side, with Blanchard and Stockman controlling the middle of the park as usual. The game could've gone either way for the first 20 minutes, but it was John Stockman who had the first real chance. Roger Wiltshire launched a long throw to the penalty spot, and Stockman's smart turn and snap shot was brilliantly saved by the Buttercross 'keeper.
The deadlock was broken several minutes later by Cavalier's man in form, Antony Butler. After a great chested layoff by Jez Wiltshire, Butler took the ball in his stride, before lobbing a defender and heading delicately over the onrushing 'keeper.
Roger Wiltshire had the chance to double Cavalier's lead at the interval, but his left-footed strike on the turn went inches wide of the post.
Cavalier played well in the first half, and went in to the break with a deserved lead, but felt they could've had a 2 goal cushion when Jez Wiltshire was brought down on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, they way he fell to the ground was like watching the Titanic sink, and the ref waved play on.
HALF TIME: 1-0.
Shortly after the break, Roger Wiltshire gave way for Rob Randall, getting his first league appearance for the Cavalier. With the game still on a knife-edge, it was Wiltshire's 2 other substitutions that put the result beyond any doubt.
Chris Underwood was rewarded for his commitment with a place on his favourite position - left midfield. It was his marauding run and pinpoint cross that set up Antony Butler for a well taken second of the game.
With Leigh Blanchard's legs getting the better of him, Dave Young dusted off his striking boots and saw out the game for Cavalier as strike partner to Jez Wiltshire, in what was his first game upfront for 5 years. It was Dave's instinctive touch on the turn that put the game out of sight for Cavalier, prodding Butler's shot into the bottom corner, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
FULL TIME: 3-0.
After being 2 games unbeaten, and only shipping 1 goal, Cavalier are now mongst the favourites to gain promotion to Division 2 for the first time in their history. It was another fantastic team performance, and showed a lot of character when the match was still hanging in the balance. A real test next week against a Lacock side that just won21-0. But for now all the talk on the fans' lips is 'Dave Young - my hero'.
