With 12 new teams joining Division three this season there are a number of unknown qualities battling for the silverware, Cavalier FC are the only team of the 13 in the division that could boast league experience although just three victories from their previous 47 outings wasn’t the form of champions, so a match away at league newcomers Trowbridge Wanderers (Sunday) who boasted many experienced players should have been a daunting task for the whipping boys. That wasn’t to be the case as Cavalier coasted to a comfortable 6-1 win over their hosts.
Cavalier were again let down prior to kick-off by Delvin Keane, who was already on a last chance. With the size of the squad at Wiltshire's disposal, it's hard to see Keane making his way back into the team from this latest setback. But with Wiltshire prepared for this situation, there were still 4 other subs waiting in the wings.
With the fiasco that is now known as 'shinpad-gate', Liam McEniry was relegated to the bench, giving Dave Young his first competitive match in the yellow and black. He rose to the occassion and thwarted every attack down his side.
From the off it was clear that Trowbridge Wanderers were a 1-dimensional team with only 1 decent player. Cavalier soon picked up on this, and it was one way traffic for the whole half. The 1st shot of the game came from Leigh Blanchard, still looking for his first goal of the season. Unfortunately his shot went over the bar. This seemed to encourage the away side, and it wasn't long before Roger Wiltshire had an effort on goal, stinging the palms of the 'keeper.
The breakthrough came after 15 minutes, when a shot-cross by Roger Wiltshire was met at the back post by Dan Rance, who controlled the ball well and rifled his shot into the back of the net.
1-0 soon became 2-0, when Rance doubled his side's and his own personal goal tally. Wiltshire held up the ball on the half way line waiting for someone to make a run, before releasing the ball to Rance, who had the whole opponents half to run into, before slotting the ball calmly into the bottom corner.
Mike Booth had a chance to further increase Cavalier's lead after being played through by Jez Wiltshire, but blazed his effort high of the goal.
Roger Wiltshire then was brought down in contraversial fashion inside the box, but the ref waved play on.
Jez Wiltshire nearly got on the scoresheet himself just before half time when he found himself through on goal, but his indecision allowed a defender to get back and clear the ball to safety.
HALF-TIME: 0-2.
Wiltshire introduced Antony Butler at the interval, coming on for the industrious Mike Booth. Butler was keen to put his stamp on the game, and establish himself as a regular starter for Cavalier - something that won't be easy with the likes of Booth, Rance and Wiltshire on top form.
Within 5 minutes, it was Butler who grabbed the 3rd, after good work down the left wing by Stockman, Butler found the ball at his feet right infront of the 'keeper. His first touch allowed him to just prod the ball home from 5 yards.
With the Trowbrdige defence tiring, it was left to the Cavalier's pacey front line to kill the game off. Roger Wiltshire's good partnership with Jez Wiltshire finally paid off on the hour mark when Jez fed Roger through 1-on-1. Wiltshire brough the ball down before firing his left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Trowbridge Wanderers grabbed a goal back through Ferris Lamrabet, but it was nothing more than a consolation goal.
Dan Rance, who was on a hat-trick, then had the chance he was waiting for, but his touch was a bit heavy, allowing the 'keeper to come off his line to make the crucial tackle. Rance, who has been under some pressure for that right midfield position for the first time in Cavalier history, with the likes of Rob Randall and Lee Whyte breathing down his neck, managed to prove his doubters wrong with a fine display before being replaced.
Chris Underwood then came on for his first taste of league football in a Cavalier shirt, but struggled to make an impact in the short time he was on the pitch, despite having a shot on target from 25 yards.
Wiltshire then grabbed his 2nd of the game courtesy of a Michael Stone through ball. In what was a mirror image of his first goal, he took the ball in his stride, before lashing it into the roof of the net - this time with his right foot.
There was still time for Wiltshire to try and get his hat-trick, when the 'keeper came way off his line to make a clearance. Wiltshire just got there first, and with the goal gaping his curling effort from 25 yards went inches wide with 2 defenders on the line.
Stone then got in on the act himself, scoring Cavalier's 6th and final goal, putting the result beyond any doubt.
FULL-TIME: 1-6.
A great way to kick off the new season, and hopefully the first of many results like this. Everyone worked hard for eachother and for the cause. But please, next time, remember your kit! Boots, shinpads and a fiver - that's all you need!
