Goals from Luke Owen, Marcus Farrell, Alex Matthews, a brace from Reece Foxon and a hat-trick from Paul Uings ensured there was no chance of cup-set, as Luddesdown Lions cruised to an 8-2 away victory against AFC Rochester in the Centenary Cup.
The Lions wasted no time in brightening spirits on a soggy afternoon at Cliffe Recreation Ground, with Foxon opening the scoring from close range early on.
From then on it was a walk in the park for Avery’s men, with the home-side devoid any quality and barely managing to make it out of their own half.
The Lions took control of the fixture with some neat and tidy passing, with man of the match Dominic Chidlow pulling the strings in centre of the park.
The midfielder was omnipresent for the Avery’s men, delivering an industrious performance and displaying some nice touches.
Farrell followed Foxon on the score-sheet chalking up his second goal in successive games. The forward slotted home with a composed finish after being put through by some slick passing play by Uings.
A goal from newly converted centre-back Owen came next, the defender rose with ease to power home a Foxon corner.
Not one to be left out, Uings opened up his account for the Lions with an impressive header. The striker’s salmon-like leap met a perfect cross from Brad Norris to make the score 4-0 with 45 minutes played.
The Lions were buoyant as they returned to the field after the break with a typically goal hungry Uings eager to add to his goal tally.
The front-man didn’t disappoint - scoring with a close range effort after a fumble from the AFC keeper.
A contender for goal of the day then came against the run of play when an AFC midfielder picked up the ball and rocketed a strike home from long range, flying over Lions keeper Lewis Bromley in the process.
The home side’s joy was to be short lived however as Uings completed his hat-
trick with a classy finish from a low Norris cross.
The Lions were at a canter for the rest of the game as Foxon grabbed his second with a powerful striker into the bottom corner.
There was even a rare appearance on the score sheet for versatile midfielder/defensive dynamo Matthews.
The substitute was the grateful recipient of hapless keeping, after his tame shot was fumbled into the back of the net by the rotund AFC keeper.
The home side scored the last goal of the day after capitalising on a lapse in concentration by the Lions’ defence, but by that point the away side were already thinking of the next round.
AFC Rochester were a side from the division below and miles apart in terms of quality, but two use footballing clichés – at the end of the day you can only beat what’s in front of you – and success on the road should never be sniffed at.
Lions XI - Bromley; Clarke, Owen, Jones, Adkin; Norris, Chidlow, Brady, Foxon; Farell, Uings.
Subs - Matthews, Newberry, Fauklin
