Ventolin Inhalers gained their first win of the new season, beating in form High & Mighty 5-2 on a freezing cold night at Stanley Deeson.
Man of the Match, defender Andy Ross led the way with a superb hatrick, ably supported by Loz Robinson who netted a brace. Joe Plass and Tony Dain weighed in with two assists each in an excellent all round team performance.
Ventolin started the game with just five fit players due to the enforced absence of John Archdeacon due to a recurring back problem, although on such a chilly night nobody minded as would get cold sitting on the subs bench.
The game started at quite a pace, with High & Mighty launching several early forays into the Ventolin half. One of these nearly resulted in an early goal after a misplaced pass from Dain left the rangy striker with only the keeper to beat, fortunately Barton was more than upto the task, saving well with his feet. With both sides struggling to create any clear cut chances, it was no surprise that the game remained goal less. Robinson saw his long range effort go narrowly wide, while Plass saw his goal bound effort well saved by the keeper.
As the half drew to a close High & Mighty thought they had taken the lead, only to see the ball rebound off the post and out of danger. HT 0-0.
Ventolin knew that if they remained tight at the back, and improved their final pass they would certainly create more than enough chances to win the game.
Ventolin started quickly with Dain finding Plass mid pitch, in space Plass found Ross with his back to goal, turning acutely Ross somehow steered the ball past the hapless keeper. 1-0.
Ventolin were now playing the ball around in style, Robinson soon doubled the lead with a long range effort that in all honesty the keeper should have saved, seeing it squirm through his hands and into the net. 2-0.
Ventolin were rampant now, with both Plass and Robinson having chances to increase the lead. It was soon 3-0 after Plass found Dain in space out wide, who went past the defender, before pulling the ball back into the path of Ross, who fired the ball home in style.
This seemed to rouse High & Mighty from their slumber as they now launched a series of attacks on the Inhalers goal, although with Barton in fine form they were unable to breakthrough.
They did pull a goal back after Dain and Plass contrived to give the ball away, allowing the Mighty striker to slot the ball past the exposed Barton in the Ventolin goal. 3-1.
It was soon 3-2 with High & Mighty benefitting from a slice of good fortune, seeing the ball spill out of a tackle into the path of the High & Mighty captain, who made no mistake, firing the ball with venom into the bottom corner of the Ventolin goal.
The mighty sensed blood and surged forward, only to see ventolin hold firm and counter attack in style. First Ross finished off another fine team move after more good work from Robinson and then finally Plass who teed up Ross for his hatrick. 4-2 and with only two minutes remaining Ventolin scored the goal of the game to seal the victory.
Barton started the move, playing the ball to Dain, who then played a neat one two with Plass, continuing his run, he slipped the ball across the pitch to Robinson, who in space, cooly fired the ball past the keeper to make it 5-2.
Both sides shook hands in what had been an exciting game played at full tilt by both teams.
