Bird at the double as Brockworth produce impressive second half display against Dursley

Ash Bird scored two in a clinical second half showing from Brockworth Albion, beating Dursley Town 3-0 in the Northern Senior League.

After a goalless first half, Albion produced a superb display to claim a deserved three points in the end.

Matty Cairns curled home a free kick, before former Tuffley Rovers forward Bird, struck twice to add gloss to the scoreline.

It was a hard-working and efficient display from the hosts, with the whole back five putting on a lesson on how to defend – in particular young goalkeeper Phil Chovenac.

In the end, Karl Nash’s side just didn’t have an answer for their well drilled and disciplined hosts and ran out of ideas pretty early on.

The game started with Albion nearly going ahead inside 14 seconds.

From kick off, the ball was played long and Cairns outpaced Ben Deakin, before his poked effort was blocked by Matt Adkins and hooked away for a corner.

Off-target efforts were exchanged by Billy Mann and Warren Thomas as both sides fought for an early breakthrough.

It didn’t come though, with both sides cancelling each other out for the most part.

Chovenac was the busier keeper in the first period, saving well from Alife and then Billy Mann.

For the hosts, the best they created saw Bird hold the ball up before slipping through for Thomas – but the youngster skied his effort.

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But the second half would bring action from the off once more, with Rory Wilkinson sliding through for Bird, but Adkins did well to block in the one on one.

Ten minutes into the half, a couple of full-blooded challenges saw the temperature rise ever so slightly.

Ash Bird flew into a tackle on Theo Browne and despite winning the ball, sent the youngster flying.

Moments later, Wilkinson was tripped when attacking over the half way line, and Jake Dolbear was shown a yellow card.

Brockworth were awarded a free kick about 25 yards from goal for a handball and up stepped Cairns to curl his effort into the top corner to break the deadlock.

Cairns went close to a second, but fired straight at Adkins after cutting in from the right.

And with twenty minutes left, Brockworth gave themselves a cushion that felt too far for Dursley on the day.

Chovenac send the ball forward and after it bounced through to the Dursley box, Bird took advantage of Adkins hesitating to come off his line to slide his effort home.

Both sides made changes, with the hosts looking to manage the game and clinch three points and they did a good job of seeing the game out.

This was made easier by defenders Josh Boaden and Aston Stevens clearing everything they could and Chovenac coming to claim a number of balls into his box and under his crossbar.

And with five minutes to go, Albion sealed the deal. Cairns threw a couple of stepovers to skip to the right byline, before cutting back for Bird to plant home his second and Albion’s third.

The win sees Brockworth move up to 4th in the GNSL Division One table, three points behind Dursley – who have a game in hand.

Both sides are looking to be “the best of the rest” in the division, with the two top so far ahead and on today’s showing, both are capable of securing a third place finish.

Next weekend sees both teams on the road, with Dursley heading to Bibury, whilst Brockworth head to Lydney Town Reserves.

Brockworth Albion: Chovenac, Grieve, Langworthy, Moyo, Stevens, Boaden, Thomas, Wilkinson, Bird, Moore, Cairns

Subs: Pargetter, Healy, Webb, Meakin

Dursley Town: Adkins, Billings, Monday, Rudge, B Mann, Dolbear, Gray, A Mann, Stevenson, Deakin, Browne

Subs: Nash, Caldwell, Weyman, Holder

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Phil Chovenac (Brockworth Albion)