Professional Hartpury get job done against Thornbury edging closer to Hellenic Premier title
Hartpury University FC eased past Thornbury Town 4-0 on Tuesday night putting them one game closer to the Hellenic League Premier title, writes Sam Yapp.
Goals from Owen Giles, Louis Manning, Josh Roney and Luke Salter saw Hartpury secure an important three points in their pursuit for back-to-back titles, which could be confirmed if Roman Glass drop points on Thursday night at Fairford Town.
After a slow start to the game it was Thornbury who almost struck first with Cam Drew bending an effort just over the bar on 12 minutes before captain, Nathan Sage poked a corner past the post two minutes later.
Hartpury got through a slight nervy patch and had their first effort on 18 minutes when Roney headed a deep corner over the bar.
And with the first shot on target in the first period Hartpury broke the deadlock as Giles cutely flicked a low cross past Adam Clark in the Thornbury goal on 31 minutes.
That lead was doubled six minutes later when Manning netted his 20th goal of the season, finding the bottom corner from 18-yards.
Hartpury almost added a third moments before half time when Ben Baxter curled a free kick the wrong side of the post.
It was a dream start to the second half as Hartpury added two more goals in the first 10 minutes.
Roney bundled a corner over the line from six-yards on 51 minutes before Salter curled a delicious effort in off the post three minutes later making it 4-0.
Hartpury controlled the start of the second half with substitute Renato Prifti heading just wide on 63 minutes before, after a deadly counter attack, Baxter dragged an effort just wide five minutes later.
Prifti caused headaches for the Thornbury defence dancing past two of them before seeing an effort deflected wide on 71 minutes.
Giles almost doubled his tally for the home side but saw his glancing header flash past the far post on 73 minutes.
Prifti almost added a fifth with the last kick of the game, cutting in off the right before lashing a distanced effort goal bound but saw it cannon back off the bar.
Hartpury’s attention now turns to Saturday ahead of their historic FA Vase semi-final first leg tie with Whitstable Town.
Hartpury University: Sarkodie (GK), Kent (Jenkins 75’), Robinson, Giles, Roney (Machisa 56’), Kang ©, Manning 9Prifti 56’), Towns, Shyamapant, Salter (Kone 56’), Baxter
Unused subs: Osborn
Thornbury Town: Clark (GK), Parry, A. Fowler, Sage © (Amaefule 46’), Singfield, Garbacz (Black 77’), Brock, Moss, W. Fowler, Smolka, Drew
Unused subs: Zatorski, Kempster, Welsh
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Ben Baxter (Hartpury University)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
