Hartpury FC completed an unbeaten December in the Southern League Div One South with a dominant 3-0 win over Bishops Cleeve, on Saturday.
Goals from Noah Coates, Spencer Hamilton and Louis Manning secured a fifth straight game unbeaten at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium.
The Acorns started the game on the front foot, testing the Mitres’ goalkeeper Lewis Clayton, on 10 minutes with a dangerous Manning free-kick.
Coates gave the Acorns the lead no more than five minutes later, when he bundled the ball over the line, following a Vanylson Silva blocked header.
It should’ve been 2-0 on 24 minutes when Silva’s free-kick came off the underside of the bar, bounced over the line, but wasn’t awarded.
The Acorns did find a second on 37 minutes when Hamilton threw himself at a flicked on corner, to turn home from close range, sending the game to half-time.
HALF TIME- HARTPURY FC 2-0 BISHOPS CLEEVE
The Acorns dominated the opening 15 minutes of the second period with some delightful play, but Leon Machisa, Nathan Jenkins and Silva all saw efforts saved or narrowly miss the target.
Coates took aim from distance on 58 minutes, but his effort flew straight at Clayton.
The Mitres thought they had a way back into the game on 74 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Seth Locke got down superbly to divert Toby Holland’s spot kick, onto the post.
Six minutes later, Manning wrapped up the three points when he punished a defensive error, rolling home from a tight angle.
This extended the Acorns unbeaten run to six-games, and we will look to make it seven when we travel to Malvern Town in the New Year.
FULL TIME- HARTPURY FC 3-0 BISHOPS CLEEVE
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent ©, Machisa, Callow, Hamilton (Sims 89’), Robinson (Shyamapant 68’), Aldridge, Jenkins, Coates, Silva, Manning (Prifti 85’)
UNUSED SUBS: Sanniola, Towns
ATTENDENCE: 292
