Hellenic League

Division One West

Lydney Town 4

Lambourne Sports 2

A NEW look Town side opened their league campaign with a pleasing 4-2 victory.

With Sam Elliott on holiday and Jon Kear playing cricket, 18-year-old Josh Davis started at full-back. Pete Macklin was up front and Ricky Beckett in goal, while Matt Timmins, Steve Warren, Dan Bishop and Stewart Liddington made up the bench.

After a lively start Lydney went in front on eight minutes.

A neat one-two between Jarred Liddington and Macklin saw the former bundled over for a penalty. Adam Price stepped up to give his side the lead.

The visitors should have equalised from the restart but Connors dragged his shot wide. They paid for this on 24 minutes when Lydney player/manager Mark Lee hit a superb ball into the path of Liddington, who ran from halfway, rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Lambourne pulled one back before half-time when Davis was adjudged to have pushed an opponent to the floor inside the area. Russell Benham scored with a firm penalty.

Bishop came on for the injured Davis early in the second half and Lydney went two goals clear.

A neat flick from Macklin to Liddington saw the front man's shot come back off the post for Danny Clarke to side-foot home.

More sloppy defending let Lambourne back into the game. A rash challenge in the area led to a second penalty which Benham again scored with ease. They could have equalised on the hour mark but Mooney fired into the side netting when well placed. The killer goal came 10 minutes later when Ricky Elliott's corner was powered home at the near post by Macklin.

Matt Timmins replaced Danny Clarke for the last 10 minutes and Warren came on for Steve Jones, who needed hospital treatment after clashing with Halford.

Lydney saw out the game without any further scares for a deserved success.