Malborough & Hope Cove FC 4-0 Paignton Villa reserves FC

As with the past few games, Boro's manager Mike Stone had to yet again ring in the changes due to injury and players being unavailable. However, as the score suggests, this was done to a large degree of success.

With Nick Bowles injured and subsequently being drafted in to referee the match, captain-for-the-day Harry Dawson tucked into centre-midfield alongside Gary Burman allowing space for Joe Bailey to make his Malborough debut on the right wing. A welcome return was also in order for Richard Bostock making his first start of the season at centre-back along side Dan Batchelor.

The opening 30 minutes was a strongly contested affair with both sides challenging hard and creating just half chances, the best of which fell to Wayne Kovacic who put the ball over the bar after being put through by Dawson. Soon after, Bailey suffered a facial injury and had to be substituted less than half way into his debut. This paved the way for Dan Butcher to come on up front, with Joby Barraclough moving over to right wing.

This change paid off sooner than expected as quick thinking from Kovacic led to a Burman flick which was turned in at the front post by Butcher for his first ever goal for Malborough. The first half ended 1-0 and Boro knew if they could get a second goal soon after half time, their opponent’s heads would soon drop.

Soon after half time, the second goal came. Good work on the left from Kovacic and Rob Hutchings resulted in a cross which beat the keeper and left an easy job for Butcher who headed the ball into the empty net. Boro then had to do a fair bit of defending as Paignton tried to get themselves back in the tie. Excellent work rate and tackling from both full backs Andy Lee and James Thomas meant that the Paignton wingers were having trouble getting the ball up to their forwards. Keeper Steve Avent remained untroubled.

It was his quick thinking which led to Boro's third goal. He played a short goal kick to Burman who, taking a touch, spotted the run of Hutchings and played a 60-yard ball, beating the defence and putting Hutchings in the clear. For the second game running, Hutchings found a finish from a very tight angle to make it 3-0 and game over for Paignton.

However, Boro and more importantly Butcher was not finished. After excellent skill by Barraclough, Butcher was put through and found a magnificent finish into the top corner to complete his hat-trick.

Boro, still full of running, kept on stretching the Paignton defence. Barraclough, having a superb game on the right wing, was brought down in the area and a penalty was given. Dawson stepped up to take the kick but saw his shot well saved by the keeper diving to his left.

This is just the third clean sheet Boro have kept all season but they thoroughly deserved this one. Keeper Avent dealt with everything that came his way, the defence were strong and well organised, the midfield worked up and down the pitch and the forwards were deadly in the box. Boro, now unbeaten in five, are starting to look like the team they promised to be earlier on in the season.