South Brent reserves 1-8 Malborough & Hope Cove FC

A goal feast for Malborough & Hope Cove saw them keep up their impressive league form.

Not only have Boro now won six league matches in a row, but they have climbed up to third in the league and now have a great chance to challenge for promotion.

The visitors started strongly and were immediately putting pressure on the South Brent defence.

It only took five minutes for Gary Burman to score with a well-struck effort from the edge of the area after James Whitley had dispossessed a Brent defender.

After taking the lead so early, Boro sat back and allowed Brent back into the tie. Half and hour in, Brent got the equaliser, a simple goal that highlighted Boro's lack of concentration.

However, stepping up a gear, Boro managed to regain the lead. Good play on the left from Harry Dawson saw the ball slid into Whitley's path, who finished coolly from a tight angle.

The second half promised to be tough for Malborough, playing up the slope and against the wind. However, it was not to be. The Brent defence self destructed and allowed two free headers from consecutive corners taken by Whitley, the first of which was turned in by Dan Batchelor, the second Wayne Kovacic.

Boro, sensing more goals, kept pushing forward. Whitley scored his second will a cool finish from a Nick Bowles pass.

Whitley then went off to be replaced by Dan Butcher, a player who has proved deadly coming on as a sub this season. Almost immediately, it was his lofted through ball that Kovacic latched onto to bag his second of the game.

Burman then helped himself to another goal from a Dawson pass, and Butcher rounded off the scoring after beating the keeper to a lose ball.

With twenty minutes still remaining, Boro were happy to sit back and play the ball around.

A solid defensive performance from Andy Lee, Mike White, Dan Batchelor, James Thomas and keeper Steve Avent ensured that Brent weren't able to break through a second time, and Boro played the time out at their own pace.

Another convincing result leaves Boro in an exciting league position, but also ruing dropping points against lesser opposition earlier in the season.

If this form can be maintained, Boro will be challenging for promotion.