SDFL Division Four

Broadhempston United 1,

Kingsbridge and Kellaton propelled themselves in to the top half of the South Devon Football League Divi­sion Four table with a comprehensive 4-1 over Broadhempston.

The Ks seized the advantage in the first half thanks to Robin Lee and Dom Farleigh and completed the rout with Chris Lynn smashing in a screamer and Farleigh following suit for his second of the game.

Kingsbridge boss Andy Thomas had a rare full squad to choose from and would have been delighted with the confidence his team was stroking the ball around in the early stages of the game.

A smart combination down the left flank with Robin Lee, Luke Phillips and Alex Thomas ended with Thomas sliding a pass through to Farleigh, but his effort was blocked as Kingsbridge looked for the opening goal of the game.

When the first salvo did come from Kella­ton, it was quite a goal. Chris Lynn collected the ball 30 yards from goal and slid a beautiful pass in to the feet of winger Robin Lee.

The veteran rolled back the years to take a touch and rifle the ball in to the roof of the net from the left side of the penalty box.

The lead was no more than Kingsbridge deserved but they wanted more. The home side, however, regrouped and started to have their own forays in to the Kellaton half.

In their way stood makeshift centre-back pairing Jon Blewitt and Andrew Tildesley, who ably dealt with Broads’ somewhat rudimentary plan of attack.

Farleigh remained a constant threat on the break and one surging run produced the game’s next talking point.

The striker steamed on to a through ball like a freight train but was hauled down inside the box by the labouring centre-back and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.

Elliot Bradbury rolled up his socks to take the kick but side-footed the ball wide of the post in a let-off for Broadhemp­ston.

The away side wanted a second goal to settle their nerves and they got just that from Farleigh.

The forward entered poacher mode as he collected Seb Bartram-Vowles’ ball in to the box but saw his first effort palmed away.

However, the striker managed to react quickest to jab the rebound in to the roof of the net.

Two goals to the good at half-time was no less than Kellaton deserved, but with the ‘Broadhempston slope’ against them for the second half Kings­bridge knew they couldn’t let their concentration waver.

Chris Lynn managed to grab that all-important third goal for Kingsbridge shortly after half time.

The diminutive midfielder cushioned the ball down some 30 yards from goal and smashed in a left-footed effort that whistled in to the top-right corner of the net.

In most matches it would have been an effort worthy of any ‘goal of the day’ award but Kellaton’s fourth, and Farleigh’s second, may have topped it.

A corner in to the box was headed away by the defence and Farleigh, with little else on offer, side-footed the ball at goal from 35 yards. The ball dipped wickedly and settled in to the back of the net and past the stunned home goalkeeper.

It was game over for Broads from there, but they did manage to grab a late consolation as their striker cut inside off the right flank and bent a lovely finish in to the far corner of the net to prevent Colin Hosking from claiming his first clean sheet of the season.

Late in the match striker Luke Harvey, who had endured a lengthy injury spell, almost made a return to remember when coming off the bench, but he drably lifted his effort wide of the post when well-placed inside the box.

The goal would have been the cherry on the cake for the Ks, but they still managed to leave Headlands with four goals and, more importantly, three points.