Beech shuffled the pack again for today’s encounter with newly promoted Welton and clearly it worked, Stags sitting fourth in the table, unbeaten in four and four goals scored, so there’s a symmetry to that too. In summary the home side were dominant in all departments, moving the ball around as they liked against visitors with little to offer beyond speculative solo efforts from a ball pumped quickly forward. Debutant goalkeeper Lewis Jefferies covered for the holidaying Lewis Coombes, Elliot Moore made his 1st start since joining the club in the summer.

Stags had a plethora of chances throughout the game, Morris’s error gave Charlie Saunders an early attempt and Hardidge’s header forced a Kelsey save, both in the first four minutes. His opening goal came in the 11th minute from a sublime pass from deep from Cattermole, splitting the Rovers’ defence and allowing Hardidge to run at the keeper, round him and slot in.

With such a fragile defence Rovers were further hindered when former Stag Ellis was forced off early by injury, meaning a re-jig of their defence. And that was shown when Hedges had a free header from a Cummings corner, just saved by Kelsey, on the half hour. The same two combined a few minutes later, this time successfully, with a goal off the upright for a 2-0 half time lead.

Into the second period the intensity did drop a little and the fluid passing was not so accurate, chances were still there: Moore’s shot was pushed away from a very narrow angle at the near post, Walker’s free kick beat the wall but not the keeper, a multi-player move caused Kelsey to scoop the ball frantically off the line, Hedges headed over from a corner, yet there was that fear of a Welton goal putting the home side under pressure. And they did try, Watson’s long range shot tested debutant keeper Jefferies, his later header shaved the bar from a free kick, Hedges had to head away an Allen attempt and Savery was twice narrowly wide when given too much room,

Then with six minutes left, another Cummings corner was met by Pearce’s head for a third and in added time a Cattermole pass put Preddie into space, he had time to pick his spot and slot home for 4-0 and a well-deserved
victory.

Next weekend it’s home FA Vase action against Knaphill from the Combined Counties League Premier; let’s hope that’s preceded by more Western League points from Street on Wednesday.

MAN OF THE MATCH: HEDGES, ROCK IN DEFENCE AND ALSO VERY POTENT AT SET PIECES, INCLUDING ONE GOAL

Team: JEFFERIES, ANTHONY, WALKER [SUB SOLLARS 66M], CATTERMOLE, HEDGES, PEARCE, CUMMINGS [SUB NEWMAN 84M], CONNOR SAUNDERS © [SUB PREDDIE 76M], HARDIDGE , CHARLIE SAUNDERS [SUB BISHOP 82M] MOORE [SUB BANKS 57M]