With fast-paced football never on the cards, the Pheasants did exactly what was asked of them in scoring three first-half goals and seeing the game out thereafter.

The goals they scored were all excellent, which, when coupled with a clean sheet, made for a wholly satisfying afternoon.

All this was without a handful of players out through injury or illness, including David Adegbola and Callum Smith who dropped out from the team that lost to Anstey Nomads in midweek.

Setting up in a more functional 4-4-2 on this occasion, Radford were in control of possession from the off but struggled to create chances.

There was plenty of hustle from midfield pair Michael Fitzhugh and Greg Tobin, while wide men Kyle Stovell and Joe Meakin put in typically energetic performances.

It was all about getting the ball to the in-form pair of Jordan Alls and Jevin Seaton, however.

Alls, who had shown some excellent footwork to turn in the box early on, soon poked an effort wide while Seaton struck a cross-cum-shot into Robert Peet’s gloves.

The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute, with Alls taking a down-the-line pass from Dan Fletcher, skinning two defenders and turning Peet inside out before rolling the ball into the empty net for a top-class opener.

Six minutes later, Alls notched his second as he received a through ball from the right and applied an incisive finish across Peet, poking into the bottom left corner.

That marked Alls’ eighth goal in five games, but Seaton wasn’t going to be left behind in the scoring stakes.

In the fourth minute of first-half added time, a wonderfully crafted Radford third saw Joe Meakin take the ball down on the right, turn and place an outside-of-the-boot cross on a plate for Seaton, who crashed a right-footed finish past Peet.

So, Seaton had five from five games, and the Pheasants would only chase more in the second half.

Inevitably, the scorching 32-degree climate meant the running was harder in this period, but some decent chances were to be had.

Stovell, an ever-willing runner from either wing, hit the most presentable early effort into Peet’s legs, while a series of crosses also troubled the Kirby ‘keeper.

If you think it’s rather unfair the visitors haven’t been mentioned more by this stage of the report, then I can only apologise.

But the game was all about Radford, and Kirby – of whom much was expected before kick-off, having scored 11 goals from three games – really never got the chance to show their prowess.

The Leicestershire side’s captain Adam Parry, who had netted four against St Andrews in midweek, was limited to a wildly errant shot in each half as the essence of an obvious off day for the team.

Radford capitalised fully, though, and could’ve had another couple before the end as Errol Campbell lifted a chance narrowly over the bar when Destiny Conteh had broken through, and Jude Topham also threatened in a late cameo.

The Pheasants, therefore, ensured they kept pace with all three other teams with 100% league records so far and sit 4th with a game in hand on those around them.

A visit to Clipstone next Saturday presents the next chance for points, with the recently reassigned north Nottinghamshire side sitting 16th after their first four games.

Kick-off will be 3PM at the Lido Ground, where the sides will reunite for the first time since an FA Vase meeting in September 2020.

Radford: Dunn, C. Meakin, Fletcher (Conteh, 83’), Boafo, McLaughlin (C), Tobin, J. Meakin (Moore, 74’), Fitzhugh, Alls (Topham, 88’), Seaton (Campbell, 68’), Stovell

Unused: N/A

Kirby Muxloe: Peet, White, Blatchford (Lowe, 85’), Josh Gunn, Merriman, Love, Jack Gunn, Sheahan, Coates (Scott, 72’), Parry (C), Watson-Quilter (Holdom, 85’)

Unused: Barrett, Brown