League Two: We Hate Ben 9-1 Gigolo Warriors

We Hate Ben took a big step towards a play-off place with this demolition job against basement boys Gigolo Warriors. A win in their final match against Sugar Horse will see them finish between fourth and sixth depending on other results.

Mananger James Naik again started with a 4-4-2 formation to attack Gigolo from the off and in terms of possession and the way the match began it looked as though it would only be a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. However, after seeing chance after chance missed or saved by the Gigolo goalkeeper it was beginning to look like Gigolo might have a chance, and long balls played foward caused the WHB defence some problems in the first half. Many times Jason Dodsworth or Liam Weaver came to the rescue and managed to make the last tackle or save respectively. It looked as though Gigolo might take something from the game when at half-time the scores still level at 0-0.

Naik looked unhappy at half-time and whatever had been said during the interval seemed to spark the side into life when almost straight from kick-off a through ball from Jack Thomas into Hywel Williams saw him beat his man and the goalkeeper with a cross-shot from the left-hand side. Minutes later Williams turned provider when his ball to James Peate saw him get his head to it before the onrushing goalkeeper and he finished the loose ball with a diving header. Gigolo were shaken after the two goals and they never seemed to recover and the game was put beyond them when Peate returned the favour to Williams who scored his second and WHB's third. Peate scored again with a good finish for his second and substitute Adee Egbeyemi who was put through by fellow substitue Sean Mack with a beautiful pass took it round the goalkeeper to score the fifth. Another substitute in Chris Webster smashed a Goal of the Season attempt on the half-volley from 40 yards before a penalty was given for a foul against Gigolo. Goalkeeper Weaver stepped up and scored his first goal for WHB to score the seventh and the SoccerJoos were still not finished. Jack Thomas scored two goals to take the scoreline to 9-0 with one wonderful curling effort and his second a decent finish after an assist by Mack. However, a consolation was scored after a clanger from Weaver who had very little to do in the second half who let a long ball bounce out of his hands and into the net despite being under little pressure.

Naik spoke after the match and looked happier than he had been for a while, particually contrasting to half-time. "After the abysmal first half performance I wondered why the team I had chosen couldn't break down a side that had been shipping goals all season. After shouting at them at the break they really showed me what they are capable of but we cannot fritter away that many chances against superior opposition. We have to learn to take our chances."

Team (4-4-2)

Weaver - Dodsworth, Rees, MacDonald, Townsend - Giessler, Edgerley, J. Thomas, Williams - Peate, Pope.

Subs: (used) Egbeyemi, Jones, Webster, L'argent, Shaw, M. Davies, Mack, Sermon. (unused) None.

Goals: Peate 2, Williams 2, J. Thomas 2, Egbeyemi, Weaver, Webster.

Man of the match: J. Thomas