Goal-crazy Goldenbears gunning for title after Leigh humiliation

Garvary United 9-0 Leigh United
(M Reade 6 47 70 80, Crumbie 26, Johnson 50 86, Gerrard 54, Salmon 58)

Garvary striking sensation Matt Reade bagged another FOUR goals as the Goldenbears closed the gap on league-leaders Day One to just five points with a 9-0 destruction of Leigh United at Wakering Recreation Ground.

A truly sumptuous Garvary performance saw the deadly hitman bring his goal tally to an incredible 17 for the season, while goals from Matt Crumbie, Michael Gerrard, Jamie Salmon, and a brace from the returning Steve Johnson completed the rout.

The win ensures that the Premier Division top-spot remains in Garvary’s grasp as the Goldenbears hold two games in hand on title rivals Day One.

The signs were ominous for Leigh United after the visitors were only able to field a team of ten players in time for kick-off and it wasn’t long before Garvary made the man-advantage pay.

Hawkish work from Darren Keane in the middle of the park saw the combative midfielder win the ball before releasing Reade down the right flank to cross the ball into the box.

Skilful forward Paul Dellow latched onto a loose ball and deceived several defenders with his trickery before slipping a shot past the ‘keeper for strike partner Reade to tuck away with the easiest of finishes.



Rampaging right-back Daniel Wilson almost doubled the Goldenbears’ advantage minutes later after a purposeful surge saw him arrow a ferocious 20-yard strike just wide of the angle of post and crossbar.

Dellow maintained his impressive start and mesmerised the Leigh backline inside the 18-yard box for a second time before unleashing a strike towards the far bottom corner that deflected just wide for a corner.



Reade should have scored his and Garvary’s second five minutes later after finding space in the box, but couldn’t keep his strike down 12 yards from goal.

The Goldenbears did manage to double their lead shortly after and it came from a corner.

Leigh’s ‘keeper could only flap at the cross and Johnson was able to keep the move alive by firing it back across goal for Crumbie to tap home just a yard from goal.

Garvary stormed from the blocks in the second half and extended their lead on 47 minutes after Reade curled the ball superbly into the far corner from the edge of the box.

The goal so early into the second half appeared to demoralise the opposition and the Goldenbears took full advantage of their lethargy by scoring a fourth moments later.

Johnson found himself in acres of space on the left flank and was free to drive into the box and send a side-footed effort expertly across the ‘keeper into the bottom corner.

Second-half substitute Gerrard made it five shortly before the hour mark with a goal to mark his triumphant return from several months out with a broken ankle.

Leigh headed a cross into the box clear but the loose ball was watched all the way by the Colombian midfielder and cushioned with the knee before being struck on the volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.



The barrage of Goldenbear attacks continued and Johnson came agonisingly close to his second of the game after his long-range effort cruelly struck the top of the crossbar.

The sixth goal was inevitable and it came on 58 minutes after Salmon picked up Gerrard’s pass 25 yards from goal.

The cultivated midfielder shifted the ball inside before unleashing a low strike past the outstretched palms of the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner.




Garvary were rampant and Reade completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes after being sent clear through on goal to coolly round the ‘keeper and slot home.



His fourth came on 80 minutes after he neatly tucked Salmon’s lay-off into the far corner.




Johnson completed the rout by firing the ball past the helpless ‘keeper from 12 yards.




Salmon should have rounded off a Man-of-the-Match performance by sending the scoreline into double figures after Dellow produced a piece of tantalizing skill to drive to the by-line and flick the ball onto his head at the far post, but he appeared to lose his bearings and headed glaringly-wide.



Man of the Match: Jamie Salmon – dictated play in the centre of the park and showed imagination with his distribution.

Goldenbears victory piles pressure on Day One

Castle Rangers 0-2 Garvary United (Salmon 16, M Reade 62)

Garvary produced a workmanlike display to begin the year in winning fashion with a 2-0 Sceptre Premier Division victory over Castle at King Georges.

Jamie Salmon sent the Goldenbears on their way after a nervy start by heading home a Matt Reade corner with the provider turning goalscorer to double their lead shortly after the hour mark.

The goals coincided with Garvary’s first clean sheet since their opening fixture against Leigh United – a feat achieved following Gaffer Colin Ekers’ brave decision to start striker Simon Rowland at centre-half in what was to prove a Man-of-the-Match display.

The towering figure of Rowland alongside skipper Adam Moore dealt comfortably with the favoured aerial approach of the home side and totally dominated their frontline following an early scare that saw Castle break clear and almost beat Craig Childs with a lobbed effort that struck the crossbar.

Castle came close again on 15 minutes after the ball found its way across the Garvary goalmouth to the far post and only eluded the head of the diving forward by a matter of inches before running out of play.

A minute later, Garvary fought back and broke the deadlock with Salmon rising above his marker to head into the bottom corner from Matt Reade’s in-swinging corner.



The game entered a prolonged lull following the goal until the closing stages of the half when Ekers was presented with two opportunities to double his side’s advantage.

The pacey striker drove past the full-back inside the right channel before drilling an effort across goal that bounced just wide of the upright.



Garvary’s number 14 spurned a gift-wrapped chance just 60 seconds later after opting for power over precision by putting his laces through the ball and dragging his shot wide of the same post from six yards.

Ekers appeared eager to make amends for the misses early in the second half and curled an optimistic effort over the bar from 20 yards.



Matt Crumbie enjoyed a lively second half proving a catalyst for several promising Goldenbear attacks and frightened the Castle backline with his pace and skill.

Ekers came close again on 55 minutes after seeing his low strike saved by the feet of the Castle ‘keeper.

Garvary missed another guilt-edged opportunity shortly after. The so-often deadly Matt Reade was to be the culprit on this occasion and poked the ball glaringly wide from close-range with the goal gaping.

Castle mustered a brief spell of pressure before Garvary notched a second and Rowland needed to be alert to scramble the ball clear of the goalmouth as several Castle forwards laid in waiting to get a strike away following a corner-kick.

Matt Reade curled an effort wide moments before bagging Garvary’s second after Salmon’s shot was pushed away by the ‘keeper.



Castle’s number one was forced into another save after Michael Gerrard – making a long-awaited comeback from a serious ankle injury – was sent through on goal and the ‘keeper was able to parry the Colombian-born midfielder’s strike.

The ball, however, fell to Ekers and the striker reacted quickly to get a shot away but his attempt was again blocked from close-range before falling again to a Garvary forward.

For the third time of asking, Matt Reade was able to tuck the ball home at the far post instigating jubilant celebrations by the corner flag.

The home side needed to find a goal that would bring them back into the game and they almost had Garvary stopper Childs beaten on 65 minutes with a viciously-struck half-volley that Childs was able to athletically tip against the crossbar and out for a corner.

The resulting corner was flicked on at the near post for a Castle forward at the far post to head goal-wards but straight into the arms of the Garvary number one.

Garvary were convinced they had made it three on 75 minutes after a beautifully crafted goal was scored by Matt Reade and controversially ruled offside by the referee.

Reade won a header to flick the ball on towards strike partner Ekers who returned the favour with an exquisite backheel flick for the advancing Reade to deftly lob the ‘keeper from 12 yards.

But the goal did not stand and the Goldenbears had to maintain their focus and temperament as the game heated up following a couple of flashpoints incited by members of both sides.

Castle should have reduced the deficit to a single goal on 75 minutes after a corner-kick was met and volleyed over from the underside of the crossbar.

Rowland almost topped his imperious performance at the back with a goal after Garvary hit Castle on the break as the game entered its closing stages.

The defender was picked out inside the box and his touch allowed him to get a strike away on the volley but his effort lacked composure and was screwed wide under pressure from the desperate challenge of the Castle defender.



Garvary now sit just five points behind league-leaders Day One after their defeat against Leigh United with two games in hand.

Man of the Match: Simon Rowland – Imperious display at centre-half from the striker that made a significant contribution to only Garvary's second clean sheet of the season.