Merlins Bridge 3-1 Hundleton (From Western Telegraph)

Merlins Bridge 3-1 Hundleton

11:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Sport

HIGH-flying Merlins Bridge claimed their 16th win of the season over Hundleton and are now odds-on favourites to win the title as they went 11 points clear.

The Wizards are in pole position with only eight matches of their domestic season to go. “Destiny is in our hands,” confessed player manager Matthew Price. “I’m not taking things for granted – we will take one game at a time.”

A Paul Thomas header in the 35th minute gave the Wizards a one-goal cushion at half-time. Mark Powell’s troops pulled back an equaliser through Simon Shanahan, but their fight back was short-lived when Simon Thomas drilled home from 18-yards for the Wizards’ second goal. Substitute Matthew D’Ivry put the result beyond doubt when he added a well-taken third to secure the all-important points.

Merlins Bridge: Gary Thomas, Nigel Delaney, Paul Thomas, Simon Gilderdale, Sean Jones, James Skudder, Peter Thomas, Mike Preddy, Stephen McNabney, Nathan Thomas, Simon Thomas. Subs: Matthew D’Ivry, Matthew Price, Chris Ormond.

Hundleton: Dan Roberts, Joe Buckle, Arron Butland, Grant Weston, Rhodri Davies, Geraint Lewis, Simon Shanahan, Marc Edwards, Nicky Grange, Gareth Howells, Craig Manning. Subs: Lewis Davies, Jamie Stanley, Alex Jones.

Referee: Phil Gale.