Romsey Town (1) 4 v Cove (1) 2

Another four goal salvo from Romsey Town at The AEC Protection Ground last Saturday saw them overcome Farnborough-based Cove FC , whose overly physical approach had briefly seen them dominate before Town’s incisive passing and slick finishing prevailed.

It was the turn of Town’s defenders and wingers to share the goals around as the hosts moved up a gear in the second half after the sides were on level terms at the break, writes Tony Galsworthy.

Town boss Andy Samuels restored winger Harley Russell and on-loan midfielder Zach Earley to the starting XI, as he aimed to kick start the club’s league campaign with successive home wins.

Left-back Alex Wilson put Town ahead in the 11th minute with a clever backheel from a melee following Geoff Dunn’s corner. Cove was denied a swift equaliser when Sam White made an instinctive close-range save from Peters, and Town’s young ‘keeper was soon called up to make a diving save to deny the visitors’ skilful winger Hampson.

Cove’s pressure paid off when from a corner the unmarked Riley smashed a rising half-volley into the net in the 26th minute and only a timely block from George Ockwell prevented Peters from giving his side the lead just minutes later. Cove were outmuscling Town as they took control but overstepped the mark when Riley was booked for a bad foul on Wilson. Romsey rallied and ended the first half with a shot from Harley Russell that forced the ‘keeper to concede a corner before Dunn sent a free kick whistling just by the post.

The second half started with more pressure from the visitors before another caution for Cove when Southwood fouled Dunn, which was rapidly followed by a red card for their top scorer Connolly with Wilson again on the receiving end of a reckless challenge that saw the young full-back limp out of the game.

This incident swung the match back in Town’s favour as Russell and Josh Gibson both had shots blocked, but from the resultant corner, a wickedly flighted inswinging delivery was met at the back post by skipper Craig Bryant’s header to restore Town’s lead. Protests by Cove’s Edmondson saw him sin-binned for ten minutes reducing his side to nine men. Romsey took full advantage as Russell outstretched a boot to steer home a low cross from substitute Ben Beard to add a third goal. Substitute Charlie Hewson made a darting run down the right flank and his cross saw Josh Gibson’s shot blocked, but it rebounded into the path of fellow substitute Robbie Stapleton who calmly slotted the ball home. A corner by Hewson was headed just over by Kieran Hancock as the Bypass Boys went into overdrive though the game ended with Cove getting a consolation second goal in added time.

The victory moves Romsey up to eleventh in the Division One table as they travel to Wiltshire tomorrow to take on Amesbury Town (ko 3pm)