LIKE the recent snow, a flurry of goals in the first 30 minutes set up a romping win for table-toppers Newbury Forest as they scored nine for the second week running.

Newbury Forest 9 Barnston AFC 0

LIKE the recent snow, a flurry of goals in the first 30 minutes set up a romping win for table-toppers Newbury Forest as they scored nine for the second week running.

On Saturday, an inexperienced AFC were outclassed by their opponents who occupy first in the Essex and Suffolk First Division with 11 wins and one draw from 12.

A hat trick from Kinkela Lutanki and goals from Andy Lane (2), Nick Marrable, Alfie Egembah, Danny Kenny and Jason Reynolds-Blanche sealed the emphatic win.

However, Barnston manager Leighton Williams refused to be too downbeat after results in the league went his teams’ way and they only dropped from fourth to sixth.

“On paper this score looks devastating,” he said. “And for those that were there it was not an enjoyable experience. But those people will tell you that Newbury are just too good for this division.

“The passing, movement, organisation, talking, etc that they demonstrated was a joy to watch and showed that not only are they going to challenge this year’s division one title, but that they will probably challenge for the premier title next year.

“We can look at the goals and could have defended some of them better, and we could say that on another day we could, and perhaps should, have had three ourselves.

“We had a number of key players missing, but in all honesty, we lost to a much better side.”

Fresh after smashing Bradfield Rovers 9-1 last week, three goals in the first 30 minutes set up another nine goals for the league leaders.

Barnston were forced to field a slightly weaker team due to a string of injuries to key players and despite good performances from promoted reserve team players, including 17-year-old Conor Crabb, they could not deal with a second half onslaught that produced another six goals.

In short, Newbury passed the ball superbly but Barnston did well to keep the first half score down – the visitors producing a couple of good chances themselves.

Straight after the half time break Crabb was forced off with a damaged ankle and AFC were forced to shift players around.

Within minutes the fourth and fifth goals were scored and the visitors were well and truly out of the game.

Barnston keeper Craig Reid did nothing wrong all day and was unlucky to be on the end of such a thrashing as he provided a string of saves to keep the score to single figures.

Williams commended his players and added: “Not one player gave up, not one player turned on a team mate, not one player lost their discipline. They all just got on with their jobs and did the best that they could do for the team.”

Ironically, AFC finished the stronger of the two teams and played their best football in the last five minutes. Midfielder Gareth Heard was denied a late consolation when he had a powerful effort tipped narrowly over the bar.

Next: This coming Saturday sees Barnston AFC at home to Boxted Lodgers in the Essex and Suffolk border league. Kick off 2pm kick.