SAUNDERSFOOT’s Richard Cope scored a hat trick to help his side to a 4-2 win away at Herbrandston on Saturday (Apr 6).
Under the guidance of second team manager Richard Walwyn for one game Saundersfoot came away with three deserved points.
Saundersfoot started brightly and were rewarded early on as a good passing move between Sam Coleman and Nick Cope set Adam Davidson through on goal only to be denied by the on rushing Herbrandston keeper, fortunately for Saundersfoot the ball feel kindly for Chris Millward to tap into an empty net. 1-0 Saundersfoot.
Twenty minutes in Saundersfoot made it 2-0 with another good passage of play. Some great passing between Adam Davidson and Chris Millward set up Paul Hodge to deliver a pin point cross from the right wing onto the towering head of Richard Cope leaving the Herbrandston keeper stranded.
With five minutes remaining in the first half Herbrandston got themselves a life line after a defensive mix up between Euan Laidlaw and Paul Hodge, Scott Reid pounced and made it a 2-1 game slotting in at the far post of Sam Franklin’s goal.
Into the second half and going down the hill Saundersfoot carved open a number of chances only to be denied by the Herbrandston goalkeeper.
Half way through the half Saundersfoot thought they’d made the game safe as captain Richard Cope got his second of the day when he broke through the resistant back 4 of Herbrandston and slotted the ball into the bottom right of the goal.
With 15 minutes remaining Scott Reid again proved why he’s one of the league’s better strikers when he caught the Saundersfoot defence napping and raced clear to power the ball past the on coming Sam Franklin. 3-2 Saundersfoot.
Saundersfoot did manage to make the game safe inside the final 5 minutes of the second half.
Substitute Phil Horsley set Adam Davidson up with a delightful through ball only to be taken down by the Herbrandston full back inside the box. Richard Cope secured the hat trick with resulting penalty placing the ball into the bottom left corner the of the goal.
Sadly for Herbrandston it means they are relegated from Division 1 but they deserve credit for not giving up in any of their games.
On Monday (Apr 8), Herbrandston are away as they face Carew. Saundersfoot’s next game takes place on Saturday (Apr 13) when they host Merlins Bridge.
