Steeple zip to victory

Hempstead United 2

Steeple Morden 5

A SCINTILLATING start saw Steeple Morden sweep aside opponents Hempstead United on Saturday with a hard-working, yet convincing 5-2 victory.

Top scorer Ben Holt opened the scoring after just two minutes with a well-taken low drive, before adding a second with a clever lob four minutes later.

Dom Holt then made it 3-0 with the goal of the game, following a brilliant 25-yard free kick.

It then took a spectacular save to deny Dom Holt for a Steeple fourth when his screaming 25-yard strike was tipped on to the cross bar.

With nothing to lose, the home side threw caution to the wind and began to attack in numbers, gradually putting the pressure on the visitors' defence, with Martin Donald and Jim Watters forced to make a number of timely interventions.

However, at the other end, the Holt brothers continued to cause problems for the Hempstead defence, and chances fell to both Charlie Prothero and Karl Parr, following some selfless play by Martyn Lees.

The home side did pull one back with a well-worked finish, before Lees had one effort ruled out for offside.

In the second half Steeple's game became a little more complacent, and their sluggish start was punished with another Hempstead goal.

Manager Kenny Watters then ­introduced the experienced Graham Collins, who immediately steadied the ship, with youngster Max Carlton pushing into the midfield.

And this proved to be an inspired decision when Carlton notched the vital next goal with a calm strike, following Dom Holt's strong run.

Carlton then struck the Hempstead woodwork with another clever effort, before finally grabbing a second, reacting quickest to a spilled ball in the six-yard box.

Steeple Morden: Smith; Donald, Hutley, Watters, Carlton; B Holt, Murphy, Prothero, Parr (Collins); D Holt, Lees.