Cottenham United 0 Buntingford Town 3 A DEPLETED Town side, who travelled without any substitutes, continued their impressive form, on Tuesday. On a big pitch, the home side had plenty of the ball throughout but, as in other pre-season games, Town s defe

Cottenham United 0

Buntingford Town 3

A DEPLETED Town side, who travelled without any substitutes, continued their impressive form, on Tuesday.

On a big pitch, the home side had plenty of the ball throughout but, as in other pre-season games, Town's defensive unit - organised by Duncan Easley and Chris Hardy - was always going to be difficult to break down.

The home side were only able to create a couple of clear openings throughout the game.

The visitors took a while to get momentum in their game but, as the half wore on, they always looked likely to create chances.

A number of good first-half set-plays, particularly corners, were met by Hardy's advancements from the back but three times his well-timed runs were not matched by the direction of the headers.

The home keeper also saved well from Luke Robins and Gary Christie efforts before Town took the lead after 28 minutes.

Cottenham initially scrambled away a blocked shot but when Jake Tyler returned the ball into the area from the right touchline Will Turl hooked home a 12-yard volley.

The home side were able to make a number of changes at the interval, a luxury Town did not have, and although the fresher legs had still plenty of the ball, visiting keeper Damion Williamson only had one meaningful diving stop to make when he tipped aside a fine 20-yard strike.

Town always looked likely to create on the break through Luke Robins, Jan Stephens, Tom Malins, Christie and Sam Chester.

Both Chester and Christie had one-on-one chances thwarted by the agile keeper until Town doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Turl doubled his tally for the evening with a bullet header from a Tom Malins corner.

Sam Chester than had a fine strike superbly saved late on before Mark Smith finished the game off in superb fashion in the last minute.

Picking up a half-cleared cross 25 yards out, Smith chipped the ball over an advancing defender and sent a deft half-volley beyond the stranded keeper.