Stalwarts show class early in season

CONTEST : Millthorpe Tigers finished well ahead of Denley Moore in Saturday’s clash in front of the pickets at Redmond Oval. (l. to r.) Richie Shields watches on as Tom Grinter, David Coles and Nick Hyndes battle for possession.

Stalwarts of the Orange over 35s football competition, Millthorpe Tigers, showed their class with a convincing, come-from-behind 7-3 win over the competition’s only other undefeated side, Denley Moor.

Playing at home on the mostly-renovated Redmond Oval, Tigers front man Roy Davis opened the scoring from a penalty kick.

It took until the closing period of the half for Denley to find the equaliser. Making his return to the club after an extended sabbatical, Alistair Dunham sent a well-placed free kick into the box to find striker Harley Smith waiting for a neat deflection past the keeper.

With minutes left to play, Denley’s Richie Shields, Hayden Trott and Smith combined to clean up a rebound and beat the keeper to take a 2-1 lead to the break.

Urged on by the home-town supporters and the upgraded change-rooms, the Tigers put the foot down early in the second half.

A penalty call gifted Roy Davis his second, and when Tommy Grinter went high off a corner to head home a winner, the tide began to turn.

Speedster David Wells pounced after a Denley defensive error, before Davis made it three with a strong header.

Denley kept up the pressure but couldn’t convert their chances.

Wells dodged the concrete pitch lurking under an inch of optimistic turf in the centre of the oval, to add two more excellent goals.

Denley finished well, as Richie Shields broke the Millthorpe defence to wrong-foot the keeper and score a late consolation. The final score : Tigers up 7-3.

After consecutive losses (5-1 and 4-1) Barnestoneworth United turned the tables to jag a 3-1 win over Gladdyatahs.

After a goal-less first half, United’s Andy Holmes played out a blinder. His first goal ruled out on an offside call, he slotted one away minutes later to give Barnestoneworth the lead.

Playing his first game for the season, Gladdies defender Andy Bobbin was warmly welcomed by his former team-mates at United.

Gladdies equalised with a penalty before Holmes put his side in front with a second.

United’s last goal came in the wake of a free kick blunder from Gladdies keeper Troy Campbell. The low kick was chested down by Glenn Harpley at the top of the box, Harpley just as surprised as the keeper to slot it away and finish the game 3-1.

GALLERY : More action from the Denley-MIllthorpe match at Redmond Oval