Kinsey at the double as Earls win on the road
EARLSWOOD Town roared back to form with a long-awaited league victory, winning their MFL Division Two game at Lane Head 4-1.
A Tom Kinsey double, a Dan Elwell strike and a Louis Bridges penalty blew their Bloxwich hosts away to seal a first league win since the start of September. Their three-match unbeaten run has seen them climb up to eighth in the table.
The visitors were able to name an unchanged line-up from the side that battled to a draw at league leaders Knowle the week before and Elwell – a scorer in that game – continued his fine run of form by bagging his 13th goal in as many games, firing home a near post volley from Bridges’ right-sided corner in the 15th minute.
Elwell then turned provider having been hauled down in the penalty area allowing captain Bridges to step up and fire home from the spot in the 24th minute and the Earls continued in the same vein after the break.
Just after the hour mark, Kinsey headed home substitute Matt Green’s corner from the left at the far post before thumping in his second with six minutes to play, latching on to Elwell’s smart flick on to smash home a low drive from 18 yards.
A lapse in concentration at the back saw Lane Head grab a consolation with virtually the last kick of the game but the win was never in doubt for the visitors.
The Earls host Essex side Bealonians in the third round of the Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup at the Yakinori Pavilions on Saturday (ko 1.30pm).
There was disappointment for Earlswood’s Division Two rivals Alcester Town as they slumped out of the Birmingham FA Saturday Vase 4-3 on penalties following their goalless draw at Oldbury United.
And there were mixed fortunes for teams in the Hellenic League. Division One pair, FC Stratford and Moreton Rangers, lost on the road – the former going down 2-1 at Calne Town while Rangers suffered a 5-0 mauling at FC Bristol. Shipston Excelsior fared better in Division Two West as goals from Joe Godson, George Renshaw and Jamie Haines edged them to a 3-2 win at home to Newent Town Development.
Things failed to improve for Moreton in midweek as they lost their Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy tie to Slimbridge 3-0 but FC Stratford’s Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup semi-final against Pagest Rangers was postponed.
On Saturday, Alcester Town head to Coventry Alvis in MFL Division Two while in Hellenic League Division One, FC Stratford host Chipping Sodbury Town and Southam United are at home to Malmesbury Victoria. Shipston Excelsior play Moreton Rangers in the Challenge Cup.
