Sydenhams Wessex League - Division 2

Hythe & Dibden 2, Stockbridge 5

STOCKBRIDGE turned in a five-star performance on a hot Saturday afternoon to maintain their position as Sydenhams Wessex Division 2 frontrunners.

The goal avalanche didn't take long in starting. With just four minutes gone Charlie Spencer had a shot parried and the lurking Ryan Boare pounced to put Stocks one up.

Fifteen minutes later it was 2-nil. Spencer, who had an outstanding game, seized on the loose ball after Paul Liddon had made a hash of trying to control a long punt forward and slotted it under Hythe keeper Simon Hartley.

Another route-one goal after 30 minutes made it 3-nil. Spencer, completely unmarked, found the bottom right corner from Alan Ralph's long clearance to leave Hythe scratching their heads.

Stocks underlined their first-half dominance after 41 minutes. Spencer worked hard on the left to create the chance, which was knocked it at the far post, via a defender on the line, by Gavin Flye.

Hythe's only hope was to claw back a couple of goals straight after the break, and the alarm bells were ringing for the away side when they did just that.

Wayne Oakley dragged it back to 4-1 after a shot rebounded to him off Dean Savage, and within a minute it was 4-2 when Lee Connor bundled a high cross - and keeper Ralph - into the net.

Stocks dug in. They lost Andy Chainey to a jaw injury after a bone-shaking accidental collision with an opponent, but Paul Copping gave them breathing space with a dream of a first-time lob from Spencer's through ball.

The final stages were all Stockbridge, even though Flye had to go off with a thigh injury. Subs John Holman and Colin Vince - both of whom missed much of last season through injury - buzzed around in midfield to good effect, and Spencer was unlucky not to complete a hat-trick.

Boare, too, had several chances to make the scoreline even more convincing - but in the end Stocks will be well satisfied to have boosted their goal difference and maintained their slender lead at the top.