BEAMINSTER Reserves reclaimed their spot at the top of the table as they continued their unbeaten run in Dorset Division Five with a 4-0 win over Ridgeway FC's development side.
Ridgeway began the game the brighter of the two sides, knocking the ball around well with impressive combinations in the middle third in the opening minutes. The away side even produced the first shot on target as debutant Chris Park was forced into an early save in the Beaminster net.
The Rainbows inevitably grew into the game and fashioned a number of chances of their own, with Freddie Pitt-Pladdy, Robin Jones, Henry Hansford-Harvey and Jacob Parsons all getting into promising positions.
Jones eventually opened the scoring, getting on the end of an uncharacteristic route one ball, getting there before the onrushing keeper, looping it over him and nodding home into an empty net.
Despite going into the break with the lead, there was an air of disappointment with home side’s first half performance as they were unable to gain any real control of the game and didn’t experience a single period of dominance in possession.
Defender Ryan Gay was brought forward from the back three and into the midfield, and it was he who started to make things tick for the Rainbows in the second half.
With the legs of Gay in midfield, it meant Jones was allowed to focus solely on what he does best, driving forward at goal and giving the opposing defenders something to think about. Jones subsequently found a second goal as he tricked his way into the area, only to be hacked down by a Ridgeway defender. The resulting penalty was slotted firmly into the bottom left corner with aplomb.
Gay scored his second goal in as many games to make it 3-0, calmly placing the ball into the bottom corner in a crowded area.
The Rainbows were now attacking in numbers, leaving big holes in the middle of the park and exposing themselves to the chance of counter attacks. Luckily for the home side, skipper Mason Damon was on hand to snuff out any potential threat, and it was his stalwart performance in the middle of the park, coupled with an impressive debut from Chris Park, that was to thank for the Rainbows holding onto the clean sheet.
A fourth and final goal came from 40 yards as Freddie Pitt-Pladdy latched onto a clearance from the goalkeeper and lobbed it into the empty net from distance.
Beaminster's first team were unable to keep back a rampant Sturminster Newton United reserves side at Barnett's field as they lost their ninth game of the campaign to remain firmly rooted to bottom of Division Two with a solitary point.
The host won 4-0 with goals from Dominic Coleman, Ollie Gittens, Joe Peters and Kieran Ball.
Next up for the firsts is a home tie with Bournemouth Electric reserves whilst the reserve side play Ridgeway again, this time away from home.
Both games are at 2pm on Saturday.
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