Mansell helps fire Bishop's Cleeve to victory

BISHOP'S CLEEVE 3 AFC HAYES 1

BISHOP'S Cleeve made hard work of taking the three points from a game they dominated from the start.

aiming high: James Vercesi heads the ball for Bishop's Cleeve
battle: Richard Mansell on the ball
skill: James Vercesi for Cleeve
target: Lance Lewis runs through on goal

Three golden opportunities went begging in the opening two minutes, before a Michael Davies free-kick was headed back across the goal by Tim Haddock for Richard Mansell to head home from close range.

Cleeve increased their lead in the 36th minute when James Vercesi beat Simon Grant to a Ben Gascoyne cross and the ball fell to Davis, who scored from 10 yards.

Tom King made his first save after 42 minutes when he tipped a Craig Tompkins' volley over the bar.

The Villagers started the second half well, with Grant left flat-footed when a cross by James Vercesi hit a post.

Mansell got to the rebound but Grant denied him with his feet. It looked as though Cleeve could rue the missed chances when Hayes got a goal back. Marvin Thompson failed to deal with a long ball into the area and Mark Blackburne lobbed the stranded King. Gascoyne got the third when, following a run that left three defenders in his wake, cut in from the right and his left foot drive beat Grant at his near post.

Cleeve: King, Crowford, Thompson (M Jackson), Jones, Haddock, S Avery, Gascoyne, M Davis, Vercesi, Lewis (Kennedy), Mansell. Unused subs: S Jackson, Sykes.