Gwent County League Division 3 Sudbrook CC 3 Nantyglo 0

STRIKER Rob Thorne took advantage of two goalkeeping errors to give Sudbrook victory in their first home match of the season.

In addition to his goal scoring, he later turned provider when his free-kick proved too hot for the keeper to handle and debutant Dave Sinden gleefully accepted the gift, tapping in from close range.

Thorne’s first goal came after Keenan Perrett’s cross from the right was misjudged by the keeper, slipping through his hands for the lurking striker to nod home from two yards.

Midway through the second period, Thorne nipped in to head the second from a similar distance after Oli Mottram’s corner was spilled by the luckless keeper.

Until then, the visitors were always in with a hope of rescuing a point although they created few chances.

When they did manage a shot on target, they found Sudbrook keeper Craig Brimble in good form although he was never seriously tested.

Sudbrook, with Perrett in good form, showed they have the players to do well in the league although, like many managers, Daryl Cann is rarely able to put out a settled team due to work commitments.

But with Steve Hepple at the centre of the defence, Brimble in goal and Thorne upfront, the spine of the team looks solid enough and until he was injured, Richard Lloyd looked in good form on the left.

“It wasn’t until the second week of September last year that we had all our players available due to other commitments and we then went on an unbeaten run of something like 20 games to win promotion,” Cann said.

“It has been the exact same situation this season and it hasn’t helped us get off to the start we hoped for.

“That said, we are turning things around and this was our third straight victory. I thought we looked dangerous on the attack and solid in defence – a great performance against a tough opposition.”