BIG BEN STRIKES THREE AS BISH CLOCK UP SEVEN

The striker completed his treble, and the scoring, in stoppage time after further goals from George Painter, Charlie Wilson, Will Hazeldine and Ryan Brereton had given the visitors the dream start to their league season, leaving them top of the inaugural league table.

Grove manager Jamie Hillman, back for a third spell in charge of the club, had been forced to rebuild his squad during the summer after a player exodus that saw eight first team players leave. His first competitive starting XI contained five debutants including 16-year-old Jackson Brown with another two that would come on off the bench, making for a young looking home lineup to kick off life back in Division One of the Western League.

Early on, the travelling Lydeard support in a good crowd saw ther side signal their intentions from the kickoff. Ryan Brereton wasn't far away with a left foot shot but neither was Jamie Godfrey who volleyed wide on seven minutes at the other end. It was Lydeard though that took the lead when a free kick into the box was met by a stooping header from George Painter at the back stick.

Lewis Cook stabbed wide from a Jack Jones corner on the quarter hour but a minute later, Hengrove were dealt a blow when Godfrey pulled up injured and was replaced by 17-year-old Regan Burton, making his first appearance for the side.

The game settled down a little and there were few chances of note for the majority of the first half until six minutes from the break when Lydeard doubled their lead. On the counter attack, the impressive Brereton sped down the left and crossed for Ben Hebditch to tap in at the far post. Hebditch then almost returned the favour for Brereton but the latter's shot skimmed off the top of the crossbar.

After the break, Mark Cornish (Lydeard) and Mickey Parsons (Hengrove) exchanged chances but the game went further into Lydeard's favour when Hebditch tapped in for his second, and the visitors third, on 51 minutes. Aaron Greatbanks saved well from Brereton on 57 minutes but sixty seconds later, Charlie Wilson finished from inside the six yard box to effectively wrap the game up.

Amongst changes for both sides, Will Hazeldine came on for Lydeard and he wasted no time in getting a piece of the action when he tapped in on 74 minutes to make it 5-0. Chances were rare for Grove aside from Parsons' shot that was saved by Dave Barrell; the final few minutes saw the visitors stretch their lead still further with goals from Brereton on 87 minutes and Hebditch, for his hat trick, in stoppage time.