Southam 3 Earlswood Town 0: Saints close gap on Brocton

On a blustery afternoon that made life difficult for both sides, Saints tamed both the conditions and their visitors to run out comfortable winners with what manager Lee Knibbs described as “a great team display”.

Earlswood kicked off playing against the wind and dominated the early exchanges without troubling Kieran Conway in the Saints goal.

It was to prove the story of the match as, despite the visitors’ possession, Conway made his only significant save in the third minute of added time as Saints always looked the more likely winners.

Town keeper Tom Savage needed to be at his sharpest in the 13th minute to deny Oil Manoochehri, whose header from Danny Wylde’s cross seemed destined to open the scoring.

Then, Andy Wilson-King split the defence with a through ball to Manoochehri, but the pace was just too strong and Savage came out to claim.

Saints took the lead from a Jamie Coleman corner in the 36th minute. Manoochehri turned and shot and the ball cannoned off a defender to Marc Passey who threaded his shot through a crowded goalmouth to break the deadlock.

It could have been two a couple of minutes later but Joss Holford’s long-range effort flashed just past the post and then Savage got down well to save from Aaron Donaldson.

Steve Thomas came on for Wylde at the start of the second half, with goalscorer Passey dropping back into defence.

Saints doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, Manoochehri slipping past Richard Dugmore and rounding Savage to finish in clinical fashion.

Donaldson set up Thomas but Savage saved with his legs to deny the youngster a goal.

Earlswood came nearest to scoring in the 70th minute when an inswinging corner from Lee Dunkley hit the far post before Saints went close to extending their advantage, Holford heading Manoochehri’s corner just wide.

It was all over in the 82nd minute when a long ball out of defence left Earlswood exposed at the back and Manoochehri raced from his own half to round Savage and score.

Tomorrow, Saints travel to Fairfield Villa in the Les James Memorial Challenge Cup (1.30pm).