North Gloucester League

Premier Division

Lydbrook Res 2

YOUNGSTER Lee Morton scored a second-half hat-trick to see Newnham safely home against Lydbrook's reserve team.

But while Newnham deserved their win it could easily have been much closer, said the Severnside team's manager, Roger Parrish.

"Lydbrook have been struggling and we were confident of winning as we have been playing quite well lately. But they looked a reasonable side and I thought they were unlucky to be trailing 2-1 at half-time.

"They also ran us close for much of the second-half but in the end we pulled away and Lee Morton's hat-trick settled it for us," said Parrish.

Hit by the loss of several players in the close season and then by a rash of serious injuries, Newnham have had to look to younger players and Parrish says he is delighted to see a number of local youngsters making their mark.

Among them has been Lee Morton who enjoyed a fine game on Saturday and deserved his hat-trick.

"The first was a disputed penalty but Lee worked really hard and had an excellent game," said Parrish.

There was an unexpected appearance by the Newnham team's sponsor, local builder Keith Farr.

Keith trains with the team but turned up on Saturday for the photograph of the players in their new kit.

"After 10 minutes Mike Powell was injured and Keith ended up playing. He had most of the game and did very well," said Parrish.