Ashton & Backwell United recorded their third win in four games with a 4-0 victory against Welton Rovers last Saturday.
Manager Tony Beecham shuffled the pack against the newly promoted side and it worked with the Stags dominant in all departments, moving the ball around against visitors with little to offer beyond speculative solo efforts.
Debutant goalkeeper Lewis Jefferies, covering for the holidaying Lewis Coombes, had a fine game and saw plenty of chances created at the other end throughout the encounter.
An Archie Morris error gave Charlie Saunders an early chance and Miles Hardidge’s header forced Alfie Kelsey into a save, both in the first four minutes and a sign of things to come.
The opening goal came in the 11th minute from a sublime pass from deep from Joe Cattermole, splitting the Rovers’ defence and allowing Hardidge to run at Kelsey, round him and slot in.
Rovers were further hindered when former Stag Joe Ellis was forced off early by injury, meaning a reshuffle of their defence.
And that was shown when Reece Hedges saw a free header from Alfie Cummings' corner just saved by Kelsey on the half hour.
The same two players combined a few minutes later, this time successfully, with Hedges scoring via the upright for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Debutant Elliot Moore’s shot was pushed away from a very narrow angle at the near post after the restart, while Harry Walker’s free-kick beat the wall but not the keeper and a multi-player move caused Kelsey to scoop the ball frantically off the line.
Hedges also headed over from a corner, yet there was that fear of a Welton goal putting the home side under pressure.
And they did when Jacob Watson’s long range shot tested Jefferies, while his header later on shaved the bar from a free-kick.
Hedges had to head away a Cameron Allen attempt and Jaiden Savery was twice narrowly wide when given too much room.
Then with six minutes left, another Cummings corner was met by Pearce’s head for a third and in added time a Cattermole pass put Deejay Preddie into space to pick his spot and slot home for a well-deserved victory and make it four games unbeaten.
Ashton & Backwell return to action when take on Street at The Tannery tonight (Wednesday).
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