Football: Bagley doubles up to put Town on victory path

DEAN Arnold's Uttoxeter Town roared back into action with a thumping 6-1 victory over TL Darby on Sunday.

Kyle Esplin set the ball rolling with a 20-yard shot which the Town manager dubbed "one hell of a strike".

And five minutes later, the Tag Premier outfit doubled their advantage.

A long ball over the top found Lee Bagley, who cut inside before firing home inside the near post.

Tom Hudson, Jason Cockshutt and Tom Poole were all missing from the Oldfields outfit's starting XI, but the absences failed to rock free-flowing Town, who bagged a third before the half-hour mark.

Esplin sent in a dangerous corner kick and skipper Glyn Douglas produced a thumping header at the near post for 3-0.

Neil Fisher was next to add his name to the score-sheet ,just before the break.

Fisher played a neat one-two with Bagley before firing across goal.

A TL Darby defender got the final touch, but the ball was already heading into the net.

Earlier this season, Darby came from three goals down to knock Town out of the cup, but Arnold's side ensured there would be no repeat 10 minutes after the restart in the move of the match.

Jonathan Lamburn showed neat control before releasing Steve Casswell.

When the return pass came in, Lamburn dummied, leaving Bagley one-on-one with the Darby keeper and the striker produced a clinical finish into the bottom corner for 5-0.

Esplin was denied a fine solo goal after beating three defenders. His shot cannoned against the woodwork, but the rebound fell kindly for Liam Sowter, who was left with the task of hitting the ball into an empty net.

With the game dead and buried, TL Darby did find the net five minutes from time, but the goal did nothing other than end Town's hopes of a clean sheet.

Arnold labelled the win an excellent team performance.

Town also celebrated a first defeat of the season for champions Catchems on Sunday.

Catchems finished on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline at second-placed Willington.

And the Town manager believes there will be plenty more twists and turns over the course of the season.

Arnold said: "I think there will be a lot more changes up at the top before the end of the season.

"We just want to keep going, keep winning, and hopefully upset a few sides along the way."

Town are without a game this weekend. They return to action at home to Netherseal St Peters in nine days.