Report

Alveston moved safely into the 4th Round of the Nursing Home Cup on Saturday following a well deserved 5-0 win.
With midfielder James Davies missing the game, the returning Adam Wood came straight into the starting XI. Chris Rowberry also made a return replacing Adam Pitcher at right back. 

With the howling wind against them in the 1st half, Alve immediately got the ball down on the deck and made a number of probing attacks on the Henley goal without causing too much goal mouth action.
Jonny Dare came closest with a header from a Kevin Ward right wing corner and Paul Nicholls blasted a 25 yard free kick that just cleared the cross bar. Ward also had a free kick easily saved from the edge of the box.
Forest did have their own moments and their midfielder came close with a drive that sailed wide and Alve goal keeper had to be on his toes closing down a long through ball as the striker appeared to be slight favourite to reach it, the stopper throwing himself at man and ball to smother the opportunity.

Alve opened the scoring after 25 minutes when good link up play between Rowberry and Layton resulted in the latter crossing for Greg Castle who chested the ball home from close range. 

Forest were working hard to snuff out the Alve threat and chances were at a premium for both sides and Alve were content on trying to keep the ball moving on the ground in diffciult conditions.

The home side made a change after 55 minutes with Josh Hensher replacing Jonny Dare and the subsitute immediately made an impact winning the ball and setting Matt Layton free, the striker found Castle and the big hitman did the rest smashing the ball past the Forest keeper.

Adam Pitcher replaced Sean Brent after 65 minutes and shortly after that Alve scored their 3rd goal to put the game beyond Henley. Skipper Ward did well to find Paul Nicholls who wriggled free and crossed for Castle who swept hom a left foot shot to complete his hat trick.

Castle then scored his and his teams 4th goal when picking up a loose ball and firing home after Layton had his shot blocked.

With the game effectively won, a clean sheet became the priority and Chris Rowberry ensured the statistic remained in check with a fine lst ditch tackle as the left winger looked to fire a shot off.

Kevin Ward scored his 7th goal of the season heading home an Adam Wood cross in the final minute to complete the scoring.

Henley were a good test for Alve who are yet to fire fully after the Xmas break but with the mouth watering game against free scoring Kenilworth Town next Saturday there has never been a better time.