Combined Counties League Division One

South Park 3

Sheerwater 0

SOUTH Park stretched their unbeaten league run to five games with a comfortably win at lowly Sheerwater.

However, it was a physical encounter that left Park's players battered and bruised, according to manager Joe McElligott.

"It wasn't a spectacular match visually, but we picked up the three points," he said.

"It was definitely a bruising encounter. Kieran Lavery got an elbow to the face and there was blood everywhere, but it was only at half-time that he noticed a bit of his lip was hanging off. Also Mark Tame got a bruised shin and, near the end, Steve Wilson got temporarily concussed."

McElligott is quietly confident of a result against top of the table Worcester Park on Saturday. "They are a good side," he said. "but, we played them at the start of the season and got a draw after they scored late in the game, so I think we can get a result."

Park struggled in the first half, and the closest they were to breaking the deadlock was from Dan Stone's through ball which found Dale Burgess, who chipped over the bar.

The deadlock was broken in fortuitous circumstances on 19 minutes when Smith's shot was parried by the keeper and a defender's clearance struck Dan Mottram on the chest and ricocheted back into the goal.

Kieran Lavery went close to increasing the lead on 28 minutes when his goal bound effort pole axed the defender and Mottram struck the rebound over the bar.

Park had a goal disallowed on the half hour when Karl Parker was adjudged offside.

Sheerwater were almost gifted an equaliser on 41 minutes. With hesitation in the Park defence, Tame's header dropped in the path of the oncoming forward but he blazed wide from 15 yards.

Park struggled after the break to get the second goal which would make the game safe.

Sheerwater again missed a chance to equalise when, from a right wing cross, the centre forward headed wide from eight yards unchallenged.

Park increased their lead on 64 minutes when Parker was fouled in the box and for the third time in four games skipper Stone made no mistake with a penalty.

Substitute Bradley Johnson picked up a pass from Burgess wide on the right, beat the full back and cut into the box where his driven cross along the six- yard box was turned into his own goal by a helpless defender.

South Park face second placed Staines Lammas at home next Tuesday kick-off 7.45pm.

South Park: Polley, Tame, Sinclair, Perkins, Wilson, Parker, Mottram, Smith, Lavery, Burgess, Stone. Subs: Whiting-Balcombe, Johnson, Avery.