DAVE Lawrence and Ricky Pither both scored twice as North Greenford United cruised to an emphatic 5-1 win at home to Guildford City on Saturday.
The opening goal came midway through the first half, with Lawrence getting on the end of a fine Ryan Welsh delivery. His shot took a slight deflection, before going in at the near post giving Guildford keeper Anthony Hall no chance.
The visitors nearly equalised straight from the kick-off after a maze-like run from striker Gabriel Adesina, who played a dangerous pass into the middle of the area that no teammate could quite convert.
But Lawrence's second was not long in coming. He finished off another flowing move down the right by firing in a fierce low drive off the inside of a post.
Greenford further extended their lead with just minutes of the half
remaining. From wide on the left, Michael Murray played a lovely ball into the box that Guildford's Jamie King inadvertently headed into his own net.
King made amends with a goal at the right end on the hour to give Guildford hope - getting on the end of a well-placed delivery that United's young keeper James Warrington could only partially punch clear.
Warrington had a steady debut and soon regained his composure to send a great kick deep into the opposition half, where the lurking Pither used his pace to get in behind two covering defenders before driving the ball past Hall.
United nearly scored again a minute later when Lawrence just beat Pither to a Joe Sparrowhawk cross, only to skew a header wide.
But Pither had the last word three minutes later when he scored his second and Greenford's fifth.
Receiving a pass out on the left, he controlled the ball brilliantly before coolly beating the last defender and striking the ball clean-ly past the helpless Hall for arguably the best goal of the game.
This Saturday (3pm), United take on Daventry Town in the second round proper of the FA Vase at Berkeley Fields.
COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE
North Greenford United 5 Guildford City
1
