Athletic Sign Off For Christmas In Fine Form

<p>Launton Athletic finished the season in fine style with another victory, 10-3, in miserable conditions.&nbsp; From the outset the boys coped well on a poor surface and looked dangerous with every attack.<p>The deadlock was broken when Gough hammered home after some fine work by Babington.&nbsp; Babington was provider for the second too, as he found Lucas-Howells who made no mistake.&nbsp; Lucas-Howells notched another, after some solid defending by Launchbury.&nbsp; Having won the ball he sliced open the opposition defence, and Lucas-Howells in top form grabbed his second.<p>Babington also grabbed a second of the game after a lovely passage of football.&nbsp; McLeese picked up a loose ball and passed to Gough, Gough cut inside and played it Lucas-Howells who showed great footwork to beat two and flick it through to the advancing Babington.&nbsp; Wallop. Goal.<p>Gough also grabbed a second having been found by Lucas-Howells.<p>Then came the show stopper.<p> A corner played in was dealt with well by the opposition defence, but poised outside the box was McLeese.&nbsp; Two steps forward to meet the ball and a strike of top quality sent the ball whistling goalwards.&nbsp; The keeper dived and stretched a hand, but the stinging nature of strike meant that the ball flew into the net and caused the keeper an injury where his hand had met it.<p> An absolute screamer by McLeese and a smile to match it!The second half was less eventful.<p> Having missed a hatful of chances Barrett was rewarded for his work with a second half hat trick.<p>Three consolation goals for the opposition shouldn’t dishearten the Atheltic defence who were in great form, and battling with great effort.&nbsp; There could have been a couple of more, but Chaston pulled off two fine saves and commanded his area to prevent further damage to the score line.<p>A Christmas break well deserved but it’s time to go again early January with two tough fixtures welcoming the boys back, including the much anticipated and media hyped local derby.<p>COYY!