REVAMPED Thomas Brothers enjoyed a fine start to life in the Bromsgrove Sunday League Premier Division as they defeated Alcester Town 6-3.
Thomas Brothers, pictured here in their new kit, got the better of a nine-goal thriller against a Town side who are also hopeful of mounting a title challenge this season as Richard Tyler proved the hat-trick hero.
In a high-tempo start both sides created chances but it was the Brothers who took the lead when Tyler ghosted in unmarked and headed home a corner in from close range.
The Brothers’ second goal came courtesy of a bit of magic from Robbie Bunn, whose Cruyff turn saw him nutmeg his marker on the edge of the box before finding the top corner with a curling shot.
Thomas went 3-0 up from the penalty spot after Stu Hall did well to hold the ball up in the box but was bundled to the floor. From the resulting penalty Hall mad no mistake from the spot as he sent the keeper the wrong way.
The Brothers increased their advantage further when Daniel Price latched on to a through ball and was challenged by the keeper, but the ball fell kindly to Tyler who rolled it into an empty net from the edge of the box.
Just before half time Alcester pulled a goal back from a corner. Mark Nicholls in the Brothers’ goal game and caught, but amongst the bustle the ball popped out for an easy tap in.
The Brothers got out of the traps early in the second half and grabbed their fifth goal within a few minutes of the restart.
Hall and Ian Wroe did well down the right and the latter provided the assist for Tyler’s hat-trick goal.
The game petered out a little until Alcester started pling on the pressure and their second goal again came from a corner from which their substitute headed in unchallenged.
Alcester then made things interesting by pulling another goal back, but the Brothers restored their three-goal advantage when some great work by Anthony Wrighty down the right found Marc Grogan six yards out who tapped into an empty net.
Man of the match for Thomas Brothers, who visit WCT Youth Raiders on Sunday, was Matt Hartles.
