Seventh heaven for Liskeard as they do the double over Sidmouth Town in the Western League Premier

LISKEARD Athletic’s potential to score goals aplenty turned into reality on Saturday as they smashed seven past Sidmouth to move up to eighth in the table.

Strikers George Newton and Bailey Mabin – he came on as a second half substitute – helped themselves to two goals each and others were added by man-of-the-match Max Gilbert, George Marris and another sub, Scott Sanders.

Having scored only one goal in their previous three games, the Blues swept away their frustrations with an attacking display to savour.

Marris scored his first goal for the club after seven minutes before Newton opened his account for the season with two in 10 minutes to put Liskeard 3-0 ahead by the 41st minute.

Sidmouth replied via Giles Basson on the stroke of half-time, but the Blues restored their three-goal advantage six minutes after the break with a cracker from Gilbert.

Nathan Cooper reduced the arrears after 57 minutes before Mabin, only on the field for five minutes, made it 5-2 in the 65th minute.

Seven minutes later the Vikings hit back again with skipper Danny Pym on target, but within three minutes Sanders produced a superb header to restore the home side’s three-goal advantage. Mabin then completed the scoring nine minutes from time.

The Blues are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Ivybridge Town (7.30pm) before a long trip to Brislington on Saturday.

Then they return to Lux Park on Wednesday week, September 9, for a local derby against Torpoint Athletic.

Joint manager Darren Gilbert admitted he was delighted with their attacking play. He said: “The good thing to come out of this game for me was us scoring goals. We’ve struggled in recent games to convert our chances but we put that to bed on Saturday.

“We could have scored two or three more to be honest – but when you’ve scored seven you can’t really complain can you?

“I was very pleased for George (Newton) that he got a couple of goals because he’s been low on confidence despite continuing to work hard.

“He took his goals really well and his second goal was particularly good, his first touch was superb and his chipped finish showed what a talented player he is.

“Performance levels were good – Max (Gilbert) was outstanding and Matty Andrew does what he does, breaking things up and driving us forward.

“And then we had Marris and Lorenz tearing into them down the flanks, creating a lot of chances for the players in the middle.”

While the goals scored delighted Gilbert and his joint manager Wayne Gamble, the three conceded didn’t go down so well.

The Blues have now conceded 12 goals in their last five games in all competitions and they are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season.

Gilbert said: “Long-term you don’t want to be conceding goals like that – two of them on Saturday were preventable because they came from our silly mistakes. We’ve got to stop that happening.”

Gilbert also confirmed that defender Tyler Yendle has left the club following his summer move from Saltash United.

LISKEARD ATHLETIC: Ollie Chenoweth; Ben Collins, Toby Haley, Harvey Mullis (Josh Robins, 69), Josh McCabe (capt), Matt Andrew, Max Gilbert, James Lorenz, George Newton (Scott Sanders, 70), George Marris (Calum Merrin, 68), Harry Probyn (Bailey Mabin, 60).

Blues’ man-of-the-match: Max Gilbert.