LITTLE OAKLEY 0

BENFLEET 5

Thurlow Nunn League

division one south

OAKLEY succumbed to another heavy defeat with the biggest game in their history - Saturday's FA Vase showdown against Enfield 1893 - looming on Saturday.

In miserable conditions, the Acorns started slowly and applied no pressure on the visitors.

Mistakes were also creeping in and, on the quarter-hour mark, they fell behind when an up-and-under ball put Rory Harman under pressure.

Keeper Luke Tynan attempted to catch the ball above Harman but dropped it, allowing Benfleet forward Shave the easiest chance to score.

Another goal soon followed when Shave added his second, after being allowed to stroll into the area unchallenged and plant the ball past Tynan.

On the half-hour, Ash Wood made a great tackle to deny a third, with Oakley's defence all at sea.

Albeit from long range, Oakley's first attempt came a minute later when Franky Selwyn shot straight at the keeper.

A free-kick from Lewis Wood went close from 35 yards but from Benfleet's next attack they added a third when Greg Rodger was at fault, not clearing and allowing Unwin the chance to score.

The second half saw an early corner delivered to the back post by Stephen Polley.

Wood headed back across the six-yard box for Rodger to head inches over the bar.

Shave went close, homing in on a hat-trick, when he struck the post after the home side failed to clear again.

On the hour, a fourth was added as Benfleet piled forward, pushing Oakley back.

Shave completed his hat-trick with a fine goal.

With time being run down, a last chance for Oakley to get on the scoresheet fell to Selwyn.

However, with the keeper narrowing the angle, he got a touch on Selwyn's effort to stop the ball's momentum.

In the final minutes, the last goal came when a corner was floated into the area.

Tynan again dropped the ball for Hartman to complete a dreadful day for the home team.

On Saturday, Oakley's reserves travel to West Bergholt (3pm).