REDDITCH Borough claimed a second victory over Hampton in as many months as they enjoyed a 4-0 away success in the Birmingham County Saturday Vase third round.
Goals from Luke Bowles, Jak Albutt, Liam Fullerton and Luke English did the damage for Borough, who tonight (Wednesday) visit Malvern Town in the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup.
Both sides made a cautious start to Saturday’s game and Albutt’s long range effort on the quarter-hour mark was the first real threat to either goal.
Borough’s Craig Malins went a lot closer five minutes later with a rasping drive as he cut in from the left, followed by team-mate George Westwood working his way in from the right to fire in a fierce effort which was turned behind.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 40 minutes when a well worked set piece move ended with Bowles slotting home from eight yards.
Fullerton could have doubled the advantage before the break when he surged into the penalty area, only to shoot narrowly wide.
The second half was only two minutes old when Albutt showed exactly why so many teams are interested in luring him away from Borough as he turned past his marker before drilling the ball unerringly into the bottom corner of the net.
Fullerton then killed Hampton off three minutes later as he netted his 11th goal of the season.
Hampton tried to get back into the game but to no avail and Borough made it 4-0 when English scored for the second game in succession.
On Boxing Day (2pm) sixth placed Borough, now unbeaten in nine matches, face Feckenham for a third time in as many weeks in a Midland League Division Two game at the Entaco.
Then follows a home match against Knowle on new year’s eve (3pm) before a visit to Fairfield Villa on January 2 (2pm).