JOSH Hales ensured Gunthorpe remain the only team in Division One with a 100 per cent record by hitting five of his side's goals against Woodston on Sunday.

'The Gunners' now sit top of the league - two points clear of Hampton - after winning their third game on the bounce.

The other scorers for Andy Roberts' side were Sean Roberts and Joshua Peach on a day when the result was never in any doubt.

Woodston's only consolation was a second half penalty from Jack Whaley as the differences between the haves and the have-nots at this level of football were once more bought into evidence.

But according to Roberts, Gunthorpe's four-year journey to the top of the Junior Alliance pile has been helped along far more by his players powers of persuasion than any elaborate recruitment policy at the club itself.

"When we set up this team four years ago we started from the very bottom with a few boys who wanted to be in a team," said Roberts.

"From there it has just grown and grown and what I have found is that as we get better we attract better players. But that has nothing to do with us going out and nicking the best players, they come to us.

"It happens on the playground at school - good young players will ask lads in the team if they could get a game and they tend to sort it out themselves.

"And through that process we have built an excellent young side which I expect to be right up there challenging with Deeping and Woodston Blue this season."

"But it is going to be tough, there are no easy games in Division One anymore. Although we beat Woodston Red 7-1, it was not an easy game and we had to work very hard to break them down."

The result means Woodston Red have now lost their first two league games of the season but after going through to the second round of the Hunts Cup last weekend, manager Danny Steward is hopeful his side can start to build up a head of steam.

He said: "We battled hard against Gunthorpe but our heads dropped a bit when we went behind and that is something we will work on.

"But our win in the cup has given us a bit of confidence and I am sure we will find our feet this season and grab a mid-table finish.

"We have some excellent backing this season from Mark Speechley at Nationwide Mailing and we hope to do them proud.

"We have some excellent little players, we just need to steadily build our confidence and I am sure we will be fine this season."



GUNTHORPE Harriers have now been handed Charter Standard status.

It is largely thanks to the efforts of club official Darren Peake, who carried out much of the work involved in the process.