BRACKNELL Town extended their unbeaten Isthmian League run to nine games following an emphatic 4-0 home win over South Park on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

Mickel Platt, giving his best performance for Robins, bagged a brace before Luke Holness and Seb Bowerman added the others, with all four goals coming in the first half.

Their good run of form owes a lot to their solid defence, as this was their sixth successive South Central Division match without conceding a goal, and they have let in just two goals in nine games.

Keeper Mark Scott didn't have a proper shot to save; a similar story to last Tuesday when Town secured a vital 2-0 win at play-off rivals Westfield thanks to goals from Max Herbert and Bowerman.

In front of Scott, centre-backs Joy Mukena and Dan Bayliss were again outstanding, while in front of them man-of-the-match Michael Atkinson regularly broke up South Park attacks in his deep midfield role.

Town, playing with flair and invention, outshone their rivals in all departments as they gained revenge for their 4-2 reverse in Reigate last December, which was the last time they lost a league game.

The confident hosts were fast out of the blocks and went close twice before taking a seventh-minute lead. Herbert played a return ball to Bowerman, who broke down the left and cut past his marker before crossing from the left for Platt to turn home.

Two minutes later it was 2-0. Holness made a storming run down the left, switched the ball across to Herbert and his first-time delivery was met by Platt, who headed in from close range.

Receiving the ball from right-back Geoff Kibaki, Bowerman was again the provider when Holness put Town further ahead on the half-hour mark.

And two minutes later, Bowerman added the fourth from the penalty spot after he had been brought down.

It could have been five shortly afterwards, as Alan Musoke saw his effort hit the top of the crossbar.

Manager Bobby Wilkinson had said last week there would be a day when his side would score "five, six or even seven" – and it was beginning to look like this was going to be the day.

South Park, who had to thank keeper Craig Bradshaw for keeping the score down, struggled to cope with Town's high intensity, forcing them to make a double substitution in the 38th minute in a bid to bolster their midfield, where they were being completely over-run.

It was surely, the best 45 minutes seen at Larges Lane this season.

The second half wasn't as exciting, although it certainly wasn't through lack of effort the Robins failed to add to their goal tally.

Having put in a tremendous shift in the first half, their energy levels understandably dropped off, but they still managed to create several good chances with Holness and Platt both going close.

For the second time in a week, Town move up one rung in the ladder, going sixth with 44 points from 24 games, one point behind both Westfield and Chertsey and 11 fewer than leaders Hanwell with two games in hand.

And it's Hanwell where Bracknell go this coming Saturday for what is a vital game for both sides.

Then next Tuesday (February 18) the Robins play their re-arranged fixture at local rivals Marlow (7.45pm).