KELSON Pollard starred as Bovey Tracey recovered two deficits to secure a 4-2 win over Bishops Lydeard on Saturday.

Pollard popped up with a pair and had Ollie Aplin and Neil Last for company on Bovey’s half of the scoresheet. Callum Chivers and Mason Raymond provided short-lived joy for the hosts.

‘We were a bit light on numbers,’ admitted Bovey boss Tony Radford. ‘We had a sub ‘keeper on the bench, someone ill, someone injured and I had to start, so it was quite a tough one. 

‘We needed to get it over the line, and full credit must go to Bishops Lydeard; they’re a young side and I thought they were really good. They tried to get it down and playing and actually caused us some problems – they went 1-0 and 2-1 up. 

‘I’m happy with the three points come the end.’

Pollard notched up goals three and four for the campaign on Saturday, some way off the pace of his explosive introduction to the Moorlanders last season. Radford was pleased to see the teenager playing with renewed confidence having been off the scoresheet since Bovey’s 7-0 mauling of Torridgeside at the beginning of March.

‘They’re massive for Kels,’ Radford said. ‘He came to Bovey halfway through last season and scored a bunch of goals, and he’s been playing for Weymouth Under-23s this year and scoring a few goals recently for them. 

‘He was back to the Kelson we all knew; his first goal was an absolute stormer and he’s put it in the top corner from the left-hand edge of the box and his second one was a great run across the defenders and he’s taken a pass down with one touch and lobbed the ‘keeper. Both goals were beauties. 

‘It’s great to see him back on it, so hopefully he can take that with him going forward.’

Aplin all but officially sealed the Peninsula League Premier East Golden Boot race with a goal at Darby Way. Bovey’s talisman netted his 24th of the season with one match still to come. His nearest rival for the scorers’ top spot, Ivybridge Town’s Luke Forward, will not play again and Axminster Town’s Craig Veal needs to out-score Aplin by four or more in their remaining bout.

‘I don’t ever get bored of talking about Ollie,’ Radford said. ‘As a footballer, he does all the right things. When his shooting boots aren’t on – which isn’t often – he’ll still work like a man and a half. 

‘But Ollie does guarantee 20 goals a season, so to have that in the team, as well as the work-rate, is worth his weight in gold.’