Published: October 03, 2008 12:04 pm      

Cards swat 'Jackets

South Laurel downs Middlesboro, 10-0

After dropping a 3-0 decision to Southwestern Pulaski on Monday night, the South Laurel Cardinals rebounded in fine fashion, beating Estill Co. 5-0 Tuesday, then routing Middlesboro 10-0 on Wednesday.

This was the third of four straight games in four nights for South Laurel (8-3-3, 2-0-1). The Cardinals traveled to face Belfry last night.

Against an under-matched Middlesboro squad, the Cards led 3-0 at the half, then scored seven goals in the second to end the game early with the mercy rule.

“I told the guys we need to be more patient,” Coach Harmon Hodge said. “I pulled several of them out and told them to relax. In a game like this, everybody wants to score, and sometimes they try too hard. And that’s when it usually doesn’t happen.”

Jeffrey Poston led the way for South Laurel with five goals to give him 24 on the season. He tallied a hat-trick in the win over Estill Co.

South Laurel dominated play from the opening whistle, and in took them only four minutes to score, when Poston headed in a corner kick. Two minutes later, Dustin Herron scored to make it 2-0.

The Cards had many more opportunities in the first half, but didn’t score again until the 28th minute, when David Herron was taken down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Poston converted from the spot to give his team a 3-0 half-time lead.

South Laurel poured it on in the second half. Poston scored in the 42nd, 46th and 60th minutes, while Jonathan McClure (43rd), Dylan Berry (49th, 64th) and Caleb Spencer (57th) rounded out the scoring to make the final 10-0.

“I would like to see us not shoot so many straight at the keeper,” Hodge said. “I really don’t like having a game like this so close to the district tournament, but this is a district game, and you have to play them.”