Kidsgrove Athletic recorded an impressive 4-0 victory over Rocester in their second pre-season friendly of the 2020/21 season.

Ruben Wiggins-Thomas converted a penalty in first half injury time before second half strikes from Kyle Blake, Jack Bromfield and Kingsley Adu-Gyafmi made for a very successful afternoon at Hillsfield.

Early on, the Grove dominated possession but struggled to carve out any real clear-cut opportunities. In fact, their first chance of the encounter came on the 10th minute mark, but youngster Ben Chesters was unable to hook Tom France’s cross from the right on target.

As the game approached the 20th minute, Wiggins-Thomas was found at the back post by a Blake cross, but his effort was straight at Jake Holding.

Blake was yet again involved in another promising Kidsgrove move as his cross was met by Chesters, but once again Holding was able to comfortably collect his header.

Only a minute later, the 17-year-old felt he should have been awarded a penalty as he seemed to have been tripped on the left-hand side of the box, but the referee waved away the appeals.

Then, on the stroke of half time, the visitors were awarded a penalty when an Adu-Gyamfi acrobatic effort struck the arm of a Rocester player, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Wiggins-Thomas stepped up to take on the responsibility and confidently sent Holding the wrong way to give the Grove a one goal advantage at the break.

After the interval, Scott Dundas made five alterations and, it took a little while for his side to find the rhythm again that they developed in the first half.

Their first chance of the half came when a Kyle Diskin free-kick from around 25 yards arrowed just over the crossbar.

Six minutes later, a thunderous Blake strike doubled the Grove’s advantage, when he was fed by Adu-Gyamfi outside the box and, he smashed a first time effort into the top right-hand corner.

With 17 minutes remaining, striker Jake Lovatt was found inside the box but his header looped just over the bar. While Spencer Gunnell had a headed effort that sailed just wide of the target.

Then with 11 minutes left on the clock, Kidsgrove got two goals in quick succession, the first coming when a Lovatt cross from the right was poked home by young midfielder Bromfield.

Then only a minute later, Dundas’ team completed the rout when Adu- Gyamfi impressively lobbed Holden when catching the goalkeeper off his line.

The forward who was brought in from Silverdale last year could have further added to his tally, but his diving header from point blank range was well saved by the feet of Holden.

Consequently, this result marks the good start to pre-season that Kidsgrove have made as they have won their first two pre-season friendlies.

Furthermore, after not having played competitive football since March and after having brought in 9 new faces into the squad, the Grove are starting to gel and bond nicely together in preparation for the 2020/21 campaign.