LUKE Stone netted twice as Merley Cobham Sports exorcised the ghost of their Hamworthy Rec humbling by returning to the summit courtesy of a 5-1 win over Cranborne.

Merley, thumped 6-0 by Rec seven days previously, started slowly and were rocked when Dan Loader gave the Cranes an early lead.

However, it was all one-way traffic from then on as an Aaron Atkinson goal and Stuart Cannie’s venomous 20-yarder saw them forge into a 2-1 lead.

Stone then netted the first of his double with a thunderous 30-yard screamer before adding his second and Merley’s fourth 15 minutes into the second half.

Lee Wilkins completed the scoring late on as victory saw Merley open a narrow one-point lead at the top of the table following second-placed Portland’s defeat by Parley.

Merley boss Ollie Cherrett said: “After a disappointing result and performance last week, it was important to get back to winning ways.

“Cranborne worked hard but I always felt we were far too strong for them. Some of the football we played was outstanding on a sticky pitch and the threat from Luke Stone was constant.

“Aaron Atkinson was our man of the match and they could not handle our pace. Overall, it was a good three points but we know we will have sterner tests to come.”

Merley: Perry, Gage, Dand, Rowe, Mills, Atkins, Wilkins, Atkinson, Steer (Selby, 75), Cannie (Goward, 60), Stone (Wolfenden, 70).