A night after a tense battle with archrival Vicksburg, Warren Central was in need of a more relaxed match.

They got one Friday night at Viking Stadium against Brookhaven. The Vikings applied constant pressure in the first half and eventually wore down the Panthers with three goals in a three-minute span. Up four goals at the break, coach Greg Head was able to clear his bench as the Vikings posted a 5-0 win.

Warren Central (12-3-2) is currently tied for first with Clinton in Division 3-6A following Thursday’s win over Vicksburg. The Vikings step back into division play today at Greenville-Weston. On Tuesday, they host Vicksburg for the team’s fourth match in six days.

Head was glad to have a friendly match with Brookhaven.

“It was definitely more relaxed,” Head said. “Obviously, it gave us an opportunity to try some different things and move some people in new spots. We also got to play everybody.”

One move the Vikings used was to push regular sweeper Alberto Capeleto up to mid-field. The move created more opportunities for forward Ahstin Greer, who responded with two goals.

“Tonight was a lot easier,” Greer said. “I didn’t think I played all that well against Vicksburg. Tonight was better. We got a lot of shots and some were bound to go in.”

The match was scoreless for the first 20 minutes as two headers from WC’s Oscar Kjellberg were stopped.

In the 21st minute, Kjellberg was able to send a cross to Greer, who blasted in the 10-yard kick for a 1-0 lead.

Nine minutes later, Romario Dixon set up Greer for a second goal and a 2-0 lead.

Capeleto got in on the fun when he took a side pass from Chandler Bounds and wheeled a cross kick that found the upper left corner for the Vikings’ third goal of the half, just 90 seconds after Greer’s second goal.

A minute later WC was up 4-0 after an own goal by Brookhaven.

Brookhaven, which got outshot 23-8, had one good chance to score. It came off a free kick by Stephen Davey that hit the high post and then died right in front of keeper Baxter Richardson.

The Vikings countered with the lone goal of the second half when eighth-grader Nick Wright scored for a 5-0 lead.

(G) WC 6, Brookhaven 1

The Lady Vikes (9-6-2) bounced back from Thursday’s tough loss to Vicksburg by bashing Brookhaven (4-9-1). Taylor Hanes had two goals and an assist in the first half as WC broke out to a 3-0 lead.

Lady Vikes coach Trey Banks was able to play his reserves in the second half. The group got goals from Macy Joseph, Shannon Richter and Cammi Keller.

Noel Butler and Baylee Jeter had assists.

(B) Cathedral 2, St. Aloysius 1

Jose Sanchez scored St. Al’s only goal off an assist from Blake Hudson, as the Flashes fell to archrival Cathedral.

(G) St. Aloysius 7, Cathedral 2

Haylee Prescott scored three goals, Riley Griffith had a goal and two assists, and St. Al (8-2) routed Cathedral.

Nicole Hayward had a goal and an assist for St. Al, and Madison Lumbley and Stephanie Riveros each scored once.

St. Al will host division rival Madison-St. Joseph on Tuesday night.