19 Goals in Three Good Friday Derbies: Local Football Round-Up Part 2/3
The Easter weekend saw goals flying in left, right and centre in the Peninsula League Division One East, with 19 scored in the three South Devon derbies played on Good Friday.
As Tiverton Town Reserves tighten their grip on the division, Teignmouth could have done with all of the points in their morning kick-off away at Newton Abbot Spurs, but they had to settle for just one. The opening goal came very much against the run of play: Ben Adams had been terrorising the Spurs defence, with Matt Eves also coming close, when Spurs goalkeeper Scott Bellamy launched a ball upfield. Carl Bradley brought the ball down expertly and threaded through to player-manager Adam Dyson who found the net via the inside of the post. Teignmouth managed to get a deserved equaliser one minute before the break, Eves with a rocket that left Bellamy standing. Another fine goal, on 54 minutes, gave Teign the advantage, player-manager Geoff Breslan hitting an unstoppable 25-yard free-kick into the net. Not to be outdone, Dyson also found the net direct from a free-kick, albeit largely due to defensive failures in the visitors’ wall. His 72nd minute strike proved to be the final goal of the morning.
Brixham AFC enjoyed another big win and clean sheet with a resounding 5-0 home win over Galmpton United. The bulk of the damage was done in the first half with the Fishermen netting three times before the break. Galmpton, who were also reduced to ten men, rallied in the second half but couldn’t prevent shipping another two; Brigham’s goals came from Scott Dodgson (two), Andy Deare, Sean Kenny and Graham Mercieca.
The score of the day came at Bovey Tracey where the Moorlanders fought out a 5-5 draw with Liverton United in a bottom of the table clash. Ryan Beattie and debutant Sean Finch, who scored twice before needing to leave the field due to his wife entering labour, helped the Lillies to a 3-1 lead, but a red card for Phil Kingman and a second Bovey goal, direct from the ensuing free-kick, was to herald a fightback which saw Bovey go 5-3 up. Then the game swung back in Liverton’s favour with Kieran Parkin scoring a penalty and Stewart Connor heading home. Bovey’s goals came from Stuart Bowker (two), Ryan Staybridge (two) and Chester Walters. The hosts also had a player dismissed with James Elliott dismissed in the second half.
Totnes & Dartington lost their fourth game in a row on Saturday, failing to score for the third successive match and shipping six goals at the University of Exeter FC, the division’s leading hitman Ben Mogg with half of the goals.
Teignmouth missed the chance to move level on points with St Martins in second place with a home loss against their Exeter-based visitors. Once again Teigns were the better side for large periods of the game and duly went ahead via a Breslan penalty in the first half. But missed chances cost the hosts dear as St Martins levelled after the break and then snatched a late winner to effectively end Teignmouth’s slim title hopes.
Galmpton resurrected themselves after their Good Friday humbling with a 2-0 triumph away at fellow top-half side Alphington. The Greens secured the points courtesy of a Matt Barkwell strike and an own goal and now sit just three points behind Teigns.
Newton Abbot Spurs lifted themselves to eighth, and above Appledore on goal difference, by putting five past the hapless Fishermen. On a slippery pitch, the returning Shaun Bowden slid to meet Matt Williams’ 24th minute header to give Spurs the lead, which they held for the rest of the half, Appledore’s best effort coming from Harry Stevens’ drive which went just over. After the break, the visitors had the best of the early exchanges but couldn’t finish them, largely due to good work from Scott Bellamy in the hosts’ goal. Matt Williams punished them, his drive from a tight angle confusing and ultimately beating Appledore ‘keeper Will Tallamy. The visitors, in particular Tom Marsh, continued to fight for a way back but were undone by a fantastic Spurs team goal on 67 minutes. Carl Bradley provided the finish after some nice approach play from Mark Brooke and Adam Dyson to all but end Appledore’s afternoon. Still the Fishermen persisted, Bellamy forced into a superb point-blank save from Kort Hewett, but a handball in the box from visiting captain Mark Cann saw him dismissed and Dyson given the chance to make it four from the spot, which he did. When sub Lewis Breslan saw his 88th minute shot blocked, Dyson followed up to claim his second and give the scoreline a slightly deceptive look given the chances created by Appledore.
Finally, a Wednesday night match at Budleigh Salterton saw Liverton earn another point with a 2-2 draw. Fiery goalscorer Aiden Macken was sent off during the game.
