Another Point for Stoke & Teigns Close the Gap
Premier Division:
Ten Man Witheridge Earn a Point at Stoke
Match report by Tom Besford
After losing 5-1 at Witheridge back in August, after arriving late, Stoke looked to get revenge against a strong Witheridge team who currently sit in the top ten.
As the game started off quite even, with neither team being able to get the better of the opposing back line, the main and only point worth talking about came on the stroke of half-time as a clash in the centre of the park between a Witheridge midfielder and Stoke captain Steve Bowker led to many supporters being confused with what was going on. As the players walked off the pitch for half-time, whilst the visiting midfielder received treatment, the referee called Bowker over. The captain, already on a yellow, then took his shirt and captain’s armband off as he walked into the changing rooms leaving many wondering if he had been sent off or not.
The second half began with the 22 players on the pitch and continued in the same manner as the first half. With play being quite an even affair, neither team could do much until the 70th minute when Witheridge were reduced to ten. Jamie Dirrane, who was already on a booking, brought down Tom Kelly on the edge of the box as he was on a menacing attack into the box. But it was ten men Witheridge who took the lead as, five minutes later, a left wing cross into the box was headed into the back of the net by Tom Williams leaving ‘keeper Nathan Murphy with little chance of preventing it. Their lead didn’t last for long though; seven minutes from time Witheridge scored again, but this time into the wrong net. A cross into the box by Stoke full-back Frazer Clark was headed past his own keeper by Witheridge defender Kane Dryden. The hosts had a good chance to win the match with a few minutes left on the clock, as Tom Kelly dragged his shot just wide, but a bit of time wasting meant that ten men Witheridge held on to take a point back up the road
Stoke Gabriel: Nathan Murphy, Jake White, Frazer Clark, Scott Beattie, Mark Ashworth, Dejan Maric, Ben Brown, Dave Worthington, Olly Critchlow, Robbie Bowker, Steve Bowker (c), Tom Kelly, Tim Porter, Ryan O’Callaghan
Witheridge: Steve Oliver, Mike Humphreys, Chris Vinnicombe, Kane Dryden, Dave Rowe, Jamie Dirrane, Alex Gray, Tom Williams, Jack Langford, Bradley Kelly, Luke Cole, Jack Rainey, Alex Jones, Ross Middleton
FT: Stoke Gabriel 1 – 1 Witheridge
Division One East:
Sam’s the Man as Teigns Close the Gap
Match report by Martin Jones
Teignmouth closed the gap on league leaders Galmpton to just two points after this impressive win over visitors Exwick.
Geoff Breslan’s accurate pass sent Sam Chapman clear in the 6th minute; Chapman outpaced the visiting defence and slotted the ball past Exwick’s ‘keeper Tonkin for the opening goal. Hayden Roe put Teigns two up in the 23rd minute, latching on to Matt Eves’ defence -splitting pass then beating Tonkin with a fierce near-post drive. Ten minutes later, Ian Wilkinson’s cross into a packed penalty area found Chapman at the far post; his 8-yard drive cannoned off the foot of the inside of the upright and flashed into the back of the net for Teigns’ third goal. Jordan Harris pulled a goal back for Exwick in the 42nd minute; then, on the stroke of half-time, the inspirational Dean Coppard was harshly judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Harry Taylor took the ensuing spot kick for Exwick but his effort crashed against the crossbar. Teigns’ ‘keeper gathered the loose ball and in seconds they were on the attack; Chapman rounded Tonkin to slam the ball into an empty net to claim a first half hat trick and give his side a 4-1 lead at the interval.
A great start to the second half saw Teigns extend their lead in the 47th minute. Jones’ long punt forward was controlled by Roe and clinically dispatched into the top right corner of the net putting Teigns 5-1 ahead. In the 55th minute, Roe turned provider gathering Scott Telford’s clearance and shielding the ball well before passing to Ryan Bush who danced past Tonkin to score with ease. Teigns took their foot off the pedal and the visitors had a lot of possession but Jones was assured in the home goal and pulled off a good diving save in the 70th minute, palming the ball past his near post. With the game drawing to a close, Exwick’s persistence was rewarded when Tom Taylor grabbed a consolation goal to complete the scoring.
This Saturday Okehampton visit Coombe Valley. Kick off 2.15pm
FT: Teignmouth 6 – 2 Exwick Villa
Young Super-sub Hebbes Lights Up Liverton
Match report by Phil Hiscox of the SWPL
Liverton United climbed a place to 13th in the table as they carried on their recent run of much improved results with a deserved win at Dean Cross – but they had to wait until the final ten minutes to find the back of the hosts’ net.
The visitors had the clearest chances to score throughout as they hit the woodwork no fewer than three times. Twice in the first half they were denied by the cross-bar and again in the second period they were thwarted, this time by the post. The hosts had looked at one point as if they might have made Liverton pay for these misses as they started to trouble the goal at the other end themselves as the game wore on, and it would not have been a surprise, though it would have been an injustice, if they had sneaked a narrow win.
In the end though, two goals in the last ten minutes from 16 year-old substitute Nathan Hebbes proved the difference. On 82 minutes, a hard, low cross from Cianan Breen found Hebbes at the near post and he rammed home the ball past Ryan Rickard. Five minutes later Hebbes then sealed the 3 points as he ran onto a ball from midfield and, calmly for his tender years, slotted low past Rickard in a one-on-one with the home ‘keeper.
Inspired substitution? – Who knows ? – But I’m sure the Liverton boss Justin Yeates will think so !
Liverton United: Kinsman, Cawsey, Breen, Kingman, Kelly, Buckmaster, Macken, Harding, Booth, Aplin, Grinsill (Hebbes 65)
FT: Plymstock United 0 – 2 Liverton United
[box] More detailed reports and team info to come from the other South Devon Peninsula sides, but in the meantime, here is the round-up adapted from the League website at www.swpleague.co.uk [/box]
Premier Division:
With a lot of Cup football there were just four league games. Elburton Villa pulled away from danger with a 2-0 win at bottom side Bovey Tracey.
Division One East:
Eight league games saw plenty of goals! Leaders Galmpton United were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Alphington. The University of Exeter are up a place to third after they won 3-1 at bottom of the table Newton Abbot Spurs. Three sides further down the table recorded wins as Brixham AFC beat Totnes & Dartington 3-0 in a South Devon derby at Wall Park.
