Post by Dave on Jul 30, 2022 7:48:29 GMT
Final Score Brixham Town 3 Paignton Villa 2nd 0
Match Preview
A fixture I have been looking forward to for a number of weeks, a game between two of the best run clubs in the South Devon League. While I always try to write my match reports as a neutral spectator, I often secretly know which team I would like to win. In the case of today’s match that would be both of them, so a draw might be the best result for me.
Two weeks ago I cycled from my home in Paignton to Berryhead and decided to check out the JC Park on route. I was very impressed with the ground and hope Brixham Town are granted permission to erect the changing rooms that are needed to allow the men’s teams to play their home league games there, rather than have to use Furzeham Green. Sadly a few local residents have made up a number of lies to try and prevent the planning application being successful, but thankfully the support is far greater than those who are against it.
The story of last season for today’s teams could not be further apart, one team unbeatable and the other for most of the season struggling to find a win. Brixham Town did not lose a single game in the league (Division 3 South Devon Football league), they played 18 games, won 17 and drew one, scoring a massive 77 goals and conceding only 17 goals in total. Not only did the team win the league they also won the Ronald Cup beating Totnes & Dartington Reserves by three goals to one in the final.
As I said it was different story for Paignton Villa 2nds playing in Division Two of the South Devon League. It was Sam Cogger’s first season in charge of the Villa 2nd team and for most of the season results were very hard to come by. But great credit must be given to Sam and his players for never giving up and fighting to the bitter end.
With relegation looking almost a certainty for the team, Villa won their last six league games to avoid the drop. The team also did very well to reach the final of the Fred Hewings Cup, but lost to an excellent Ivybridge Town Development side by five goals to one.
The two teams will both be playing in Division Two of the South Devon League this season so this game is a taster of what might lie ahead. The Villa boys are going to have to be at their very best, if they have any hopes of winning this match. Ash
Match Report
With a 1pm kick 0ff and a very bight sun overhead, I knew how challenging it would be to take any correctly exposed photos. I would like to thank Sam from Paignton Villa for bringing a SDFL team sheet with him and filling it in correctly with player’s names and numbers. Also Brixham Town for playing their part and filling in their team and shirt numbers. Two clubs I will most certainly be covering a number of games for this season.
The pitch the game was played on is not the one the men’s football teams will eventually play on, a new pitch has been created and seeded it but needs some rain to get those seeds growing. I was told it will be one of the best pitches around here once it is ready to use.
I covered both these teams last season and knew just how good the Brixham Town side are, I thought before the kick-off it would be a very tough game for the Villa lads. But they started the first half very well and had chances to take an early lead.
Villa won a free kick just outside the area taken by Liam Jones but his effort was not good enough to really test Cam Atkinson in goal for Town.
Liam then had a golden chance and should have scored, he was played into the left hand side of the town box with just the keeper to beat; but he dragged his shot just wide of the right hand post.
I normally do not do a man of the match but today I have made an exception, Adam Taylor in the Villa goal pulled of a number of wonderful saves. Towns Lewis Booth hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box that Adam beat away, the ball went back to Lewis who hit it first time but his effort went wide of the right hand post.
Town then took the lead, Adam Taylor was drawn to the left hand post and the ball was then squared across the goal for Stuart Pointon to fire home into the empty net.
Villa’s Ash Salmon hit a good twenty five yard effort that only just went wide of the left hand post, but very soon afterwards Town got their second goal of the match.
A corner from the right hand side of the pitch was fired in high towards the back post, Kyall Hazlewood rose up and headed an unstoppable header into the back of the net.
Ash Beetschen was working hard for Villa, wining the ball and making many intelligent passes, but no real shooting opportunities came his way. He did however hit a powerful shot from the edge of the Town box that flew over the crossbar.
Villa’s keeper Adam Taylor was called into action again, a shot by George Meradith from the edge of the box that looked to be going in just under the crossbar until Adam somehow got a hand to the ball and pushed it ver his crossbar.
That was it for the first half, I was surprised no drink breaks took place during the first half considering how hot it was.
The second half got underway and while there was not as much goal action as there was in the first half, Villa upped their game and were matching Town all over the pitch. We were then treated to the save of the match from Adam Taylor. Towns Shane Pike hit a shot from close to the penalty spot that had goal written all over it. But Adam diving to his right pushed the ball out for a corner. A save any keeper would have been very proud of.
Towns Brendan tried to add to his sides lead with a shot from the edge of the Villa box, but the ball flew past the left hand post. But town were to get a further goal, a ball in from a corner was headed towards the goal but dropped down close to the goal line for Macca Dallon to fire home.
The last effort off the game was a shot by Dan Beech for Town from the edge of the box that like many other efforts went wide of the left hand post.
I know Town will once again have a good season as they are a very good side, but Villa can take much from this game and from what I saw today I know they will do so much better this season.
I would have liked to have stayed and covered the second game at the JC Park today, but due to the time it takes me when I get home to do a report and sort of the pictures it was not possible.
Once again thanks for all the help today it really means so much to me.
