Post by Dave on Oct 29, 2022 8:04:32 GMT
Match Referee Paul Allen
Final Score Ipplepen Athletic 5 DC Auto Repairs FC 2
Match Review
Today’s match is from the Devon league and an opportunity for me to see DC Auto Repairs in action for the first time. While I have covered a number of the Pens 2nd team games over the years, I am not sure if I have ever covered a 1st team game.
While I know the village and the club very well, I have not been able to find out when Ipplepen were formed, but looking at old team photos I found, the club has been going for a very long time.
I remember before the ground was moved to Moor Road, the team played in the heart of the village at the top of the main street. When they first moved to Moor Road the club house had not been completed. This meant players still had to change at the old venue and drive down to the Moor Road pitch.
While most of my readers will know Ipplepen Athletic well, they may not know very much about DC Auto Repairs FC. I would like to thank the club for providing me with the following information.
D&C autos have been running as a club for 23 years, albeit through different names, but really came to light over the previous 3 years, taking the side from a low level P&D division one team where we were struggling for 11 men each week to then gaining promotion out of division 1 and into the premier division for the first time in its history,
We then last year won the p&d premier division at the first time of asking and didn’t want to turn down promotion to the Devon football league as that is not how football should work. So knowing it was going to be a big step up and all happening in a short space of time, we took the opportunity and thought we’d go and give it our best shot. Bit hit and miss so far this season, had some real good performances early on but recent weeks has been a real struggle and resulted in us going on a bad run of form, but we will regroup and keep pushing on.
So how are both clubs doing so far this season?
Ipplepen are currently in tenth place in the league table on three points, one place from the bottom. They have played a total four games, winning just the single game and lost the other three. They have a minus fifteen goal difference and will see today’s game playing the team one place above them in the league as a good opportunity to build on their last home game result. On the 15th October they beat a very good Paignton Saints side by four goals to three. A team that put five past Newton Abbot Spurs 2nd last weekend.
DC Auto repairs FC are currently in ninth place in the league table also on three points. They have played a total of six games, winning one and losing five and have a minus eleven goal difference.
In their last league outing on the 15th October they played Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police away and lost the game by four goals to one. But at home on the 1st October against Stoke they gave a much better account of themselves. They were winning the game by two goals to one at halftime. Sadly they could not hold onto that lead and finally lost the game by five goals to four in the end.
A real six pointer between two sides that have not made the best of starts to the new season. May the best team win.
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Match report
If you had told me after the match I had just watched a game featuring two teams that are struggling near the bottom of the table, I simply would not have believed you.
This game was all action from beginning to end and there was plenty of quality football played. While I was very impressed with the Ipplepen side, I think the DC Auto side are much better than the score might suggest.
In the second half they showed what a good passing side they are, but were really undone in the first half. Unable to deal with balls over the top of their defence and unable to deal with the pace and willing runs made by the Pens attacking players.
Match referee Paul Allen who gave another class display in the middle and showed why he is one of the best referees in Devon, got the game underway.
DC Auto made the better start and took a very early lead in the match. Chris Harvey was way out on the left hand side of the pitch deep inside the Pens Half. I am not sure he actually took a shot at goal; it looked more like he intended to play a very low cross into the pens box. But somehow the ball found its way over the goal line close to the left hand post.
Pens started to get their own game going; Josh Haynes was played neatly into the left hand side of the DC box. But the angle was very tight and his shot on goal was well blocked by Alex Cooper in goal for DC Auto.
Pens came close to scoring when a good low ball was played into the DC Auto box from the right hand side, Josh Haynes got a touch on the ball close to the goal line but could not force it over and into the back of the net.
The Pens did not have to wait to much longer to get back onto level terms. Another good quality low cross into the box from the left hand side again, was fired home by Lee Grimshaw.
Pens then soon took the lead when a ball came back out of the DC Auto box and was hit first time from twenty yards out into the back of the net by Josh Haynes. Time after time DC Auto were being caught at the back by quality balls being played into the space behind them.
Lee Grimshaw came very close to putting the Pens even further in front; he hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box that beat the keeper but not the crossbar.
But the Pens did not have to wait much longer for goal number three. A cross into the DC Auto box was headed down by Lee Grimshaw and Mason Joint was perfectly placed to hook the ball into the back of the net.
DC Auto was thrown a lifeline when James Thompson hacked down a DC Auto forward in the box. Captain Sam Humphries took the spot kick. Billy Courtier in the Pens goal went the right way and was so close to getting a hand on the ball, but the ball flew into the right hand corner of the goal.
Could DC Auto get back onto level terms? Sadly not and they found themselves two goals behind again. A cross into their box this time from the right hand side was met by Josh Haynes to fire over the goal line close in.
DC Auto did create another goal scoring opportunity a cross into the Pens box was headed at goal by Rob Lines, but his effort went wide of right hand post.
The last effort of the first half fell to Pens Lee Grimshaw who hit a great shot from the edge of the box, Alex Cooper did very well to push the shot away with both hands.
That was it for the first half, Ipplepen four two in front and seemingly in control of the match. The second half did not quite live up to the first half, DC Auto came into the game much more and were passing the ball well at times, but could not find those killer passes.
Pens nearly scored again and when a great low cross from the right hand side was fired towards the back post. Lee Haynes was inches away from steering the ball over the goal line.
Eddie Harte showed real skill when he beat three DC Auto players and then made space for a shot on goal. But he was unable to get any real power in the shot and the keeper made a very easy save.
The Pens added to their lead when Shaun Wingrove found himself in space and ran past the defence leaving him one on one with the keeper and slotted the ball home.
DC Autos Ben Clarke fancied his chances from all of thirty yards, but his effort flew high over the crossbar. Sam Humphries hit a great shot from the edge of the box that resulted in the save of the match. Billy Courtier acrobatically tipped the ball over his crossbar one handily.
DC Auto were working so hard, but the pen players stood strong, at the death DC Auto did have one effort cleared off the line, but it was not to be their day. Paul blew up for the end of the match; there was one incident that could have ruined what was a great afternoon of football. A coming together of one pen player and one from DC Auto, thankfully it was soon over.
My thanks to Ipplepen for a very warm welcome and a lovely cup of coffee. Thanks to both team managers for writing the names so neatly on the team sheet with the correct numbers. Finely many thanks to Paul Allen for all your help.
