Post by Dave on Nov 26, 2022 9:20:58 GMT
Division Two
Match Referee Simon Blair
Final Score Paignton Villa 2nd 3 Brixham Town 1st 3
Match Preview
Last season Brixham Town did not know how to lose a match, while Paignton Villa 2nds found it hard to win until a wonderful winning run at the end of the season.
But that was last season and Villa 2nd are a much improved side this season. They won their opening game at home against Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police Reserves by four goals to two. Then a home two all draw against East Allington United 2nd. Their next game was away to Brixham Town which they won by three goals to one.
The wheels came off slightly in their next home fixture against Totnes & Dartington SC 1st. the score was nil nil at halftime, but a second half collapse by Villa saw the Totnes side hit the back of the net eight times. Their next two games were at home and they got back to winning ways. A Fine three goals to two win over Newton Rovers 1st, followed by a four goals to three win against Dartmouth 2nd. They then faced Newton Spurs 3rd away and lost by five goals to two. Last weekend they faced Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nd from division one away in the Fred Hewings Cup and won the game by one goal to nil, a result that will fill the team with confidence for today’s encounter.
Brixham Town got off to a flying start this season, beating Dartmouth 2nd away on the opening day by seven goals to nil. Then came their defeat at home against Paignton Villa 2nd. The following week they beat Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police Reserves by two goals to one, the game that caused me so many problems.
Next up for Town was an away trip to face Plympton Athletic in the Robert Williams Estate Agents Senior Cup and were well beaten by five goals to nil. The following week they suffered their second league defeat away to Newton Rovers by three goals to two.
They got back to winning ways beating Watts Blake & Bearne 2nd away by two goals to one and followed that result up with a two nil win away to East Allington 2nd. Last weekend they faced Kingsbridge and Kellaton United away from division three in the Herald Cup and won by five goals to two.
Villa 2nd are in forth place in the league table on thirteen points, Town are in fifth place on twelve points, but they do have a game in hand over Villa 2nd. Much will depend on how strong a side Villa can field, Sam will want to show his teams win over Town this season was no fluke.
Have you joined the Davesworld South Devon Football Facebook Page yet?
www.facebook.com/groups/837956497234326
You can now also follow Davesworld on twitter @ DavesworldR1
Match Report
I came very close to not writing my match report tonight; I came home rather angry and thought It might be a good idea to write it tomorrow instead. But I have always put on my match reports up on Saturday evenings and decided that is what I should do.
Like most of you I watched the England game last night and was disappointed by how poorly the team played. But at the start of this Villa 2nd V Brixham Town game I thought this is what football is really about, twenty two lads out on a pitch that was close to being a bog, playing their hearts out and doing their best for their team.
Look it was a very wet afternoon, the rain kept falling and it was not the conditions anyone would want to spend ninety minutes in. despite sitting on my stool in the rain and getting soaked myself, ( could have stayed home in the warm and watched the darts) I was where I really wanted to be.
But that all changed and I am going to say now what is in my mind and how I feel about certain events today. Clubs moan all the time when they do not have a proper match referee, but when you get one you need to show them some respect and treat them properly.
Simon Blair is one of the nicest men in the middle I have ever met, he too was out their in the poring rain doing the best job he could, he did not deserve the abuse that came his way in the second half. Yes football is a passionate game, there are highs and lows, but there is also self control.
No I will not write in my report that Simon did a terrible job, he gave what he saw and was fair to both teams, what else do managers want?
The game got underway and it was clear from the off the Brixham lads had a late night out on Friday and Villa started the game the better of the two teams.
Villa’s Liam Jones hit a cracking 25 yard shot that only just went wide of the right hand post. Town won a corner that was swung in close to the Villa keeper. Adam Taylor did so well to push the ball over his crossbar.
Villa took and early lead, a long throw-in into the Town box was headed out of the area. Liam Jones hit a 25 yard effort that flew into the back of the net. It was better than any goal I have seen scored in the world cup so far.
Villa soon made it two nil and it was that man Liam Jone again. Towns Lewis Booth lost the ball just outside his box and Liam matched into the box and slotted the ball just inside the right hand post.
Villa had another good chance to add to their lead, a corner fired into the town box, Jack Avery got a good head on the ball, but his effort cleared the crossbar. Jack then hit a good 20 yard shot that also just went over the bar.
Ash Beetschen also tried to get onto the score sheet when he took a shot from the edge of the Town box, but his effort went just wide of the post.
Liam Jones hit another 20 yard effort over the bar, but he then turned provider for goal number three. He did some great work on the ball before laying the ball out to Jack Wilkinson who fired home from a tight angle. That was it for the first half, Villa three nil up and for them the second half should have been about game management.
Town started the second half so much better than they did the first and soon scored their first goal. A shot at goal hit the left hand post and the ball went across the goal towards the left hand post where Seve Sanders was able to steer it over the goal line.
Up the other end and Ash took another shot from the edge of the Town box, but his effort lacked any real power to beat the keeper. Jack Wilkinson also hit a shot from the edge of the Town box that was well held by Cameron Atkinson in goal for Town.
Then came the first real problem in the game that saw tempers flair. A high ball came into the Villa box, to many bodies in the way for me to see what happened. The ball either bounced on the line, in front of it or behind it. A Villa defender did put his foot through the ball to clear it.
Up went the lineman’s flag who informed the referee that the ball had crossed the line. Simon himself told me after the game that when contact was made on the ball, it was over the goal line. Then or maybe before, (unable to write notes due to rain, a Villa player went down. So much abuse being shouted at the referee claiming the player had a head injury. Yet five seconds later he was on his feet showing no such signs.
I have so much time for Sam the manager of the Villa 2nd team, but Simon clearly upset at what was being shouted at him felt he needed to come over and have a world with Sam. I love that Sam is so passionate and cares so much about his team, but in football some decisions go your way and sometimes they do not.
There was a big shout out when Ash Beetschen looked like he might have been brought down in the box by the Town keeper, but looking at my photos I do not think that was the case.
Town were hungry for their third goal and to be honest their second half work rate deserved it. They won a corner and the ball was fired home at the far post by Mac Dallow I believe.
I felt the need when the game ended to go onto the pitch and rescue Simon and walk with him back to his dressing room. He was very upset but I assured him he had in my opinion had a good game and he should not let the events that happened get him down.
Sam has sent me a message this evening and said he was sorry for losing it a bit today, I respect Sam for doing that and we all have to learn how to keep our emotions in check, but that is not always easy during a game of football for any of us.
Very hard to get great shots in such poor conditions, the light faded far to fast, I personally think all SDFL games should be kicking off no later than 2pm during the winter months.
