Post by Dave on Dec 26, 2022 9:07:02 GMT
Match Referee Luke McFarlane
Assistants Paul Sharples & Robbie Aitken
Assistants Paul Sharples & Robbie Aitken
Attendance 195
Final Score Brixham AFC 6 Dartmouth AFC 0
Match Preview
I hope all of Davesworld readers had a wonderful day yesterday and for football fans is there anything better than a Boxing Day real local derby between to great grassroots clubs.
This is real football where clubs depend on volunteers to keep the clubs running and players play for their love of the game and long may it remain that way. This is what football really should be about and it has provided a lifetime of entertainment for me.
Brixham AFC as we know was formed in June 2012, when Brixham United and Brixham Villa merged in the South Devon League. Brixham Villa had been a club since 1953 and had previously won the league in the 2006–07 season, while Brixham United had competed in the Western Football League and FA Vase during the late 1970s.
After finishing runners up in the South Devon League the club joined the South West Peninsula League Division One East in 2014 and spent five seasons there, finishing third in 2018–19. At the end of that season the league was restructured, and Brixham successfully applied for promotion to the Premier Division East, at Step 6 of the National League System.
I have enjoyed watching and covering a good number of Brixham AFC games at Wall Park, they have all been very entertaining and it is one of my favourite places to watch a game of football.
Established in 1908 as Dartmouth United, the club began competing in the Torbay and District League. In mid-1999, Dartmouth United and Dartmouth Y.M.R.C. amalgamated to form Dartmouth A.F.C. The new club won the Devon County League title in 2001–02 and 2002–03.
Before the start of the 2012–13 season, the club resigned from the South West Peninsula League and joined the SDFL, at the end of the 2018/2019 season Dartmouth successfully applied for a double promotion to the Peninsula Premier Division East.
How have the teams done so far this season
Brixham have made a great start to the season and winning the league title is well within their reach. While they are currently in forth place in the league table on 37 points, they do have five games in hand over league leaders Okehampton Argyle.
Their record to date, played 17, won 11, drawn 4 and lost just two. Scoring a total of 45 goals and conceding 18, giving them a plus 27 goal difference.
Dartmouth are in eighth place in the table on 30 points after playing a total of 19 games, winning 10 of them and losing nine. They have scored a total of 28 goals, but have conceded 38 putting them on a minus 10 goal difference.
I am expecting a bumper crowd for this game, many will have Brixham down as their favourites to win, but Dartmouth will know they are also in with a good chance and I expect this game will feel more like a cup final. May the best team win.
Match Report
On a sunny but cold afternoon, I do not think anyone was expecting Brixham AFC to beat Dartmouth AFC in such a convincing manor. The pitch looked perfect, but as you might expect, was wet underfoot but stood up to the task well and credit must go to the grounds man.
While there was a decent enough crowd for the game, I thought many more should have turned up for what turned out to be a Boxing Day feast of goals. Such is the goal threat Brixham have these days and the Dartmouth defence were powerless to stop them. While all the Dartmouth lads put in a good shift and worked hard throughout the game, Brixham were simply better all over the park.
Before the kick-off a minutes silence was held for former Brixham United Chairman Dave Hart who sadly passed away on the 7th December. It was respected perfectly by everyone present at the game.
There was a late change to one of the match officials, Robbie Aitken stood in for Gary Hammon. Luke McFarlane who had a fine game in the middle blew up for the start of the match and tackles were flying in everywhere.
Dartmouth won a free kick on the halfway line that was fired deep into the Brixham box. The ball came close to being forced over the goal line, but thankfully for Brixham it ended up being cleared away from danger.
The first attempt on goal for Brixham was a well hit shot from the edge of the Dartmouth box by Reece Somers but his effort went just wide of the left hand post.
But Brixham soon took a very early lead in the match after they had won a free kick just outside the left hand side of the Darmouth box. Charlie Johansen took the kick and everyone was expecting him to fire the ball high into the box. But he hit it low towards the goal and Ryan Beattie got to the ball before any Dartmouth defender and fired the ball home.
Up the other end and Dartmouth’s Aflie Slough hit a good shot from the edge of the box but had to stand and watch his effort fly over the crossbar.
Then their player who impressed me the most George Dandridge was played into the Brixham box with just the keeper to beat. George was only able to poke the ball and Grant Fisher in goal for Brixham got down low and got a hand on the ball and pushed it out for a corner.
Brixham then doubled their lead after winning a corner. The ball was fired into the Dartmouth box and was met with a very powerful header by Arron Wellington that gave the keeper on chance of making a save.
Dartmouth looked to get back into the game, George Dandridge hit a good twenty yard effort at goal that was well saved low down by Grant Fisher.
The match referee then blew his whistle and came running over to me from the other side of the pitch. Many of you have seen the Davesworld yellow and blue hi- vis vest I wear at matches now. Despite sitting on a stool that was only 18 inches of the ground the Dartmouth defence complained to the ref about the colour clash with their tops and I was asked politely to remove it which I did.
Scott Robinson did his best to add to Brixham’s lead with a good shot inside the Dartmouth box, but his effort just cleared the crossbar.
Charlie Johansen looked hungry for goals as normal and came so close to giving Brixham a three goal to nil halftime lead. He burst into the right hand side of the Dartmouth box. Turned one way and then the other and got off a powerful low shot that the keeper did well to save with his legs.
That was it for the first half, Brixham deserved their first half lead, they created the best chances and took them. I was expecting a lot more from the Dartmouth players in the second half, but things only got worse for them.
With the ball at his feet Charlie Johansen burst into the Dartmouth box and you just knew he was going to score. He picked his spot and fired an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
Brixham soon made it four goals to nil from another corner kick. The ball was fired into the Dartmouth box and headed home by Tom Dunlop.
Dartmouth were not prepared to lie down and enjoyed their best spell of the match, but failed to cerate any meaningful chances. From a corner the ball did find its way back to the feet of Sail Vanes but he was unable to keep his shot down.
Brixham were hungry for more goals and goal number five came about after the best passing move of the whole game. A four man passing move played in Ryan Keates with just the keeper to beat and he made on mistake.
To rub salt into the Dartmouth players wounds, Brixham then score goal number six. The ball was fired to the edge of the Dartmouth box and seemed hit the arm of a Dartmouth defender. A big shout went out for handball that was not given, but the ball dropped kindly for Scott Robinson to volley home with a first time hit shot.
The match referee blew up for the end of the match, while I feel Dartmouth were not completely outplayed, Brixham were the better team on the day.
Many thanks to the match officials for all your help today and thanks also to Brixham AFC for the very warm welcome. A great club that is going places and the only way is up.
