Post by Dave on Feb 11, 2023 9:57:14 GMT
The Top Of The Table Clash
Match Referee Alastair Muirden
Final Score Buckfastleigh Rangers 2 Brixham AFC 2nd 2
Match preview
It was a very easy choice picking this match to cover this week as the premier league leaders take on the second placed club at home. The result of this game might well have some influence as to which team will be crowned as champions at the end of the season.
Both teams start the game on twenty eight points, but Brixham have played one game more to date than Buckfastleigh who also have a superior goal difference over Brixham in their favour.
Both clubs record to date
Buckfastleigh have played a total of eleven games, winning nine, drawing one and losing one. They have scored a total of thirty seven goals, conceded just fifteen giving them a plus twenty two goal difference.
Brixham AFC 2nd have played a total of twelve games, winning nine, drawing one and losing two. They have scored a total of twenty five goals, conceded eighteen giving them a plus seven goal difference.
Brixham AFC as we know was formed in 2012 when Brixham United merged with Brixham Villa. Their first team play in the Peninsula League and are also in action today in the fifth Round of the FA Vase away to CorshamTown FC, the biggest game in the clubs history.
So two very big games today for the two Brixham AFC sides and while covering this game I will keep a close eye on how the first team is doing.
Buckfastleigh Rangers were formed in the very early 1900’s and until 1960 shared the Recreation Ground with the cricket and rugby club. But the cricket club then purchased the Rec and Rangers moved to the Duckpond ground. In the early 80’s a collapsed water culvert meant the club had to seek temporary accommodation for three seasons.
Rangers have spent most of their life playing in the SDFL and made history in the 1980’s when they installed floodlights up to match standard at the Duckpond. The club also boasts a large clubhouse that regularly hosts weekend entertainment. The club as been hosts to league clubs including Torquay United, Plymouth Argyle, Watford F.C and Leyton Orient.
You have to go all the way back to the 13th May 2017 when I was last at the Duckpond covering a game and before that the 12th February 2011. On my last visit the match referee was a very old friend I had not seen for years and we ended up having a drink in the bar after the game and I was still there at 10pm.
Report on that game
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/635/sdfl-buckfastleigh-rangers-waldon-13th
The two clubs last met on the 1st October in the league at Wall Park which Rangers won by five goals to one. Brixham will be looking to get revenge for that heavy defeat today and suspect this will be a much closer game.
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Match Report
It was very clear on today’s evidence just why both Buckfastleigh Rangers and Brixham AFC 2nd hold the two top spots in the South Devon Premier League. Two teams who know how to play football and both contain a number of stand out players.
The Duckpond is a very good ground and I checked out the new club house and it has been done wonderfully well and better than some I have been in at clubs that play at a higher level. There are further plans to one day replace the changing rooms (one of the problems holding the club back) but it also seems the ground having too many access points is also a problem.
Out of the two managers I expect the Brixham one will be the one happier with a point. In the second half it was nearly all Buckfastleigh and they created enough good chances to claim the three points on offer. It was the same last week for Rangers against Elburton Villa when they came home with a single point after once again creating so many chances to win the game.
One change to the team sheet, Sam Green played in the number 18 shirt and not the number 15 one.
The match referee got the game under way and Brixham started the better of the two sides. They won the first corner of the match but nothing came from it. Rangers soon got their passing game together and had the first shot on goal. It was a thirty yard effort by Charlie Morgan that ended up going well wide of the left hand post.
Rangers then won a free kick on the halfway line that was fired into the Brixham box. The ball eventually fell at the feet of Arron De Young who hooked his shot over the crossbar.
Brixham then took the lead in the match, a long high ball played on the right hand side of the pitch. Mark Griffiths made the ball his and entered the right hand side of the Rangers box. He laid a perfect ball back to the edge of the box to Dave Worthington. Dave hit a perfect first time shot into the bottom left hand side of the goal.
It was end to end football and Rangers George Davidson was played into the right hand side of the Brixham box and got a shot away that flew over the crossbar. From just inside the box Rangers Charlie Morgan hit a good shot that also cleared the crossbar.
Just before the break Rangers Thomas Moody hit a twenty yard effort at goal with the same result. The match referee blew up for halftime and I checked how the Brixham first team were getting one. Pleased to learn they were winning by the single goal as was the case for their 2nd team.
The second half got under way and Rangers came so close to getting back onto level terms. A long ball was played forward to the edge of the right hand side of the Brixham box. Ryan Walton in goal for Brixham came running off his line but was beaten to the ball by Steven Sutton. Steve hit the ball at goal, it did not have that much power but it looked certain to cross over the line. But a Brixham defender was just able to get to the ball and cleared of off the line.
But moments later Rangers got the goal they deserved. A good ball was played up to Steven Sutton and when close in got a shot away. His effort was well blocked by Mark Ashworth but the ball fell kindly at the feet of Steven who fired it into the back of the net.
The game was stopped for a short while to clean up some dog poo, why do some dog owners not clean up their own dogs mess.
Brixham then took the lead again after winning a free kick out on the left hand side of the pitch. The ball was fired into the Rangers box and knocked down close to the left hand post and Dalton Sanders got to the ball first and put it into the back of the net.
Brixham’s Jacob Durrant was the first player to receive a yellow card in the match and tempers were raising amongst the Brixham players unhappy with a number of decisions going against them.
Brixham were reduced to playing far too much one route football playing long balls trying to find Mark Griffiths, it was not working well for them.
Rangers then scored their second goal of the match that came from a throw-in. the ball was thrown high into the Brixham box, the keeper came for it but it sailed over him and dropped at the feet of Steven Sutton to fire home.
Rangers then had two very good chances to take the lead in the match. Steven Sutton headed the ball over the bar and maybe should have done a bit better. He was then played into the box and close in hit a low shot that just went wide of the right hand post.
Rangers Charlie Morgan then found his name going into the box that was to prove very costly a bit later on. There was a big shout for a Rangers free kick on the edge of the Brixham box that was not given. But the ball fell to George Davidson who hit a good shot that just went wide of the post.
It was mostly all one way traffic now, but Rangers could not find that winning goal. There was a shout for a Rangers penalty but I thought the Brixham player had clearly won the ball.
Charlie Morgan was then showed a second yellow card followed by a red one. A bit unlucky in my book as I caught his attempt to win the ball on camera. The ball was clearly there to be one, but my angle was different from the referees and he saw it as a foul.
It was late in the game and had no effect on it, this was a cracking game to watch and both sets of players gave everything they had.
Many thanks for Rangers for the warm welcome and all you help with the team sheet. Thanks as always to Brixham who always fill the team sheets in correctly for me. Lastly thanks to the match referee for all his help today.
Before I left the ground I checked the Brixham first team score again and it was one all. When I got home I learned Brixham had lost the penalty shoot out by four goals to three. Their dreams are over but everyone in Brixham can be very proud of the club.
