Stoke & Torbay Police V Cullompton Rangers 10th Feb 2024

[Dave]

Match Referee Paul Allen

Referee Assistants Mark Bird & Reg Cross

Final Score Stoke & Torbay Police 2 Cullompton Rangers 1

Match Preview

Another very wet week and as a result so many local games have been called off today. But as is often the case, the ground staff at Stoke have worked their magic to get the pitch playable.



I have covered a few Stoke & Torbay police first teams’ games this season and while I have yet to see them win, their progress has been there for all to see.

Stoke are currently in 13th place in the league table on twenty four points. Their record, played twenty two, won seven, drawn three and lost twelve, scoring a total of forty three goals, conceding fifty eight giving them a minus fifteen goal difference.

Last weekend I covered a cup game between South Brent and Axminster Town 2nd while the Axminster Town first team faced Stoke & Torbay Police in an away fixture. Stoke very well to earn a point from the game against a team in the top half of the table and will be hoping to build on that result and claim all the three points on offer today.

Cullompton Rangers are currently in forth place in the league table on thirty five points, their record, played twenty two, won ten, drawn five and lost seven, scoring a total of thirty nine goals, conceding thirty one giving them a plus eight goal difference.

Stoke will be looking to reverse the scores from the away fixture at Cullompton Rangers in December, where they went down 2-1 in a narrow defeat. Cullompton will be looking for a win, following a mixed run of recent form, with the visitors picking up 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw in their last 5 outings. Eyes will be firmly set over their shoulders at the chasing pack, with the 6 teams below them all within touching distance, and games in hand.
Stoke come into the game with an identical form run over the last 5 to tomorrow’s visitors: 2 wins. 2 losses. 1 draw.

Today’s match referee Paul Allen is one of the best referees in Devon and only recently back in the middle after being out for five months with an injury. It is always a pleasure to see Paul in action and even more so today as the legend Reg Cross will be running the line along with Mark Bird.

May the best team win.

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Match Report

I said in my match preview I have yet to see a Stoke & Torbay Police win, well I have now. But this young side were made to work so hard for it and on the balance of play, fully deserved to take all three points. This was the whole complete performance I knew the Bees were capable of, from the defence, through the midfield and upfront. Each and every player gave everything they had and they all should pat themselves on the back for the progress they have made since the very first game of this season.

This game was more like a cup final than a league game; non stop action for the whole ninety minutes, tackles flying in everywhere and a game you could not take your eyes off for a second.

The pitch looked so much better than I was expecting it to when I arrived, but after rain later in the game, at the end it bore all the signs of the epic battle that had taken place on it.

Paul Allen got the game underway and the Bees quickly got on top and won the first corner of the match. Nothing came from the corner but we did not have to wait to long for the first attempt on goal. Bees Joe Aldous hit a powerful shot from outside the Cully box that only just cleared the crossbar.

The Bees were soon rewarded shortly afterwards for their strong start in the match. Ben Aldous went in for a tackle and won the ball just inside the Cully half. He ran towards the box holding off a defender. Will Davis in goal for Cully came out to try and narrow the angle, Ben coolly passed the ball past him into the back of the net.

The Bees captain Ben Greeno was the first player to have his name taken, a silly yellow card for kicking the ball away after the referee had blown up for a foul. Stoke were still looking the better of the two sides at this stage, Tom Kempson hit a sweet twenty yard effort that just went over the crossbar.

Cully were slowly finding their feet and getting back into the game. They won a free kick outside the right hand side of the Bees box. The ball was kicked directly at goal and Tom Weeks pulled of a wonderful low diving save down by his left hand post.

The Bees Jordan Thomas and Cullys Makan Coulibaly had squared up to each other and both players I believe where shown the yellow card. The tackles were flying in hard and the match referee did well to allow for the conditions and did his best to allow the advantage when he could.

Cully had what looked like a golden opportunity to get back onto level terms. The ball had found its way into the Bees box to Makan Coulibaly who only had the keeper to beat. He went to wrap his left boot around the ball but missed it completely and the ball went behind for a goal kick.

There was big shout for a Cully penalty when a shot was taken for the edge of the Bees box. It struck a Bees player and bounced into the keepers hands. Paul Allen was well placed and felt the ball had not stuck the hand of a Bees defender.

The Bees were looking to add to their lead, Sam Bishop hit a 20 yard effort at goal that forced a fine diving save from Will Davis who got the ball behind for a corner. Saul Vanes took the corner and it was turned in over the line close in by Jordan Thomas.

That was it for the first half; the Bees were well worth their two goal lead. There was no sign of any rain and even the sun had popped out a few times, what would the second half bring.

The Bees started the second half brightly, Ben Aldous made a good run into the Cully box and got a shot away, but it lacked any real power to trouble the keeper. He then shortly afterwards got another shot away that forced the keeper into making a top class save, diving to his left and pushing the ball around the post.

The Bees Sam Bishop was booked and Cully were working so hard to get back into the match and all their pressure paid off. They won a free kick that was played out to the left and then fired high into the Bees box. Makan Coulibaly rose up and headed the ball on and I think Aiden Horne fired the ball home.

The Bees keeper got injured but battled on as Cully now firmly on top went in search of goal number two. The Bees are now much stronger in defence than they were at the start of the season and were doing their job well.

The heavens opened up and that was the end of my note taking and opened up the voice recorder on my phone. While Cully were still on top, the Bees were always looking to restore their two goal advantage. Saul Vanes went on one of his wonder runs and got a shot away that was well saved at the near post.

On the seventy five minute of the match Jordon Thomas was shown his second yellow card in the match followed by the red card. The rain kept on falling and while down to ten men now, I felt the Bees were good for the win.

The Bees keeper gave us all a scare when he came to the edge of the box to make a clearance. He allowed a Cully forward to get to close to him and ended up kicking the ball against him. The ball from my angle seemed to be going into the now unguarded net, but thankfully for the Bees it ran just wide of the right hand post.

Cully created a few more chances but could not take them and the Bees held on and the win moves the Bees one place up in the league table.

Thanks to all at the Bees for the warm welcome and so much help today and not forgetting Paul Allen. Stoke & Torbay Police are a club on the up and really deserves better support. Very few games on today and I was hoping more would turn up and get their Saturday football fix at a club that has a good clubhouse and hot food and drinks available.

Despite the rain ( I do not like getting wet) I am so glad I ended up covering the Bees today, entertainment at its very best.