Post by Dave on Apr 12, 2024 12:47:43 GMT
Match Referee Simon Blair
Final Score Beesands Rovers 3 Chudleigh Athletic 2
Match Preview
I remember as if it was yesterday the very first Beesands Rovers game I ever covered on the 17th October 2015. The game was a home game played at Beesands Cellars against the no longer Buckland & Milber. As part of the road to the pitch had already been washed away, the track I had to use almost shook my car to bits.
But it was worth it in the end as while the pitch was not the best, the setting was really amazing. Sadly later the whole road fell victim to the sea and it was no longer possible to drive to the ground. But on a goggle satellite image from 2024, the pitch is still visible along with the old changing room building.
Beesands Rovers home is now the loddiswell Playing Fields, once the home of Loddiswell Athletic, another club that is sadly no more. The ground is also the home of Kingsbridge & Kellaton United.
I have covered a number of Beesands game since then and it is a club I have grown very fond of. What a season the club enjoyed last season crowned as champions of Division One and were unbeaten in the league. Sadly earlier in the season John McMyler the club secretary passed away, but looking down from above, John would have been so proud of the club he loved and had worked so hard for.
Beesands Rover made a good start to 2023/2024 season losing just one of their first six games. As a result they were up near the top of the table will Ilsington and Morley Rangers. But they have only managed two wins from eight starts since then and as a result have dropped down the table to sixth place.
Their record, played fourteen, won seven and lost seven giving them a total of twenty one points, scoring a total of thirty six goals, conceded twenty four, so have a plus twelve goal difference.
The Bees have not played a league game since the 23rd March, a game they quickly wanted to forget after suffering a 6-4 defeat away to Buckfastleigh Rangers. Finishing the season in the top three no longer looks possible for the Bees, but they will want to win as many of their remaining games as possible.
I enjoyed covering one of Chudleighs home games last season on the 24th September 2022 against Watts Blake & Bearne. While they lost the game that day by six goals to nil, they looked a better side than the score line might suggest. Chudleigh are currently in ninth place in the league table on fifteen points. Their record, played fifteen, won five, drawn none and lost ten. Scoring a total of twenty seven goals, conceded forty giving them a minus thirteen goal difference.
Their last league outing was also on the 23rd march at home where they beat Waldon Athletic by four goals to one. Interestingly Beesands Rovers were beaten away on the 9th March by Waldon Athletic.
On the 23rd September the Bees faced Chudleigh Athletic away in the league and won the game by three goals to nil, but their early season form was much better than it currently is.
A hard result to call, while the Bees will want to get back to winning ways, Chudleigh will be looking to make it three league wins on the trot and also prevent the Bees from doing the double over them.
May the best team win .
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Match Report
Well it finally happened, it stopped raining and it was clear today just how much both sets of players have missed playing in a competitive football match. Each and every player who took to the pitch gave their all today and produced a very entertaining game.
While the sun decided to go back hiding behind the clouds, it was dry but there was a cold wind blowing. The pitch looked perfect when you consider it was recently completely waterlogged.
As a neutral at the game I think a draw might have been a fair result, but I have to say on the balance of chances created, Beesands just about deserved the three points. But they were made to work very hard for it by a very determined Chudleigh who enjoyed some good spells in the match. a last minute goal line clearance deprived them of going home with a point.
Match referee Simon Blair got the game underway and the Chudleigh boys made a very good start, but the Bees soon got up to speed and there was nothing much to choose between the two sides.
The first big moment of the game came when there was a loud shout for a handball by a Bees player inside the box. While my image I have put up looks like a clear handball, it needs to be remembered that zoom lenses compress distance and it is possible the ball is not as close to the hand as it looks. The referee either did not see the incident clearly enough, or was close enough to judge the players hand had not made contact with the ball.
Beesands Alex Smith had the first shot on goal from the edge of the Chudleigh box. But had to stand and watch his effort fly over the crossbar. Up the other end Chudleighs Nikolas Garrett burst into the left hand side of the Bees box and got a shot away that also cleared the crossbar.
The Bees came close to taking the lead when a very long ball found Louis Brace who hit a goal bound shot that forced the Chudleigh keeper Gareth Daniel into making a very good save getting the ball behind for a Bees corner. From the resulting corner the Bees Josh Clarke rose the highest and headed the ball back towards the middle of the goal. Captain Adam Winkworth then got to the ball first and headed the ball into the back of the net.
The Bees Alex Smith found himself inside the Chudleigh box and got a good shot away that had the sting taken out of it by a block from a defender and ended up an easy catch for the goal keeper.
Chudleigh were unlucky not to get back on to leave teams after a good passing move, the final pass was to Nikolas Garrett who hit a good shot at goal. Rob Came somehow got down low and made a one handed save getting the ball behind for a corner.
Another long ball played up field saw the Chudleigh keeper rush out of his box to meet the ball. But Louis Brace got there first and knocked the ball passed him. A first time left foot shot might have resulted in the Bees second goal of the match. But Louis turned to get the ball onto his right foot which gave a defender time to get back onto the goal lone and make a clearance.
Chudleighs Jake Cogavin fancied his chances from twenty yards out but his effort went high over the Bees crossbar. Up the other end the hard working Jack Eades raced into the left hand side of the Chudleigh box but hooked his shot over the bar.
That was it for the first half, the Bees were one goal to the good, could they increase their lead in the second half, or would Chudleigh get back onto level terms.
We soon had the answer when a low ball into the Chudleigh box from the right hand side was fired home by Rhys Morrallee. But Chudleigh were soon able to pull a goal back when a ball came into the box from the right hand side and was met with a first time shot by Joe Potter that flew into the back of the net. Game on.
But Chudleigh soon were two goals behind again as they failed to deal with another low ball into their box from the right hand side. This time Joe Craig was there to fire the ball home.
But back came Chudleigh and made it three goals to two after winning a free kick. The ball was fired low into the box and Matthew Cubbold stroked the ball inside the right hand post.
Chudleigh went in search of an equaliser and their players were all working so hard. But they nearly got caught out a few times pushing so high up the pitch. One long Bees ball reached Jack Eades who burst into the left hand side of the Chudleigh box. He got a great shot away that forced Gareth into making the save of the match. It was so good I just stood and watched it and forget to press the shutter button.
Then came the second controversial incident in the match. A high ball was fired into the Bees box from the right hand side and from my angle it clearly looked like the keeper had pushed the ball over the crossbar. Simon Blair indicated a corner but before it could be taken the Bees linesman wanted a word with him.
As a result of the conversation the referee decided to award a goal kick. The linesman was soon flagging again for the referee’s attention. It seems Jake Cogavin had said something to him along the lines he was a cheat (well that is what I heard had been said but I do not know what was actually said) I know the Beesands people very well and they certainly do not cheat. Possibly from his angle he did not see the keeper touch the ball? Anyway Jake found his name going into the book.
Chudleigh pressed on but as a result were leaving gaps at the back. Jack Eades was played into the Chudleigh box at pace, but blasted his shot well over the bar. He was in again and got another shot away that was blocked on route to the back of the net and behind for a Bees corner.
From the left hand edge of the Bees box, Alfie Luscombe hit a fine curving shot to the far post that was well held by Rob Came. In the last seconds of the match Chudleigh won a corner. Keeper Gareth Daniel raced up the pitch and into the Bees box. As the ball came in he did a low diving header that his team mates thought had crossed over the line. The final action shots shows the ball had passed the keeper as he can be seen looking behind him. But there was a defender behind him who cleared the ball off the goal line. With no VAR no goal was given.
After the game the Chudleigh manager asked me which Chudleigh player was my man of the match, it was an easy answer, each and every one of them.
Beesands held on and claimed all three points and were able to put the Buckfastleigh game behind them. Chudleigh came so close to getting something from the game, but it was not to be.
Many thanks to both clubs for all your help and not forgetting the lovely Simon Blair.
