Post by Dave on Apr 26, 2024 18:49:22 GMT
Match referee Steve Pearce
Final Score Paignton Villa 3rd 1 Liverton United 2nd 5
Match preview
There was a time when Paignton had so many grassroots football clubs, but that is no longer the case. Lost clubs include Paignton St Michaels's, Preston United, Paignton United, Foxhole United , Roselands, Hookhills, S.T.C, Northern Telecom, Preston Southend, Foxhole Rangers, Marldon Spurs, Paignton Albion,Paignton Post Office AFC,Preston St Michael's. Paignton Town, Collaton United, Palace FC, Rivera United and I expect there were even more.
The good news is Paignton still has two very strong and well run clubs, who both have three senior men’s teams each playing in the South Devon League.Paignton Saints and Paignton Villa. Saints have been around since 1971 and Villa way back in 1926. I would imagine some Villa teams from yesteryears would have played against some of those lost clubs.
The Paignton Villa 3rd team were formed last season (2022/2023) and when I covered one of their games at home against Broadhempston, on the 4th February 2023, they were in forth place in the league table. I felt they were unlucky to lose the game by three goals to two and they looked a side that would only get better.
I do not know what has changed, but Villa 3rd have had a very poor season to date, they have only managed to win just two on the nineteen games they have played. More worryingly they have conceded a total of eighty nine goals and only found the back of the net twenty nine times.
The team is currently in eleventh place in the league table on nine points and with Newton Rovers 2nd in twelve place on seven points with three games in hand, Villa 3rd may well end up finishing at the bottom of the table.
Last Season’s Villa 3rd Team
Liverton were formed way back in 1902 and were for many years one of the best clubs in South Devon. A club that has had many ups and downs over the years, but thankfully are still here and hopefully will be for many years to come.
The Liverton 2nd team have been outstanding all season and are in a position to be crowned the champions of the forth division, but Elburton Villa fc Development could spoil the party. They come into today’s game in second place in the league table on forty points from the sixteen games they have played.
While Drake FC top the table, Liverton are only one point behind them and do have a game in hand over them. Liverton’s record, played sixteen, won thirteen, drawn one and lost two, scoring a total of sixty two goals, conceded eighteen giving them a plus forty four goal difference.
Liverton United 2nd Team
On paper there is only one winner today, but I’m sure the Villa lads will give everything they got and do their very best to get something out of the game. May the best team win.
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Match Report
When I stepped outside my back door it felt a little cold, so I put on a jacket under my Hi-Vis. At least it was not raining and we were even treated to some sunshine later in the match.
The match was switched to pitch two which is the smaller of the two pitches due to pitch one being too wet. I was waiting for match referee Martin Williams but got a bit of a shock when Steve Pearce turned up instead. It seems Villa were told in the morning they would now not be getting a match referee, but the game Steve was doing was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and was switched to this game.
I have to be honest before the game I was expecting a cricket score based on the current form of both teams. But when the second half got underway with the score at one all, I was not sure how the game was going to go.
Livy turned up with seven key players missing and I believe Villa at one or two players in the side which play in one of their other teams in a higher league. Villa worked hard and created some good chances in the match, but Livy on the balance of play were still the much better side. Villa have Adam Taylor to thank for a number of top class saves to prevent what might have ended up as a cricket score in the end.
Steve Pearce got the game underway and Livy won the first corner of the match, but it was hit far to long and went out of play and behind for a goal kick. It did not take Livy long to take the lead in the match and it came about when Villa failed to clear the ball away to safety. From the edge of the box Oliver West hit an unstoppable shot that flew in inside the left hand post. I have to say I was very impressed with this young man, not the biggest but great feet and work rate.
Villa’s Stuart McAuley got a good shot away on the edge of the Livy box that ended up getting blocked on route and behind for a corner. At this point it was end to end and then Livy won a second corner that was taken short, then finally the ball was fired high into the Villa box and headed over the crossbar by Livy’s Ryan Fox.
Livy came close to adding to their lead when Matthew Waye got a shot away inside the Villa box that got blocked. Sean McArdle fancied his chances from twenty five yards out but his effort flew high over the crossbar. A good high ball was fired into the Villa box and Matthew Waye tested Adam Taylor with a backward header that Adam caught well.
Then came the main talking point in the game when the match referee pointed to the spot and awarded Villa a penalty kick. The ball had been played low into the Livy box and struck the foot of one of their players. The ball rose up and hit the players hand or arm.
In days gone by that would not have been a penalty but under the directives now given to match referees Steve had to give it. Livy’s Matthew Waye went straight to the referee to protest the decision. Steve asked him if it had happened up the other end would he expect the same outcome. Matthew kept on at the ref and as a result ended up being sent to the sin bin.
The spot kick was saved low down but the ball was loose and fired home by Villa’s Finn Hadley. The first yellow card was shown to Livy’s Ryan Fox who brought down Sam Keating who had gone past him.
Villa’s Charlie Saville soon found his name going into the book as well when he pulled back Oliver West after he had also beaten and got beyond his man. Villa’s Finn Hadley turned neatly inside the right hand side of the Livy box, but his shot ended up going wide of the right hand post.
Livy won a free kick out on the right and twenty yards from goal. Sean McArdle went straight for goal but his shot was weak and an easy save for Adam Taylor. Livy’s Oliver West went on a great run down the right hand side and turned and fired in a good cross that was blocked behind for a corner.
That was it for the first half and I felt the score line was just about right as neither team had really dominated the play and both teams had created some good goal scoring opportunities, what would the second half bring?
The first real chance of the second half came when a poor short back pass was played to Adam Taylor. Livy’s number 15 got to the ball first by Adam Taylor did so well to block the shot. Livy had another good chance to get back in front again when Sean McArdle chipped a delightful shot at goal that only just cleared the crossbar.
Sean found himself on the end of a long ball that reached inside the Villa box, he turned well enough but his effort went wide of the right hand post. Villa then had a golden opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the match when they won a free kick out on the right hand side of the pitch. The ball was fired high to the edge of the box and headed towards the back post by Sam Keating, sub Max Basden rose well and should have headed the ball into the back of the net, but his header went just wide of the right hand post.
Livy changed up a gear and Villa was reduced to the odd breakaway. Livy’s Matthew Waye hit a very wild effort from the edge of the Villa box that was closer to the corner flag. The ball then found its way to Oliver West deep in the right hand side of the box, he got a shot away that was well saved by Adam Taylor close to the right hand post.
On one of those rare excursions deep inside the Livy half, Stuart McAuley took a shot from just inside the box that only just went wide of the far post. The Villa goal was coming under increasing pressure, Derek Bridgman got a good shot away from the edge of the box that went just wide of the post. Oliver West did another great turn inside the right hand side of the box and forced Adam Taylor into making another fine save.
It was only going to be a matter of time before Livy took the lead and they did when a great ball was fired into the Villa box from the right hand side. The ball was met by a first time volley by Sean McArdle that almost burst the back of the net. Livy then won a penalty of their own when Derek Bridgman was brought down by Owen Spackman who ended up being booked for the foul. Derek himself took the spot kick and gave his side a two goal lead.
Livy soon went even further in front when Jacob Snell hit what looked like a cross from the edge of the Villa box and into the back of the net, I am sure he will tell everyone it was a shot and not a cross. Villa’s Finn Hadley got himself needlessly booked when he prevented Livy’s goal keeper Kyle Lardner from kicking the ball out.
I was so happy when Oliver West got his second goal of the match as he deserved it so much, that ball ended up going back inside the Villa box and he got to it first and placed it past the advancing Adam Taylor.
That was it a second half score line that did not look possible at the end of the first half. Credit to the Villa lads who battled away for the whole match, the result has moved Liverton 2nd too top spot in the table and two points clear of now second place Drake FC.
It was good to see a referee play in a game with a smile on his face for the whole game, so well done Steve. Thanks to both Adam Taylor and the giant Craig Kendall for all your help with the team sheet today. For me is was good to watch Alex Dark in action today, the last time I did was a number of years ago when he played for Rivera United. The years have rolled on but he had a good game today breaking up so much of the play in the middle of the park and making sure he made good use of the ball when he won it.
