Post by Dave on Mar 31, 2018 19:11:30 GMT
Match Referee Harry Chambers Referee Assistants Chris Palmer & Reg Cross
Final Score Brixham AFC 1 Galmpton & Roselands 0
Match Attendance 369
Match Attendance 369
Match Preview
After having to work my first Good Friday in thirty years I was very grateful to have today off, giving me the opportunity to cover a local football match. In the past I have always enjoyed my visits to Wall Park and have long held the Brixham AFC manager Jason Couch in high regard. A very likable man who has been a great servant too his club and someone who deserves any success that comes his way.
Looking at the league table it is clear to see that Brixham AFC have found things much tougher this season in the league and being out of the loop this season due to a change of job, I do not know the reasons for that. Before today’s match Brixham were sitting in 12th place in the table on twenty six points, having played twenty two games, winning just six of them, drawing eight and losing eight.
As a local football fan I was very pleased that Galmpton did not fold a few seasons ago when it looked very likely they would. I was surprised to see the club joining forces with Roselands this season, but maybe that was the only way forward for it.
Simon Walker always had high hopes of getting his Roselands side into the Carlsberg league, but some saw the joining of the two clubs as him achieving those aims by the back door. Roselands may not have been the best loved club in the South Devon League, but they are a first class and well run club that enjoyed so much success as they climbed up the divisions into the Premier Division. That success has been halted for now as the first team has really struggled this season.
Like wise the newly formed Galmpton & Roselands AFC have struggled this season which has surprised me as I really thought Simon Walker would turn the results around at Galmpton. Before today’s match Galmpton & Roselands were 15th in the table on seventeen points having played twenty two games, winning only five of them, drawing two and losing fifteen.
On Boxing Day Galmpton & Roselands managed to get a point from their home game against Brixham AFC with the final score ending up one all, what will be the result today? Will Brixham use their home advantage to take all three points? Or as a result of their last league match against Brixham, would Galmpton & Roselands go to Wall Park with no fear?
Match Report
As I got close to the ground I was unable to turn into the road where the entrance is as it was blocked by two coaches. It is not often Brixham AFC see coaches outside their ground full of paying customers. It was because today’s game was a part of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Easter Ground Hop 2018. The ground hoppers first game today was an 11am kick-off between St Martins and Alphington. After the Brixham game they were heading off to Plymouth to watch the game between Plymouth Marjon and Millbrook.
I ended up having to park some distance away from Wall Park and walk further than I had anticipated and then join the queue to enter the ground. Inside I was pleased to meet up with young Tom Besford, a lad who lives and breathes football. It was hard to believe it was the 31st March today as it was bitterly cold and got even colder as the afternoon wore on.
On a pitch that looked very heavy and not really suited to a neat passing game, this was never going to be a classic and to be honest both teams showed why they have struggled a bit this season. Neither keeper really had to make a worthwhile save the whole match and Brixham only scored due to a bad mistake by the Galmpton keeper Josh Stride.
The game got underway and at first it was a very even affair, but as the half wore on, Galmpton started to get on top. Some good work out wide on the right by Galmpton’s Curtis Clarke resulted in a ball being played into the Brixham box that was toe punted just wide of the post by Tom Dunlop. Galmpton then won two corners but nothing came from then.
Up the other end and a good ball played to the back post from out wide on the right hand side of the pitch, was stabbed just wide of the left hand post by Brixham’s Conner Stewart. From a corner Brixham came close to getting the first goal of the match, Galmpton’s keeper Josh Stride did well to keep the ball out, but the lose ball caused a slight goal mouth scramble before finally being cleared to safety.
From the edge of the Brixham box former Torquay United player Jamie Chamberlain fancied his chances with a good powerful shot that only just cleared the crossbar. He then went and got himself book for a rather nasty looking challenge on a Brixham player. That was it for the first half which in the main belonged to Galmpton who were unable to take advantage while being on top.
Tom went to get some food but came back with none due to the long queue and the poor boy was starving knowing he had a long wait until he got to Plymouth. The referee got the second half underway and Brixham were soon in the driving seat. What ever Jason Couch had said to his players in the dressing room was clearly working.
Brixham should have been awarded an early penalty when one of their players was pulled down to the ground from behind in the Galmpton box, but the referee gave nothing. But Brixham were soon to take the lead after a bad mistake by the Galmpton keeper Josh Stride.
His kicking had been poor the whole game and he was failing badly to get any distance on his kicks. With the ball at his feet he once again got no distance on his kick and gave the ball straight to Brixham’s Kieran Parkin who scored on his second attempt.
Brixham won a free kick on the edge of the Galmpton box that was fired well over the crossbar by Liam Collings and Sam Green was also booked for a nasty challenge. Brixham remained in control for the rest of the half; Galmpton huffed and puffed to try and get back onto level terms, but never really threatened the Brixham goal.
On the balance of the whole match, a draw would have been a fairer result, Galmpton were the better side in the first half while it was the other way round in the second half of the game. I was glad when the final whistle came and made my way back to me car to get the heater on for the drive home.
