PL Teignmouth AFC V Torrington FC 5th August 2023

[Dave]

Match Referee Ash Harris
Referee Assistants Nigel Lawrence & Reg Cross

Final Score Teignmouth AFC 2 Torrington FC 4

Match preview

Well here we are at the start of a brand new Peninsula League season and for me a chance to cover a game at one of my favourite grounds. Coombe Valley just seems like a magical place to me with the backdrop of all the houses climbing high up the side of the valley.

One thing is always guaranteed at the Valley, good quality entertaining football and a warm and friendly welcome from the club to everyone. As I said in a report last season, it is good to see Teignmouth back in the Peninsula league where they belong. They were always the club to beat and were always near the top of the league table.

2013-14 South West Peninsula League Division One East runner-up
2015-16 South West Peninsula League Division One East runner-up (on goal difference)
2016-17 South West Peninsula League Division One East runner-up.

Teignmouth were formed in 1946. In 1982, the club joined the South Western League, leaving six years later. In 1992, Teignmouth became founder members of the Devon County League, before being relegated into the South Devon League in 1999. In 2004, Teignmouth rejoined the Devon County League, winning the league in their first season back. In 2007,

Teignmouth became founder members of the South West Peninsula League, being placed in the Division One East. In 2019, Teignmouth became founder members of the Devon League, winning the South West Division three years later.In 2022, the club was admitted into the South West Peninsula League Premier Division East.

Teignmouth will hope they can start this new season the way they started last season, a thrilling comeback on the opening day saw them 3-2 winners against Plymouth Marjon away. They went on to win their second match at home against Holsworthy by two goals to nil.

What Do We Know About Torrington FC

Torrington Football Club was founded in 1908, and was originally known to be "a church side", with reverends playing for the club as late as 1914. Torrington have previously played in the North Devon Football League ,Western League, South Western League and the Devon and Exeter League.

The club has far to many honours to list in this report, but notably in the 2002–03 season, the club won their first Western League Division One championship. In the 1984-1985 season, the club also achieved their furthest progression in the FA Vase, reaching the fifth round of the tournament before being knocked out by Steyning Town.

Some interesting Torrington facts. An early form of football, called ‘outhurling’, used to be played centuries ago on the commons. Two sets of stakes placed some half a mile apart, were the designated goal posts and two teams of 25 to 30 men used to play with a pig’s bladder covered with pieces of leather.

In the 1920s each street had its own football team and practised on its own bit of commons: Mill Street on Mill Street common, Calf Street on Quiet Possession, Town Boys at Barley Grove, and New Street on the Old Bowling Green, which was also the location for the annual inter-street finals. In 1931 the ‘Street Shield’ was won by Mill Street.

Well now you all know as much as I do so onto today’s match.

Have you joined the Davesworld South Devon Football Facebook Group yet?

www.facebook.com/groups/837956497234326

You can now also follow Davesworld on twitter @ DavesworldR1



Match Report

Teignmouth AFC posted on their twitter page during the week “Local grassroots football royalty in attendance on Saturday” so what happened? When I arrived I looked around and could not see the palanquin, or even the bearers for that matter. I got fed up waiting and thought sod it and just walked into the ground lol.

While the rain held off at the Valley today, it was very windy and that did have some effect on the play. When I left the ground after the game I asked myself one question. What was the last Teignmouth game I covered where they lost? I could not remember one and I will check all my reports soon just so I know.

Teignmouth were without a number of players today, but as is always the case the manager has to go with what he has got. While all the Teign players worked hard throughout the match, on the day Torrington were just that bit better. They created more chances and were sharper in front of goal and on the balance of play fully deserved their win.

The match referee blew up for the start of the match and there was nothing really much to choose between the two sides early on. The first chance fell to Torrington when they won a free kick outside the Teignmouth box. The ball was fired low at the goal and hit the keeper’s leg and came back out slightly. A follow up shot was blocked on the goal line.

Torrington were slowly getting on top and having the better of the game and I felt it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. The first goal came on the fourteen minute when the ball was played to the feet of Billy Hinson inside the Teignmouth box. His shot hit the base of the left hand post and Tom Davey was there to tap the ball over the goal line.

The ball was retuned to the centre circle and I started to make a note of the goal in my notebook, looked up and there was Jack Baxter in the Torrington box about to take a shot on goal. He coolly picked his spot and fired the ball into the back of the net.

It was the instant sort of response I have seen from Teignmouth in other games I have covered and I wondered if it was the start of better things to come for them in the game.

But that turned out not to be the case as they once again came under growing pressure from Torrington, Brad Williams from a wide angle close to the right hand goal line, hit a great shot that only just went wide of the left hand Teignmouth goal post. On the thirty five minute mark Torrington were back in front. A shot from Billy Hinson that from my angle looked as if it was deflected off a defender beat Tom Seamour who was in goal for Teignmouth.

Sadly for Teignmouth they were unable to repeat what happened when they first went behind with another goal of their own to get back onto level terms. In fact just seven minutes after they conceded the second goal, they fell even further behind. A free kick out on the left hand side of the pitch was fired low into the Teignmouth box. Lee Gardener was able to steer the ball into the back of the net.

Torrington came close to adding a further goal to their halftime lead just before the break. Billy Hinson had a clear sight of the goal and got a good shot away, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

That was it for the first half and a good team talk was required by the Teignmouth manager. What ever he said must have had some effect as Teignmouth started the second half strongly. But despite their determined play, could not really create a meaningful chance on goal.

There was a nasty clash of heads in the Torrington box and both trainers were needed to come on. Teigns Piers MacLauchian was one of the players. After treatment he decided to carry on by moments later went down holding his head again and was rightly substituted.

Torrington had weathered the storm and looked in control of the game again and on the sixty ninth minute went even further in front. Their left winger beat his man near the corner flag and fired a low ball into the Teignmouth box. The unmarked Tom Davey hit a first time shot past the helpless keeper.

Teignmouth were still fighting hard but still lacking the final ball or perfect cross into the box. I was impressed with how well Liam Jones was playing for them but could not see where a goal would come from.

But right on the death Teignmouth did score again and I am sure it was Liam Jones who fired the ball home. Not the start to the new season Teignmouth would have wanted, but they are a good side and will bounce back from this defeat.

Many thanks to the match officials for all your help today.