Post by Dave on Oct 7, 2023 8:48:43 GMT
Match Referee Mark Solway
Final Score Ilsington Villa 3 Morley Ranger 3 at full time
Morley won the penalty shoot out by four goals to three
Match Preview
Another Saturday and another trip driving through country lanes to cover another of our local village football teams in action. Unlike Teign Village that was built in the early 1900’s to house workers for the Teign Valley Granite Company, Ilsington was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Ilestintona. During the 18th and 19th century, both the Atlas tin mine and the Smallacombe iron mine were operating near the village. A number of cottages were build at Lewthorne Cross to house William Grose, the mine captain and mine workers.
It is another village I found myself in every day delivering goods to the Carpenters Arms and I became good friends with the landlord Richard and his good lady Yvonne. The football club use the pub after their games and also hold their end of season presentation nights there. The pub is also home to many old team photos of Ilsington Villa.
I covered Ilslington’s Villa first home game in Division Two of the 2021/2022 season on the 4th of September against East Allington 2nds a game they won by five goals to one. It was clear that day just how good a side Villa were and it was no real surprise to see them not only top the league table, but win promotion to Division One.
Report On That Game.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/895/ilsington-villa-east-allington-september
They enjoyed another very good season in 2023/2024 and I saw them in action again on the 6th May 2023 away to Beesands Rovers. A game that was very special to me and one I billed as the John McMyler match. Villa were the only team that could have ended Rovers unbeaten record that season, but the very entertaining game ended in a 0-0 draw. Both Beesands and Villa went onto win promotion to the premier Division along with Morley Rangers.
Report On That Game.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/1091/sdfl-beesands-rovers-ilsington-villa
Those three clubs sit in the first three places of the Premier league table this season, Morley Rangers hold the top spot over Ilsington on goal difference, but they have played one more game than Villa.
Morley Rangers are one of a number of Plymouth based clubs that decided to join the South Devon League. The club was formed in 1989 and along with their men’s team, run a total of twenty one teams for boys and girls.
I covered their away game against Barton Athletic on the 25th February 2023; they came into that game in 2nd place in the league table that day and won the game by eight goals to two.
Report On That Game Here
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/1081/barton-athletic-morley-rangers-february
How Are Both Teams Doing In The League?
Morley Rangers top the table on twelve points from five games, winning four and losing one. In their opening home game they thrashed last seasons champions Kingsteignton Athletic by six goals to two. Next up at home again they beat Chudleigh Athletic by four goals to one. They then faced a tough away game against last seasons Division One champions Beesands Rovers and came away with a three goals to two win.
At home on the 23rd September they lost to Ilsington Villa by two goals to one after going into the break drawing the game one all. They got back to winning ways last weekend away to Elburton Villa 2nd winning the game by two goals to one.
Ilsington Villa are in second place in the table on the same number of points as Rangers. They have played one game less and have started this season with four straight wins on the bounce. Their opening game was at home against East Allington 1st which they won by four goals to three. Next up a hard fought game away to Buckfastleigh Rangers that they eventually won by five goals to four. Then came there away win against Morley Rangers and last weekend at home they beat Newton 66 three nil.
Villa will be seen as slight favourites to win today, but this is a cup match and Rangers will be looking to avenge their recent lose to Villa. It is a game that promises plenty and I hope it delivers, may the best team win.
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Match Report
On a beautiful sunny afternoon that felt more like July than October, both myself and the spectators were treated to a game that was worthy of being the cup final itself rather than a round two game.
Morley Rangers came close to calling the game off last night due to a lack of players, they turned up with a bare eleven players today and as a result the assistant managers had to kit up, I am sure they are glad they scraped a side together in the end.
The Ilsington players must be wondering how they let Morley Rangers knock them out of the cup in a game they seemed to have total control over. It was very clear to see during the first half why Villa has won their four opening league games. The pace movement of Dan Langford and the knack of always being in the right place at the right time, was the real big difference between the two sides at halftime.
Two nil up at halftime and a third goal early in the second half should have been enough to see Villa through, so what went wrong. Firstly I think the Villa lads thought the job was done and secondly there were far too many substitutions that resulted in them not being able to produce their first half performance.
Take nothing away from Morley Rangers, they kept battling and when they got to three goals to two, they knew the Villa lads were rattled and pilled on the pressure and got their just rewards.
The match referee blew up for the start of the match and the game started in a very frantic fashion as both teams looked to try and get on top. Morley won the first corner of the match but could get nothing from it.
Villa were looking for the long balls to get their pacey players running in behind the Morley defence, but were hitting the balls far to long. The first real shot on goals was from inside the left hand side of the Morley box, Jamie Soper hit the ball well enough but James Redding in goal for Morley got a strong pair of hands on the ball and made a good solid catch.
The long ball finally paid off for Villa and Dan Langford was played clear in on goal with just the keeper to beat. James Redding came rushing off his line and made a fine blocking save.
Villa won their first corner that was fired in high close to the crossbar. The keeper did well to jump up and get something on the ball but not enough to tip the ball over the bar. The ball dropped down and Dan Langford hit an unstoppable first time shot into the back of the net.
Following a late tackle and a small handbag moment afterwards that the referee stamped out before it even really began, both Rangers Ben Hall and Villa’s George Dixon received a yellow card.
Morley had a half chance to get back onto level terms when their captain Dean Jenkins turned neatly on the edge of the Villa box. He hit a powerful low shot that only just went wide of the left hand post.
Villa were getting on top and a good low ball into the Morley box from the left hand side by Dan Langford was met with a first time shot by Mathew Warman that stung the keepers hands.
It was no surprise when Villa got their second goal of the match and who scored it. Another good low ball into the Morley box this time from the right hand side found Dan Langford who finished well. He was played in again and put the ball in the back of the net again, but up went the linesman flag, I was not so sure he was offside.
Up the other end and Morley’s Dalton Brammer hit a good shot from outside of the area that forced Mathew Dardis in goal for Villa into making a full length divising save.
Villa were now well on top and did not look in any danger until Jack Langford with the ball at his feet inside his own box, did not look up and made a poor back pass to his keeper. A Morley player went rushing towards the ball that the keeper did well to just get to first.
Just inside the Morley box Jamie Soper went for a spectacular over head kick that did not go that high over the crossbar. Villa then won a free kick just outside the Morley box. Jack Langford took the kick that had the keeper well beaten but crashed onto the left hand post.
Another ball played in with pace from the right hand side saw Villa’s Mathew Warman get a glancing header that just went wide of the left hand post. From a Villa corner Jack Langford headed over and that was all the action for the first half, Villa two goals to the good and well worth their lead.
Villa started the second half brightly, the Morley keeper shouted out mine but Mathew Warner got to the ball first and his shot from a tight angle hit the side netting. Villa’s Joseph Coutts fancied getting onto the score sheet with what turned out to be a very wild shot that must have landed in the Trago Mill car park.
A great ball over the top of the Morley defence played in Mathew Warman who had the whole goal to aim at, but shot straight at the keeper. But you felt another Villa goal was coming and it sure did. A great ball played up to Jack Dixon who then ran into the Morley box. I thought he was going to take the shot himself, but he unselfishly played the ball across to Dan Langford to fire home.
Three nil up surely game over? Morley won two corners on the trot but could not make them pay. But they were now slowly getting on top as Villa struggled to find their first half form. Villa did think they had a good shout for handball inside the Morley box when Dan Langford rose at the back post to head the ball. It did hit a Morley player but not so sure it hit is hand or arm.
Morley were working so hard, but the Villa defence looked strong, at this point I could not see a way back for Morley. It was Villa who came close again when from twenty five yards out, Jack Dixon hit a great shot that the keeper just managed to stick a leg out to prevent his side going even further behind.
Still Morley pressed forward; Ben Hall hit a goal bound shot that was blocked on the line by the keeper. They then finally got the reward all their hard work deserved when Milo Mackin pulled one back.Out wide on the left hand side he fired a long high ball that went over the keeper and inside the right hand post. Corbin Mackin then got a good head on the ball but the Villa keeper did well to catch.
Morley then scored their second goal of the match after the Villa keeper made a good blocking save with his body, but the ball was loose and fired home by Cobin Mackin. Ben Hall hit a shot from out on the left that fell onto the roof of the net.
Ben Hall then went down in a heap and was clearly in great pain and was unable to continue in the match. He enjoyed his piggyback back to the dugout mind you.
Morley then got their third goal and while it was given to Dalton Brammer, neither I, nor anyone around me saw how it went in. A long free kick from just inside the Morley half was fired long into the Villa box and that is all I know.
The match referee blew up for the end of the match with no extra time to play just straight to penalties. I was really hoping they would pick the goal at the bottom of the pitch due to the sun now being low behind the other goal. Photographers hate shooting into the sun, but that is what I had to do.
Dean Jenkins took the first Morley spot kick that was saved. No surprise Dan Langford took the first Villa kick and scored. Then Morley’s Corbin Mackin to make it one all. Jack Langford made it two one to Villa. Steve Rogers made it back to two all. James Kervella made it three two to Villa.
Milo Mackin brought it back to three all, but then Mathew Goodwin missed for Villa. Ben Hall put his kick away to put Morley in front. Villa’s keeper Mathew Dardis had the task to keep his side from going out of the cup but his kick lacked any real believeth and was saved by the foot of the keeper.
The best game I have covered so far this season and so glad I picked it. Two great sets of lads who gave their all, this is what real football is.
My faith covering SDFL games has been restored over the last three games I have covered. Thanks to both team managers and club members for not only your warm welcome, but all the help with the team sheet today. Last but not least thanks to Richard and his good lady at the Carpenters Arms before the match. It was so lovely to see you both again and the Latté was just perfect.
