Post by Dave on Sept 7, 2024 7:34:48 GMT
Match Referee Sam Gill
Final Score Totnes & Dartington 2 East Allington 1
Match Preview
When I was looking at the fixtures for this week, I noticed both the Totnes & Dartington 1st and 2nd teams were playing at home. Both were showing as kicking off at 2.30pm so I thought there must be a mistake somewhere. But then I saw a post that said the 1st team were kicking off at 1.30pm and the 2nd team at 3.30pm.
As I have to go somewhere after I have finished my match report tonight, I decided a 1.30pm kick-off would suit me better. I will be at the ground again next weekend to cover the Mardi Boys v Torquay United Allstars Charity Match.
Totnes & Dartington have already played one game so far this season an away fixture against Beesands Rovers. Totnes won the game by two goals to one with Oliver Corderoy and Harrison Hardy finding the back of the net.
The East Allington club has been very busy in the break building brand new dressing rooms. The main building is now up and just needs fitting out inside. So this game will be the season opener for East Allington who will be hoping to come away with all three points on offer. But Totnes & Dartington will be looking to build on their first win last weekend and make sure they remain near the top of the league table.
May the best team win
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
I kept checking the weather all morning hoping the forecast might change. It didn’t and I knew I was in for a wet afternoon. Big decision to make, do I take my new camera I used last week, or one of my other ones I have been using for a number of seasons. I told myself you have a high end rain cover to use so just take the new one. The rain cover worked perfectly.
I parked in the car park in the woods but when I got to the clubhouse I had somehow cut my hand. Jono Brerdsmore fetched the first aid kit and soon had me patched up and then made me a nice hot cup of coffee.
This was a great game to cover, two very good teams who gave their all and if I am honest I think a draw might have been a fair result. But in a game of football you have to take your chances and what separated the teams in the end was Totnes did and East Allington didn’t.
It was not raining at the very start of the and the pitch looked in very good condition, were treated to rain later which became much heavier towards the end of the game.
The match referee got the game underway and there was nothing to choose between the two sides in the early stages of the game. Both teams were cancelling each other out and there were no real attempts on goal.
The pirates Matt Bodman conceded a free kick right on the edge of his teams box, Harri Hardy put the ball down to take the free kick. He hit a right foot shot that curled around the pirates defensives wall and looked destined to go low inside the right hand post. Max Weeks in goal for the pirates did well to get down low and push the ball away. But Dris Mellas got on the end of the loose ball and fired it into the back of the net.
The pirates won the first corner of the match but the Totnes defence dealt with the ball into their box with ease. The pirates were working hard to get back onto level terms but were unable to find that final killer pass.
Totnes Dris Mellas went on a good run and hit a good shot at the pirate’s goal from twenty yards out. The pirate’s keeper made a good save low down and just for a second lost the ball, but was quickly able to re gather it.
Jack Mullens sent a great ball into the pirate’s box from the left hand side and Harri Hardy was inches away from getting his head onto it and increasing the Totnes lead.
A great pirates move got Ben Greeno out on the right hand side of the pitch, from an angle he got a powerful low shot across the Totnes goal that Sam Davies in goal got down low to and pushed the ball away.
That was it for the first half, the Totnes boys stayed out on the pitch and the East Allington boys made the long trek back to the dressing rooms. A very close first half and the teams separated by a single goal.
The Pirates seemed to be taking a long time to get back to the pitch and I knew we would be in for a cracking second half of the game. Totnes won the first corner of the second half as the rain started to get rather heavy. But the Pirates were working so hard and I felt they looked the most likely to score the next goal.
We were then treat to the save of the match that happened so quickly I was not able to respond to it which was such a shame. Ben Greeno hit a wonder strike from nearly thirty yards out that was spectacularly pushed over the crossbar by Sam Davies.
The resulting corner was taken by Finn Bullingham who sent in a great ball towards the near post. The Totnes keeper was lined up to punch the ball clear but Benjamin Tapper beat him to the ball and headed it home.
The goal was so deserved and the Pirates looked to serve even more pressure on the Totnes defence. Dan Joyce fancied his chances from the edge of the Totnes box but his effort went well wide of the right hand post.
Totnes were still very much in the game and a great ball was played into the Pirates trying to pick out Jack Mullen who was inches away from making contact with the ball and putting his side back in front.
We were then treated to one of those handbag moments with players being pushed on both sides. When it ended the referee booked Ben Greeno.
The Pirates sub number 14 ( sorry was not given the numbers for the subs) outside the right hand side of the Totnes box got a good shot away that hit the side netting.
The Pirates then really should have taken the lead in the game after a great ball was played low into the Totnes box from the right hand side. Ben Tapper close in on goal looked certain to score, but he somehow managed to scoop the ball over the crossbar.
Totnes were now enjoying a much better spell in the half and Max Weeks did well to get a good hand on the ball that was fired high close into his goal from the left hand side.
Ben Tapper then committed a foul of a Totnes player thirty yards from goal. The referee played an advantage and the ball went clean through to Jack Whiby who only had the keeper to beat. With the goal at his mercy he put his shot wide of the right hand post as the rain came down even harder.
Totnes then went in front again when Rhys Gribble sent a great low ball into the Pirates box from the left hand side. Jed Roberts was there waiting and hit a first time shot into the back of the net giving the keeper no chance of making a save.
That was it Totnes claimed the three points on offer and remain unbeaten in the league. The Pirates might feel they were a tad unlucky not to get a share of the points, but they look a good side and I am sure they will also be soon competing near the top of the table.
My thanks to both managers for all their help with the team sheet today, I will need to make sure in future games managers also let me know the numbers of their subs.
