Newton Abbot Spurs V Budleigh Salterton 15th Sept 2012

[Dave]

South West Peninsula Football League Division One East

Saturday 15th September 2012 3pm Kick-off

Venue... The Recreation Ground Marsh Road Newton Abbot

We all had to fall in love with this game we love so much somewhere and it may not have been at Plainmoor. I was just five years old and in need of being looked after on a Saturday afternoon. So my granny Beat, auntie Win and Uncle Ted got the job and as luck would have it for me, they ran the food cabin at the old Rec ground, the home of Newton Abbot Spurs.

It was not too many years later I became the club mascot and some of you will know I got lucky a year or so ago as a certain Peter Godfrey joined the TFF. Back in those days he lived next door to me in Buckland and also played for Spurs. I was over the moon to discover he had a picture of the team back then with little old me sitting right at the front. I have put it up again on this thread for any who may not have seen it before.

I looked at what matches were on today and decided it was time I went to the Rec and bring alive so many childhood memories. Car parked I headed for the gate to hand over my three pounds to gain entry and this price also includes a programme. I did ask the nice man if anyone from the club could give me the numbers the players were playing in and very soon another man with the team sheets gladly obliged.

It’s the first time I have seen the floodlights that were installed a few seasons ago, not what I was expecting, but they must be fit for purpose and before being to critical, maybe I should remember just where in the football pyramid Newton Spurs are.

Today’s ground is such an improvement on the Rec I knew as a child and as the sun was shinning bright, I knew I was in for an enjoyable afternoon. I did have a hotdog at halftime, (proper pork sausage) and a can of coke, so with 30p change from a fiver, I got to watch a good game of football, got a programme and was few and watered as well.

Today’s Spurs play in all blue. Back in the old days it was blue and white striped shirts that I believe were given to them by Torquay united, maybe it was old away kits we once played in?

After being turned over two one by Budleigh at their place a few weeks ago and not having beaten them for four years, Spurs were desperate to win today’s fixture. For a great deal of the game that looked very unlikely, but surprisingly they ended up winning the game by three goals to two.

Budleigh looked the better team during the first half and so nearly took the lead when Pete Grover who was inside the Newton box, tuned and shot at goal. The ball was not hit very hard but beat the keeper only to hit the post and come back to the keeper who was on the floor and he grabbed hold of the ball.

Budleigh did take the lead shortly after this, their number ten Danny Williams who worked hard the whole match, got on the end of a long ball and from the edge of the area blasted the ball past the Newton keeper and into the net. I felt the lead was fully deserved and expected at that point, to see Budleigh add to their lead.

Against the run of play, Spurs levelled the score after a corner was headed down and Thomas Sercombe who scoped the ball over the keeper and into the roof of the goal. I though for a while there might be a sending off as Budleigh's number two Liam Billis, was getting rather hot under the collar and was guilty of a few poor challenges and then reacting badly.

Half time came and time to get that hotdog and can of coke and take a stroll around the whole ground.

Onto the second half and while Newton were having a much more equal share of the play, they once again found themselves a goal behind. This time is was from a corner they failed to deal with and the ball fell at the feet of George Pannell who drove the ball home.

I was starting to think that Spurs were letting me down after I choose to watch their game over Buckland’s, but those thoughts soon disappeared when they went and equalised again. In the first half it was Spurs who were often guilty of not clearing their box well, but in the second half it was Budleigh who were guilty of doing just that. They failed once again and the ball fell to Adam Dyson who made no mistake slotting the ball past the keeper.

Very soon after this spurs for the first time in the match took the lead. Once again Budleigh failed to clear the ball out of their box and this time there was Mark Smale who said thank you very much as he drilled the ball home.

The big question was would Spurs hold onto the lead and win the match, they did come under more pressure towards the end of the match and Budleigh so very nearly went and made it three all. From a corner the ball was headed down and there was Mike Hancock who looked certain to score. But he scooped the ball up onto the crossbar and that was the last meaningful chance that Budleigh created

A very enjoyable afternoon, but I was told this might be the last of the good weather for a while.

Me so many years ago, the little one at the front lol

A bit different from that old stand at the old Rec