Post by Dave on Apr 14, 2013 7:14:43 GMT
Galmpton 2nd V Watts Blake & Bearne 30/03/13 Premier Division.
A rare bit of sunshine here in Torbay today and while still feeling very cold, I still wanted to go out and get my weekend football fix. I could only find SDL fixtures on today and had wanted to go and watch a match on the Paignton 3g pitch. But I decided to go to the Galmpton Memorial Ground as I hoped the club house would be open and if so I could get a hot drink etc at halftime. Sadly as it turned out it was not open and while it was pleasant enough standing in the sunshine, my hands soon got very cold and I ended up wishing I had taken my fingerless gloves with me.
As I left the house I knew I was just going to watch a game of football, who would end up winning the game was not very important and all I hoped for was to watch a good game with plenty of goals in it. I started thinking it won’t be like this on Monday when I leave home and head for Plainmoor. For a start I’m going to feel far more excited, have plenty of hope in me, but also be a bit nervous when I think about the consequences should we not win.
I did not check the league table before leaving home, so I had no idea how well both teams had faired so far this season, but with Galmpton being the home team and having watched them before this season, I expected them to win the match.
This was one of those games where it was all about what can happen if you do not put away the chances you create and WB&B completely dominated the first half and should have gone in at halftime at least three goals to the good. Their number ten must have ended up feeling it was not going to be his day after missing three very good chances.
The first one was a one on one with the Galmpton keeper and he tried to life that ball over the advancing keeper which he did do, only the ball went over the crossbar as well. His second chance was a header just three yards out completely unchallenged, but somehow he missed the target and the ball sailed past the left hand post. His third chance came when he found himself in the inside left position and as he entered the box he hit a powerful right foot shot that hit the post and stayed in play ending up going out for a corner.
While the Galmpton players were working hard enough, the W B&B lads were stroking the ball around the pitch and just looked the better team by far, Galmpton hardly had an effort of goal during the first half and the real surprise was they went in on level terms at halftime.
The second half started much the same as the first half did, but against the run of play Galmpton took a surprise lead. A long punt up field that caught the WW&B defense sleeping fell to Galmptons number nine who burst into the box and buried the ball into the net. What was not a surprise was WB&B’s quick reply; I think it was their number seven who scored from just inside the box after some good build up play on the left hand side of the pitch.
Not long after this they went in front for the first time in the match, this time the ball was worked down the right hand side and crossed low and hard into the box to their giant bold headed number nine who could not miss and didn’t.
After all their hard work to not only get back on level terms but also take the lead, they have their goal keeper to thank for handing a lifeline to Galmpton. As he came rushing off his line he fouled one of the Galmpton players and the ref who had a good game, pointed straight to the spot. The spot kick was placed just inside the right hand post giving the keeper very little chance to redeem himself.
So it was two all and while WW&B still looked more likely to score again, there was a new found confidence in the Galmpton players that they could win the match. The last 15 minutes of the game was a much more even affair and with only five or so minutes left to play it started looking like a draw was the most likely outcome.
But another long high ball caught out the WW&B defense again and the last man found he had two Galmpton players to deal with. He lost out and the ball fell in behind him to Galmptons number three who coolly shot the ball past the keeper into the back of the net.
The ref blew up and some people walked past me and said how the hell did we not win that match, well the simple answer was not putting away enough of the chances that were created. I know this level of football is not for everyone, but I love it for a whole host of reasons, one main one being it’s not as half as stressful as following Torquay United
