Saltash Utd V Godolphin Atlantic 30th Nov 2013

[Dave]

Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division

Saltash United V Godophin Atlantic

Saturday 30th November 2013 Kick-Off 3pm

Venue Kimberly Stadium Saltash.

I had not planed to watch a match today, but as I was in Plymouth at lunchtime, I made one of those spur of the moment decisions and crossed over the Tamer onto Cornish soil. I have never been inside the Saltash ground but have in the past driven past it many times. Its name sure makes its sound very grand.

It’s a tidy enough ground and very welcoming as I soon found out once I paid on the gate and asked if there was anyone who could help with me the player’s names etc. the pitch is very flat and the only thing I thought might need improving id the floodlights. I thought the lights could not be turned on during actual play, but they were turned on when the second half was ten minutes old. They did not seem to make very much difference, but after I left the ground and looked through a gap in the gate, I thought they seemed far brighter than when I was inside the ground.

Where Saltash a very good side and one worthy of beating the mighty Buckland two weeks ago in the FA Vase second round? They sure deserved to beat Buckland in that game, even if Buckland as good as gifted them the three goals.

They do like to play football and pass the ball around and they are very strong at the back and have players up front who and put away the chances when they come along. To be honest I thought Godolphin started much better than Saltash and they looked a good neat passing side as well.

The game was only ten minutes old when Saltash took the lead and slightly against the run of play, the ball was played into the box from the left and up rose number four Toby Clark to head the ball into the net. Godophin were still very much in the game at this stage and came close to scoring from a direct free kick awarded just outside the Saltash box that forced Tom Blacker into making a very fine save.

Every time the Saltash players got into the Godophin half they looked like scoring so it was no real surprise when they added to their lead, this time a low ball was played into the box from the right and in slide the Saltash danger man Jon Hoyles to steer the ball over the goal line.

Up the other end and Phil Lowry came so close to getting his team their first goal when he headed the ball goal ward only to see the ball just go wide of the upright. It’s a shame the ball did not hit the back of the net as Saltash went up the other end and added another goal to their lead. Kelvin Fyneboy who caused Buckland so many problems in that cup match, got on the end of another low cross from the right hand side of the pitch and fired the ball into the roof of the net. I was not so impressed with Kelvin today, he worked hard enough but was often sloppy with his passing and did not have the same influence as he did in the Buckland match.

Just before the break another good chance fell to Godolpin’s Phil Lowry, just inside the box with only the keeper to beat he hit a good shot that would have had Tom Blackler beaten had it not just narrowly gone over the crossbar.

The second half completely belonged to Godolphin who kept Saltash penned in their own half for most of it. But the Saltash defence stood up big and strong and dealt with nearly everything that was thrown at them. They could not stop Luke Rigby bursting into the box and hitting a very powerful shot across Tom Blackler and into the far left hand corner of the goal. The goal was fully deserved for all the hard work and effort put in during the second half be Godolphin.

Sadly far to many of the crosses send into the Saltash box were too close to the keeper and while Saltash did not add to their first half lead, they came close on a number of breakaways.

The sun had long gone down and I really started to feel so very cold and was glad when the referee blew up for full time. A good and enjoyable game of football with a lot of good football played by both teams. watching such games where its all about watching a game of football rather and supporting the same team week in and week out, is proving to be so much more enjoyable for me.