SWPL Prem Div Stoke Gabriel V Saltash United 20th Dec 2014

[Dave]

Carlsberg Southwest Peninsula League Premier Division

Stoke Gabriel V Saltash United

Saturday 20th December 2014 Kick-Off 2.15pm

Venue Churchward Memorial Ground Stoke Gabriel

Referee G Suggate Assistants P Sercombe L. Cousins

Final Score Stoke Gabriel 5 Saltash United 0

Stoke may not have enjoyed the best start this season, but through hard work and the right attitude, things have turned around for the better at the club. I was really impressed with Stoke today and was so glad I choose this game to cover.

Good news the club has finally got that hut for Mr Robin Cherry, it’s not the biggest one going, but it will give Robin somewhere to stand out of the rain and cold weather.

Before I get on to the game I was shocked to learn the referee today was from North Devon and I believe the club had to find £97 to cover his fees and costs and £22 for each linesman. A lot of money to find when you factor in all the other costs the club has to cover just to play a game of football.

Onto the game and Saltash made the much better start to the match and looked a good outfit. Stoke did not know how to deal with them and in the early stages were guilty of committing a good number of fouls. I was standing close to a group of travelling Saltash fans who were not happy with the way Stoke were playing.

The first good chance to score came about from a Stoke corner with the ball dropping to the feet of their number six Frazer Clark who only managed to blaze the ball well over the crossbar from close in. Frazer was soon to find his name going into the referee’s book who had seen enough of the fouls being committed by a number of Stoke players.

Slightly against the run of play Stoke went in front, the ref either missed the event leading up to the penalty kick or at first did not think it was an intentional handball on the goal line. There were very loud protests from all of the Stoke players and the referee then pointed to the spot. The ball was about to drop over the goal line just under the crossbar when the Saltash player wearing the number seven shirt Sam Farrant jumped up with his arms above his head. The ball came down and hit his arms and in all fairness to the referee he had to award the spot kick. Once he did that he had no option but to show the red card to Sam Farrant. Robbie Bowker placed the ball on the spot and sent the keeper the wrong way.

It only took three minutes to add to their lead, this time it was a good goal from open play after the ball was played into the Saltash box from the right hand side. One Stoke player let the ball go past him to Dave Worthington who hit a fine first time shot into the back of the net.

But just before Dave’s goal Tom Kelly came so close to scoring, he very cleverly chipped the Saltash keeper Tom Blackler and had to stand and watch the ball hit the crossbar and stay out. That it was it for the first half and after a poor start, Stoke were worth they two goal halftime lead.

Right from the start of the second half, Stoke added to their lead and it was a super strike from 25 yards out by Jake White. It was the best goal of the match and there was no way back now for Saltash. The ball was played from the left hand side to Jake who surprised everyone with the great run he had made. He hit the ball so powerfully right into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

Stokes Tom Kelly was rightly booked for diving in the Saltash box and then Scott Beattie was booked for needlessly pulling back a Saltash player. For some strange reason Stoke started giving away silly fouls that saw them put under some pressure they should not have been under. Thankfully for Stoke Saltash were unable to really create that many goal scoring opportunities from the free kicks they won.

Stoke went four goals up when the referee pointed to the spot for a second time. The Saltash Keeper Tom Blackler was judged to have pulled down Stokes number two Jake White in the box. I heard him tell his manager afterwards that he never touched Jake, but from where I was standing it looked a clear penalty. Up stepped Robbie Bowker to score his second goal from the spot. Just after this Robbie was substituted meaning he was unable to try and get his hat trick.

Stoke were now well in control of the match and it was Saltash’s turn to start committing a good number of fouls. But to their credit they never gave up and kept working hard looking for a consolation goal. They could not find one and instead went behind to another good goal by Stoke.

A neat ball was played into the Saltash box to Dave Worthington who made an even neater turn and shot giving Tom Blackler no chance of making a save.

A nasty clash of heads between Lewis Russell for Saltash and Stokes Ben brown saw both players having to leave the field due to head injuries. The referee blew up for the end of the match and boy was I glad as the temperature had dropped so much and I was keen to get back home in the warm.

A great game to watch and stoke are well and truly on the way back up. I have always said this is a fine club so if you find yourself free when they are next playing at home, get over there and enjoy a good afternoons football at a good venue and at a fair price.

Thanks to Tom as always for putting all the numbers etc on my match programme.

Mr Cherry and his new Hut