SDL Prem Div Waldon Ath V Watcombe Wanderers 3rd Jan 2015

[Dave]

SDL Prem Div Waldon Athletic V Watcombe Wanderers 3rd January 2015

Venue Windmill Hill Kick-Off 2.30pm

Referee Steve Bygrave

Final score Waldon Athletic 1 Watcombe Wanderers 3

On a cold and damp January winters afternoon, Waldon gifted Watcombe three points in a game they could have so easily won. They didn’t because they allowed Watcombe to take an early lead and gave away two penalties, one in the first half and the other in the second half.

In my humble opinion Waldon were slightly the better side today in what turned out to be at times a very niggly game of football as was to be expected between these two sides. Referee Steve Bygrave did a first class job keeping control of the game and did so by showing a number of yellow cards that were all deserved.

The big question was how well would Danny Broadway play after his move from Dartmouth AFC to Watcombe, well the answer is he was unable to play to his usual high standards and through no fault of his own. His new team mates do not know just yet how to play to Danny’s strengths, so many times during the first half they just hit long balls over the top that gave Danny no chance of catching up. In the second half Danny struggled to keep on side as he looked to break a bit early to try and get on the end of those long hopeful balls. I do not think it will be too long before it all comes good for Danny at his new club.

Waldon made the better start but soon went a goal behind, Danny Broadway looked certain to score but somehow missed and the ball went behind for a corner. From the resulting corner there was a bit of a goal mouth scramble and Watcombe's number eleven Kain Bond fired the ball over the line from close in.

Waldon were working hard but could not create any good clear goal scoring opportunities, due to the Watcombe defence standing big and tall when they needed to be. But one very poor back pass from a Watcombe defender so nearly went in his own goal. The ball just sailed low along the ground past the Watcombe keeper Scott Corderoy who was someway off his line. He had to turn and run towards his goal to try and catch up with the ball and did so just as it was about to cross over the line. He managed to toe punt the ball around his right hand post and behind for a corner.

The Waldon gave away a needless penalty and I believe it was the Watcombe number 12 Danny Harveys who took the spot kick. He hit the ball low just inside the left hand post. So two nil up at halftime and could Waldon somehow turn things around in the second half.

They came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half but still could not really create that many goal scoring opportunities and ended up paying the price for not doing so. They then gave away a very silly penalty that put the game completely beyond their reach. The Waldon keeper Kittson Glanville had a made a half blocking save low down but Watcombe’s number 18 was able to jump over him and chase after the loose ball. But he was caught by a Waldon defender who then wrestled him to the ground and got booked for his efforts. Up stepped Watcombe’s number 12 Danny Harveys to once again fire the ball home into the back of the net.

The game became held up for a while as referee was booking a few Watcombe players, one for a foul and the other for giving the ref a bit too much lip. From the resulting free kick once it did finally happen, Waldon got a goal back they fully deserved, Josh Brishcombe got the final touch but sadly for Waldon it came to late in the game.

Danny Broadway came very close to getting his first goal for his new club after a fine run down the left hand side. He worked his way into the box and created the space he needed to get his shot away. But the shot was rather tame and went straight at the keeper who as a result had an easy save to make. Danny was a bit disappointed with his effort as normally be seldom misses from that range.

Biggest laugh of the game was the slip by the Waldon linesman that had nearly all of the large crowd in fits of laughter. He took it well and laughed himself probably the loudest.

A good entertaining game to watch as a neutral, not the best quality of football one might expect from these two excellent footballing sides, but then the pitch was very heavy and there was so much to play for. Good luck to both clubs for the rest of the season.

If you know the goal scorers names please let me know and I will amend this report.

[Dave]

Report has been amended as according the the Herald Express Watcombe's first goal was not an own goal as stated on the bravenet forum but was scored as I believed by Kain Bond. I have also now have named the Watcombe penalty taker Danny Harveys. I still do not know who score the Waldon goal.