CSWPL Div1 East Totnes & Dartington V Brixham 7th Feb 2015

[Dave]

Division One East

Totnes & Dartington AFC V Brixham AFC

Saturday 7th February 2015 Kick-Off 3pm

Venue Foxhole Ground Dartington

Referee M.Senior

Final Score Totnes & Dartington AFC 4 Brixham AFC 2

Match preview from the Herald Express

PENINSULA LEAGUE: Totnes & Dartington want to 'kick start' their season again against Brixham AFC
By HESport | Posted: February 05, 2015

By Richard Hughes

Totnes & Dartington joint manager John Rimmer says his side need to ‘kick start’ their season again at home Brixham AFC on Saturday at Foxhole.

Rimmer and his co-manager John Payne have been disappointed by recent results but the chance to win three points against Brixham is exciting them.

“It has been a poor start to 2015,” said Rimmer.

“We need a response from the lads as some of the football against Axminster was woeful.

“Schoolboy errors cost us dear. We did well in the attacking department but as a team we defended dreadfully.

“That’s not just the back four and goalkeeper but the full 11. We can do a lot better.

“It would be nice to have a few extra bodies in the club as to push others and make competition for places.

“Once again, some players have got to comfortable.

“The local derby is one to look forward to – we really need a win to kick start our season again.”

Jason Couch, the Brixham manager, said: “We are really looking forward to this one. Last week’s postponement gave us the time for some players to get over niggles and we are getting back to full strength.”

When these two teams met, earlier this season, the game was a 3-0 win to Brixham.

Couch said: “It should be a cracker. It was a closer game than some suggest last time we played.”

Read more: www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/PENINSULA-LEAGUE-Totnes-Dartington-want-kick/story-25980896-detail/story.html#ixzz3R3C1X67e
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Jason Couch was spot on when he said the game should be a cracker because it was, but he had to stand and watch as his side were well beaten by a good Totnes & Dartington side. The first half was a very feisty affair that saw Brixham reduced to ten men. That was never going to help Brixham win the game, but credit must be given to the Brixham players for all the effort they put into the match.

It was a bitterly cold afternoon at the Foxhole ground and Brixham made a reasonably good start to the first half. They won an early free kick that was just cleared off the line, but they very soon afterwards went a goal behind. There were just a few too many mistakes in defence, one such mistake by one defender gave the ball away to Matt Hartridge who chipped the Brixham keeper D Gillard but his effort hit the right hand post and came back into play.

On twenty one minutes Totnes and Dartingtons best player Angus Wilson burst into the right hand side of the Brixham box and fired a good low shot across the keeper into the far left hand side of the goal. Just after this Totnes could have gone two nil up after their number ten and captain M.Chalcraft made some good space on the edge of the Brixham box for a shot. But he went for the outside of his right boot and put his shot well wide of the goal.

On twenty five minutes Angus Wilson went on a wonder run and coolly passed the ball into the back of the net giving his side a two goal lead. Then Brixham made things even harder for themselves on forty minutes when they went down to ten men. Was it a red card offence? My pictures show contact was made and the tackle was very late as the ball had long gone.

There were a few handbag moments afterwards until the referee was able to get control of the situation. He booked two Totnes and Dartington players and showed the red card to Brixham's number seven Jimmy Holland. That was it for the first half and Brixham sure faced an uphill battle in the second one

The second half was only eight minutes old when Brixham fell even further behind and again it was that star man Angus Wilson who was on target. He got on the end of a low cross and lifted the ball over D.Gillard into the back of the net.

Just four minutes later it was four nil to Totnes and Dartington and game over you thought and yes it was Angus Wilson again, this time getting his head on a ball played in by Matt Hartridge that was only waist high and he had to dive full length to do so.

The Brixham players worked even harder and none more so than their number nine Stuart Bowker, he used all his strength and experience to try and get his side back into the game. Brixham won a corner and the ball was hit to the back post where their number four R. Skornia rose the highest to head the ball home.

Up the other end and A Wilson was in again on a one on one with D.Gillard but this time the Brixham keeper made a fine blocking save preventing Angus Wilson adding to his tally of goals.

S.Bowker found his name going into the book as he battled away up front for Brixham, but he got his just rewards when he was awarded a free kick after being held on the edge of the Totnes and Dartington box. He took the kick himself getting the ball up and over the wall and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. I’m sure the keeper D.Woods would say he was not ready when the kick was taken, but even if he was I do not think he would have saved it.

The last chance of the match fell to Aangus Wilson again who was just yards out when he hit the tamest of shots that ended up more of a gentle pass to the keeper, but I’m sure he was not to bothered after the fine game he had for his side.

Thankfully there were not as many bad tackles in the second half and one wonders if Brixham might have at least drawn this match if they had not been reduced to ten men when they were.

It was a good enjoyable game to watch despite the bitterly cold weather, as I get older I wish more and more football was played in the summer months.