Post by Dave on Sept 19, 2015 6:49:54 GMT
South Devon Football League Premier Division
Upton Athletic V Kingskerswell & Chelston
Saturday 19th September 2015 Kick-Off 2.30pm
Venue Barton Cricket Club
Referee Birthday Boy Barry Hayward
Final Score Upton Athletic 3 Kingskerswell & Chelston 0
My second South Devon League fixture this season and one that stood out from all of today’s other games and the reason I decided to cover it. My only hope was that Barry Hayward did not end up thinking I was stalking him after being at a ladies game he refereed last Sunday. A good appointment by the SDL as I felt the game was going to need someone strong n the middle.
Both teams had played two league fixtures so far this season, Upton had won one and lost one. Their opening game of the season saw them record a fine win away to East Allington United by three goals to two, but they last their second game away to Watcombe Wanderers by three goals to one. Before today’s game they had scored a total of four goals, but had conceded five.
Kingskerswell & Chelston’s first game of the season was at home to Kingsteignton Athletic, a game they lost by four goals to one. Last Saturday they were at home again and were once again beaten heavily by Buckland Athletic 2nds by five goals to one. To date they had scored two goals and conceded nine, not the start to the new season they were looking for.
Could Kingskerswell & Chelston record their first win of the season? Or would Upton Athletic be too strong for them on the day and keep them on the bottom of the table?
Before today’s kick off a minutes silence was held for Oliver Croker the young football fan who so tragically lost his life last Saturday while watching his brother play in a match between Bampton and Bradnitch.
Before I get to my match report I just want to say a few words about the Kingskerswell & Chelston football club. Many people seem to want to kick this club at every opportunity, but today this club only had twenty players to put out for both of their two teams. Eleven were sent to Upton and the reserves played their game with just nine players. There are many clubs who might have just called of their reserve game, but not Kingskerswell & Chelston.
I also would like to say how well Kingskerswell & Chelston played today, they did not deserve to lose by three goals to nil, the real difference between the two sides was that Upton did manage to put away some of the many chances they created. From the first whistle to the last one, Paul Edwards encourage his players from the sideline, never once moaning at anyone who played a poor pass or failed to score when they might have.
Kingskerswell & Chelston started the first half very well and their number seven Louis Horton went of a fine run and got a good shot away that was blocked on its way to the goal. Then their number six Russell Brooker hit a good thirty yard effort that was saved by Adam Simpson playing in goal for Upton.
Upton’s first real chance came when Their sub who had came on early in the game wearing the number six shirt (sorry do not know is name but will add if I find it out) burst at pace into the left hand side of the Kerswell box. He hit his shot well enough across the keeper but the ball ended up going wide of the right hand post.
Then almost against the run of play, Upton took the lead when Kingskerswell & Chelston failed to clear the ball out of the danger area when they had the chance. The ball ended up at the feet of danger man Jamie Chamberlan who hit a clean crisp low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.
Jamie Chamberlan then went on a great run on the left hand side and got a good shot away that Paul Mills in goal for Kerswell did well to block it. Upton were having plenty of success getting the ball out wide on the right and breaking down that side of the pitch mainly due to some wonder passing from the back by Daren Bastow. There is no substitute for quality that Darren has in abundance.
Kingskerswell & Chelston stuck to their neat passing game and one great move ended in a great shot by Russell Brooker, but he put a bit to much bend on the ball and had to stand and watch the ball just go wide of the right hand post.
Up the other end and a great through ball played in Upton’s number nine into the Kerswell box, but his shot was well blocked by two Kerswell defenders. Jamie Chamberlan thought he had got his second goal only to find it was ruled out for offside.
That was it for the first half and early in the second half Jamie Chamberlan went and got himself booked. But not too long after this he did get his and Upton’s second goal of the match. From the edge of the Kerswell area he hit a low powerful shot they went just inside the left hand post. After this it was all one way traffic for most of the half with Upton often just playing on the break. Try as hard as they might Kingskerswell & Chelston could not score the goal their hard work and effort deserved.
I thought that might change when Russell Brooker made some space inside the Upton box and got a shot away that ended up being blocked by the Upton keeper low down.
Upton scored again, this time a free kick taken by Darren Bastow was sent towards the back stick and then played back in onto the head of Andrew Walker who headed the ball into the back of the net.
Pushing high up the field Kingskerswell & Chelston were always in danger of getting caught out by any long balls played over the top by Upton. Oliver Kewell came close for Upton when he got on the end of a long ball, but is effort was well saved by Paul Mills.
Jamie Chamberlan came so very close to getting his hat trick, when the ball came back to him following an Upton corner on the left hand side. From the edge of the box Jamie hit a power driver that shaved the left hand post on its way behind for a goal kick.
That was it, a great game played the way you want to see a game played, while this was Kingskerswell & Chelston third defeat on the trot, the way Paul Edwards has them playing, it won’t be too long before they record their first victory of the season.
I would like to wish today’s match referee a very happy birthday, sadly I did not believe it when you told me you were thirty eight today, I thought you were at least that old all those years ago when they carried you off on a stretcher at the Rec In Newton Abbot.
Have a great day Barry and well done on a good job done today.
