Post by Dave on Oct 17, 2015 10:09:57 GMT
WBW Solicitors South Devon Football League Division One
Beesands Rovers Vs Buckland & Milber
Saturday 17th October 2015 Kick-Off 2.30pm
Venue Beesands Cellars
Referee…….Phil Webb
Final Score Beesands Rovers 5 Buckland & Milber 0
The name Beesands was derived from ‘Bay Sands’ and records suggest there was a small community living there as early as the 16th century. But it was first inhabited properly in the late 18th century when the threat from seaward pirates had diminished; In 1805 there were 6 dwellings at the southern end of the village and by the first national census of 1841, 104 men women and children were living there in 17 houses, with the majority of families being supported by the sea
Keith Richards'(Rolling Stones fame) family spent regular holidays at Beesands during the 1950s. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger's first public performance was at The Cricket Inn in the village.
Beesands beach is a mile long and the football pitch is located at the furthest end of it from the village. Football by the sea, is this the most beautiful setting for a football pitch anywhere in the world?
Onto the football
Beesands Rovers were last years finalists in the Herald Cup, a remarkable achievement for a first division side and they took three Premier scalps along the way. They were beaten in the final by Watcombe Wanderers but it took two bits of quality by Sean Finch to separate the teams.
The season before that they won promotion to the first division and topped that off with a win in the Lidstone Cup final. But with four games gone this season, they sit on the bottom of the table having lost all four of those opening games. They had only managed to score four goals, but conceded fifteen. Not the start most expected from Beesands, but then they have had to play Ashburton twice, Buckland and Stoke Gabriel. Two weeks ago they were knocked out of the early stages of the Herald Cup by Dartmouth AFC 2nd at the Cellars by three goals to one.
In their first league game of the season they were beaten at home by Buckland Athletic 3rds, by five goals to one. Their next game also at home ended up a two one defeat at the hands on newly promoted Ashburton. They then faced Ashburton again in an away fixture they ended up losing by five goals to nil. In their last league match played on the 26th September they lost at home to Stoke Gabriel 3rds by three goals to two.
Buckland & Milber rise up the leagues has been amazing to say the least. A squad of players basically brought together by a group of mates, they have progressed up the divisions every year for the last 5 years, along the way winning 2 divisional cups too, from division six to this their first season in division one.
Buckland & Milber have also not had the best of starts this season, they also have played four league games to date, winning one and losing three. Before today’s game they had scored seven goals, but conceded a massive twenty one goals.
Their first league game of this season was away to Ipplepen Athletic, a game they were thumped by eight goals to one. Then it was another away fixture this time against Foxhole United, they lost that game by eight goals to two. Next up it was a home defeat at the hands of Paignton Villa by three goals to one. In the first round of the Herald cup Buckland & Milber bettered Beesands by booking a place in the next round after beating Riviera United by two goals to one at home. In their last league match they won for the first time in the league, beating Kingskerswell & Chelston 2nd by three goals to two at home.
This game really was an early season six pointer, Buckland looking to try and continue their winning run, while Beesands were looking to get their first points on the scoreboard. With both teams having leaky defences so far, would this be a game with plenty of goals in it? Or would that fact both teams have found goals hard to come by, result in a low scoring game?.
What a place to get to and while the lanes were bad enough, that last half a mile along the bumpiest track I have ever driven along, was a nightmare. Still well worth the effort to watch what turned out a very entertaining game of football.
The pitch looked in good order and over on the left hand side it slopes from the goal mouth down hill to the coroner flag. The same side up the other end slopes up the hill to the corner flag. The weather was dry but cloudy with a wind blowing off the sea across the pitch.
There was only one side ever in it and with some better finishing they could have won by a cricket score. For a team that has failed to win in the league so far, Beesands surprised me with their complete dominance from the first whistle until the last one.
The first effort on goal fell to Beesands James Hurt, a twenty yard effort that flew over the crossbar. But James did not have to wait too long for his second chance to come along. From about the same distance he scuffed his shot somewhat, but was not too worried when the ball hit the back of the net, entering the goal just inside the right hand post.
Beesands Finley Bullen had a good chance to make it two nil for Beesands when the ball came into the Buckland box from a throw-in on the right hand side. He went for a half volley, but the shot had no real power in it, making it an easy save for the Buckland keeper Christian Wheeler.
It was soon two nil when a low ball was played in from the right hand side to the back post where Elliot Bellamy had a simple tap in. Another good ball was played into the Buckland box and once again Finley Bullen was not able to get a lot of power into his shot.
One of the best moves of the match played in Beesands Lee Morgan who took the shot with his right foot and had to stand and watch the ball go wide of the left hand post. At least four shots then were fired at the Buckland goal as the defence failed to get the ball away from the danger area. The final shot by Kurt Thiele ended up being blocked on the goal line.
Buckland managed to win their first corner of the game and the ball ended up being cleared to the edge of the box. Rhys Goacher hit a first time shot that went wide of the left hand post.
Then a Buckland defender decided to try and dribble the ball deep in his own half and had the ball robbed off his feet by Lee Morgan, when he should have just cleared it long up field. Lee took the all into the box and picked his spot to put his side three goals up.
Referee Phil Webb blew up for halftime and the big question was Could Buckland & Milber improve in the second half.
The answer was a big no and they soon found themselves four goals behind. Beesands won a corner on the right hand side that was taken by Elliot Bellamy. Now he will tell everyone he was trying to bend the ball from the corner kick straight into the back of the net and that is exactly what happened
Beesands Finley Bullen looked certain to score entering the Buckland box on the left hand side, but Christian Wheeler pulled of a fine diving save tipping the ball over his crossbar and behind for a corner.
Beesands keeper Toby Harvey who did not have a save to make all match, cleared the ball long and deep in the Buckland half. A Bucks defender tried to cut the ball out, but missed the ball and it ran on kindly to Lee Morgan. He ran into the left hand side of the box and coolly slotted the ball home.
So Beesands have won their first game of the season and I’m sure it was an easier win they might have expected. Buckland & Milber worked hard enough, but could not handle the very attack minded Beesands.
As I said an entertaining game in a great location, many thanks for all the help before the match from the Beesands management. Good luck to both clubs for the remainder of the season.
