Lidstone Cup Paignton Saints v AFC Staverton 25th Feb 2017

[Dave]

South Devon League

The Lidstone Cup Quarter Final

Vs

Paignton Saints V AFC Staverton

Saturday 25th Febuary 2017 Kick-Off 2pm

Venue Belfield Paignton

Match Referee Gary Hammon

Final Score Paignton Saints 7 AFC Staverton 2

Match Preview

Paington Saints received a bye in the first round of this cup competition so went straight into this quarter final match against AFC Staverton who won their first round match against Newton United at home by five goals to nil.

The Saints have been in very good form in the second division of the South Devon League and have only suffered just two defeats so far. They currently are third in the table but have played far less games than the two teams above and them and if they were to win their games in hand and maintain their good league form, they have every chance as ending this season as the second division champions.

They have played sixteen league games, winning eleven, drawing three and losing two, along the way they have scored fifty goals, conceded thirty putting them on thirty six points with a plus twenty goal difference.

AFC Staverton has also done reasonably well in the league this season and find themselves in fifth position in the table. They have played two more league games than the Saints and have won nine, drawn two and lost seven of them. They have scored a good total of fifty three goals to date, conceded thirty seven giving them a plus sixteen goal difference and twenty nine league points.

AFC Staverton lost their home fixture that was played on Saturday 17th December 2016 against Paignton Saints in a high scoring game that finished with the final score line, AFC Staverton four Paignton Saints five.

The two teams then played out a two all draw at Belfield on the 21st January 2017 so AFC Staverton were looking to go one better in this cup match and win their first match this season against the Saints.

On paper this game promised to have plenty of goals in it, was that the case? Would the home advantage favour the Saints along with their better league record this season?

Match Report.



It was a very windy afternoon up at Belfield and while that had some effect on the game itself, both teams did their best to try and play a good passing game. Before I go any further I will say while Paignton Saints were worthy winners in the end, but AFC Staverton was always in the game until the closing stages.

The game got underway and to start with it was rather an even affair with neither team really able to get on top. We did not have to wait to long for the first goal and to be honest it looked a very tame shot from Staverton's Jonathon Parsons that went over the goal line low and very close to the left hand post under the diving body of Saints keeper Sean Hootan.

But playing towards the Torquay end of the pitch with the wind at their backs, it did not take too long for the Saints to get back onto level terms. A great low and powerful shot from just inside the right hand side of the Staverton box by Shaun Cotton went across the keeper and into the far left hand corner of the goal.

It was soon two one to the Saints when danger man Shaun Cotton hit another powerful shot from just outside the area this time that took a slight defection on its way towards the goal making the chance of any save by Matthew Frost virtually impossible.

The Saints always looked dangerous when deep in the Staverton half and Luke Johnson hit a great shot from just outside the box that only just went over the crossbar.

Staverton came very close to getting back onto level terms themselves when a good ball was fired towards the back post from out wide on the right hand side of the pitch, but David Rowntree was not able to get that good a touch on the ball and had to stand and watch it go just wide of the left hand post and behind for a goal kick.

Saints Aaron Underhill really should have put his side three one up when a back pass was played back to the Staverton keeper who missed kick the ball completely leaving the goal wide open. Somehow Aaron missed the target and let Matthew Frost off the hook with his poor attempt to clear the back pass to him.

Staverton had themselves to blame going in at half time losing by three goals to one after they gave the ball away so cheaply in the midfield and two passes later Luke Johnson fired the ball home into the back of the Staverton net.

The match referee Gary Hammon blew up for the end of the first half with the Saint players deciding to go back into the dressing room while the Staverton lads stayed out on the pitch. The Staverton team talk was interesting to listen too and I agreed with much that was said.

The second half got underway and could Staverton use the wind to their own advantage this half? They won an early corner that was swung in from the left right under the crossbar that Sean Hootan in the Saints goal did ever so well to turn over his crossbar.

Just minutes later Staverton got their second goal after two goal attempts were blocked in the Saints box, but the ball was not cleared and fell kindly at the feet of Jonathan Almond for a simple tap in.

Game on and the big question now was could Staverton keep up the pressure on the Saints defence and score a third goal? Well the answer was no when they gave a way a free kick deep in their own half that was fired to the back post for Mike Howes to fire home.

Staverton then gave another free kick away from a similar position that was cleared this time to the edge of the box where Shaun Cotton was standing, Shaun hit the ball powerfully but it ended up going just wide of the right hand post.

The Staverton keeper Mathew Frost pulled of the save of the match but was soon beaten again after some excellent play by Luke Johnson who played a great one two with one of his team mates before firing home an unstoppable shot from just inside the Staverton box.

There then followed one of those handbag moments that thankfully did not get out of the hand, but the referee saw enough to issue two yellow cards to a player from each side. The Staverton heads started to drop a little as they went further behind when Matt Reed scored making the score six two to the Saints.

Staverton were guilty again of not clearing the ball away properly with the ball being gifted to Shaun Cotton who hit a sweet volley with the outside of his right boot that flew over the keeper into the back of the new.

Well done to both teams for trying to play some decent football in such windy conditions. Many thanks to both team managers for all your help today and also to the match referee Gary Hammon.