Post by Dave on Apr 14, 2017 8:35:11 GMT
Match Referee James Gould
Final Score Galmpton United 3 Brixham AFC 3
Match Preview
It’s Easter and there are not many games left to play in the 2016-17 season and at the end of it, both managers will rightly be able to pat themselves on the back for a job well done.
With all the off field problems at the start of the season and a lack of player commitment, Tony Bowker could have so easily thrown in the towel and walked away. But he stuck with it and along with his players took all those early season defeats on the chin and slowly but surely turned the clubs fortunes around.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I have been so impressed with the attitude shown by Tony and all his players this season, they have all worked so hard to bring some pride back to the club when it looked it might no longer exist. I’m very sure next season they will be competing again at the top end of the table and not having to fight so hard to get off the bottom of it that has been the case this season.
Jason Couch has shown what a good manager he has become as both he and his players have enjoyed a great season in this league. Earlier in the season Brixham AFC topped the table and while the league title is now out of their reach, they will finish this season in their highest ever position.
Before today’s game Galmpton were in fifteenth place in the league table on thirty two points and a win would move them up one or two places depending on the result of the Bovey V Liverton game. They had played a total of thirty three games, winning nine of them, drawing five and losing nineteen. They have scored fifty three goals along the way, conceded seventy four giving them a minus twenty one goal difference.
Brixham AFC had played thirty two games winning nineteen, drawing three and losing ten giving them a total of sixty points and fifth place in the table. They had scored a total of seventy one goals, conceded forty eight giving them a plus twenty three goal difference.
Galmpton lost their last game away to Alphington by two goals to one and drew their two previous games to that one, so will be looking to getting another win under their belt today.
Brixham were surprisingly beaten by three goals to nil in their last league fixture away to Bovey Tracey and lost the game before that at home by two goals to one against Axminster Town. Their last win in the league was the game before that again when they went to Sidmouth Town and won by three goals to one on the same day Galmpton beat Liverton by five goals to nil.
The two teams met in the league on Boxing day at Wall Park and Galmpton won the game by three goals to nil, so the big question is? Will Galmpton be able to do a league double over their local rivals from Brixham.
Match Report
Is it really Good Friday? I only ask as it normally rains on Bank Holidays and today has been a lovely sunny day. I most certainly picked the best game to watch today and what a fantastic game this was. A game that showed everything that the Galmpton lads have been about all season with their never beaten attitude right up to the final whistle.
Brixham may well have been in the lead three times during this match, but it will be their manager Jason Couch who will be relieved the most his side managed to get a point from this game. Brixham were gifted two of their three goals by rare mistakes from Galmpton’s normally ever reliable keeper Ken Griffiths, but despite those mistakes, the Galmpton players never let their heads drop and battled to the very end.
The game kicked off and it did not take long for Brixham to get on top and pin Galmpton in their own half. While Brixham looked the most likely side to take the lead which they did, it came about as a result of Ken’s first mistake. There seemed no real danger and it looked like all he had to do was reach out and grab the ball. But he seemed to have misjudged the movement of the ball and it ended up becoming loose and fired into the box. One shot came in that was blocked with the ball going back to the feet of Reese Somers who hit a low shot through the crowd of players into the back of the net.
Galmpton responded straight from the restart and won a corner that ended up being headed off the line, but another mistake in the Galmpton defence let in Reese Somers again who thankfully for Galmpton did not take his chance to put is side two goals into the lead.
Brixham were getting on top again, but it was Galmpton who so nearly got back onto level terms. A throw-in from the right hand side was played into the box and Stuart Bowker managed to get a touch on the ball that was slightly behind him, but sadly for him the ball hit the left hand post and went behind for a goal kick.
That effort spurred Galmpton on and a good run and low shot by Galmpton’s Jamie Chamberlain hit the side netting but we did not have to wait too long to see Galmpton back on level terms. My favourite ex Buckland player Danny Gaze played a great ball from the left hand side to Lloyd Clark who was central and just outside the Brixham box. He floated a delightful ball over the defence that was headed in by Jamie Chamberlain.
That was it for the first half and few goal scoring opportunities were being created early in the second half. Danny Gaze was played into the left hand side of the Brixham box, but the angle was a bit tight and his effort went wide of the left hand post.
Brixham were then gifted their second goal and I have no idea what Ken Griffiths was trying to do. All that needs to be said is he lost the ball in the right hand side of his box that was played into the feet of Dave Worthington to fire home into the empty net. Ken did redeem himself minutes later when he made a fine save low down from a shot by Graham Mercieca.
Brixham had a great chance to go three one up when the Galmpton defence were too far up the field and a ball over the top played in Graham Mercieca. Thankfully for Galmpton Graham ended up taking the ball far wider than he should have and his shot across the keeper went wide of the left hand post. Jamie Chamberlain then had his name taken by match referee James Gould or having to much to say after he had been warned about it a few time during the match.
But it was Jamie Chamberlain who then went and got his sides second goal with a neat turn and half volley from the edge of the Brixham box that sadly for the Brixham keeper Ryan Walton, bounced just in front of him and then over him into the back of the net.
It was no more than Galmpton deserved and they came close to taking the lead for the first time in the match when Stuart Bowker played his team mate Jamie Chamberlain Into the box, but this time his effort only found the keepers hands.
Galmpton won a free kick that was fired into the Brixham box and headed over the crossbar by Sam Millis, up the other end a long ball played in Brixham’s Graham Mercieca who saw the keeper coming out that tried to lob him, but his effort went high over the crossbar.
Danny Gaze hit a twenty five yard free kick just wide of the right hand post and you felt the next goal if there was one would be the winner. Once again I felt the Galmpton defence were too far up the field and were caught out by a long ball down the left hand side that was then played into the box for Graham Mercieca to fire home.
Galmpton’s captain Lloyd Clark got his name taken for a late tackle and it looked as if Brixham wee going to win the three points as time was nearly up. But it was Brixham who were then guilty of giving the game away when a foul was needlessly committed on their edge of their own box.
Cometh the hour cometh the man and up stepped the former Buckland legend Danny Gaze to take the free kick and what a great strike it was giving the keeper very little chance of making a save.
In the end I suppose a draw was a fair enough result as both sets of players gave their all, well done to everyone and thanks for putting on such a good show.
