Post by Dave on Apr 15, 2017 10:34:26 GMT
Final Score Brixham Town 6 Dartmouth 2nd 2
Match Preview
The town of Brixham once had three football clubs with Brixham United considered the largest one of the three. United once played in the Western League which involved travelling to places like Radstock and Falmouth every other week, but that sadly all came to an end.
The South Devon Football League allowed Brixham United to join it, but they had to start right at the very bottom and back then, Brixham Town were their biggest rivals. As United moved up through the leagues, Brixham Villa became the team for United to beat and as we know, a number of years ago United and Villa joined ranks to become Brixham AFC with a dream of moving up the football ladder.
It did not take the newly formed club very long to move out of the South Devon league into the Division One East Of the Carlsberg Peninsula League and what a great season they are enjoying right now. But we should not forget that Brixham Town have a long and proud history in the town and so today’s offering is their home match against Dartmouth 2nd.
Back on the 11th September 2010 I did cover one of Brixham Towns home games against Ipplepen, but back then I only covered games my son Ant Roach was playing in and my reports were more basic than they are now. If you read that report( link below) you will learn I went to St Marys Park by mistake instead of the Furzeham pitch which was their hone pitch back then.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/79/brixham-town-ipplepen-11th-sept
Last week the two clubs met for their first league encounter at Longcross the home of Dartmouth AFC, Brixham Town won the game by seven goals to two. But the weekend before Town were beaten at home by four goals to two by Salcombe Town. That weekend Dartmouth 2nd also lost their home fixture against Stoke Gabriel 3rd by six goals to three.
Before today’s game Brixham Town were in seventh place in the second division of the South Devon league on thirty four points. Their record todate is played twenty three, won ten, drawn four and lost nine. Along the way they have scored an amazing total of eighty one goals and have conceded fifty three giving them a plus twenty eight goal difference.
Dartmouth 2nd have had a very poor season which I find surprising when you consider the success the first team has enjoyed in past seasons, but even by their own standards the first team have not done so well this season.
Dartmouth 2nd league record this season is, Played twenty one, winning just four of them, drawing two and losing fifteen, putting them in thirteenth place in the table on fourteen points. Along the way they have managed to score thirty six goals, but have conceded a massive seventy four giving them a minus thirty eight goal difference.
On paper this game looks a home win, but this is football and as we all know anything can happen. NOTE TO SELF, its at St Marys Park.
Match Report
I certainly seem to have the knack this weekend of picking great football matches to cover. This game was South Devon League at its very best and was this really a division two game? Quality football played at such a fast pace, it nearly wore me out just watching it.
Brixham Town started the game at a lighting pace with so much running, good passing and movement. They came so close to taking an early lead when a good ball was played into the box from the left hand touchline. The ball was hit first time on the volley By Brixham’s George Meradith from around the penalty spot, the shot had plenty of pace on and sadly for George it crashed against the crossbar and stayed out.
Completely against the run of play, Dartmouth took a surprised lead, the ball was fired high to the edge of the Brixham box and headed on close to the right hand post were Ben Green was able to turn the ball inside the post and over the goal line.
It did not take Brixham long to get back onto level terms with a goal scored by their goal keeper Cameron Atkinson. The ball was played back to him and he hit it with so much power up the slight slope. Dartmouth’s keeper Darren Goss was well off his line and his efforts to try and stop the ball sailing over his head and into the back of the net were in vain. I was told this not the first time Cameron Atkinson has scored a goal for his side in this fashion. ( see image number 8 and 9)
Brixham then took a deserved lead when again a good ball was played into the Dartmouth box from the left hand side, Garry Drew had time to get the ball under control and fire an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
Dartmouth then only went and got back onto level terms themselves when they won a free kick on the left hand side of the pitch. The ball was fired high into the box was headed clear only to the edge of the box where Bradley Williams hit a first time low shot that went in off the left hand post.
Dartmouth must have been to busy celebrating that goal as right from the restart the ball was in their box at the feet of Gary Drew to score his second goal of the match. Brixham’s Ali George fancied his chances of adding to his sides lead with a forty yard effort that only just cleared the crossbar.
It was all one way again and Pat Buntam who played so well during the game saw his effort from the edge of the box fly over the crossbar. Garry Drew played an inch perfect pass that played in team mate Alex Mckerrell who was completely unmarked in the Dartmouth box, but he also hit his shot over the crossbar.
That was it for the first half and Dartmouth were only one goal behind with all to play for in the second half. Brixham started the half well again and a great cross into the Dartmouth box this time from the right hand side was headed over by Garry Drew.
Brixham got their forth goal from the penalty spot, Pat Buntam has so much pace and was using it to get inside the Dartmouth box and was brought down. He took the spot kick himself and he fully deserved to be on the score sheet.
Pat them got himself another goal when two shots on goal were blocked with the ball falling at his feet to fire a clean shot over the line into the back of the net. Brixham were now winning by five goals to two, would they score again?
Well yes once again thanks to the pace and running by Pat Buntam who ran down the middle and played a great pass to Alex Mckerrell who picked his spot and fired the ball home.
Dartmouth started to get back into the game and exert some pressure on the Brixham defence. Ben Green hit a shot from the edge of the box, but it lacked any real power and ended up being an easy catch for Cameron Atkinson. Dartmouth won four corners on the trot, but was unable to create anything from them. They kept up the pressure and came so close to getting another goal back but it was not to be.
Brixham’s Russell Cooper was lucky to get away with only a yellow card after he pushed a Dartmouth player very strongly over an incident he was not involved with. That was it, Brixham won by six goals to two, one less than they did last week. A great game and Brixham were worthy winners, but Dartmouth played some good football at times and never gave up until the final whistle.
Many thanks to both managers for filling out the numbers on the team sheets and thanks to all those that made me feel so welcome at St Marys Park.
