Post by Dave on Aug 28, 2021 8:52:30 GMT
Premier Division East
Match Officials Daniel Uren,Reginald Cross,Matthew Redmond
Final Score Brixham AFC 6 Plymouth Marjon FC 0
Match preview
With the last season being wiped out due to covid restrictions I think everyone involved in local football were hoping things would get back to normal this season. But sadly eighteen fixtures have already been called off in this league this month so far due to covid infections.
Brixham had won their opening three games and were sitting at the top of the table on maximum points, but both last Saturdays game at home to Elmore and Tuesday’s away game with Bovey Tracey fell victim to covid.
Marjons next game on Tuesday against Elburton Villa has already been called off for the same reasons, but before today’s match having played two more games than Brixham, they claimed top spot in the table, so this match is a very early top of the table clash.
Season stats so far, Brixham AFC has played three games winning them all, they have nine points on the board scoring fourteen goals, conceding five and have a plus nine goal difference.
Plymouth Marjon has played five games to date, winning three of them, drawing one and losing one. They had amassed ten points in total, scoring fifteen goals, conceding seven and have a plus eight goal difference.
Brixham will want to regain the top spot in the table, while Plymouth Marjon will be hoping to strengthen their position at the top, but the result may come down to just how strong a side Brixham will be able to put out.
I was surprised to learn that Tim Porter has taken over as the manager of Brixham, with Jason Couch filling the role of the assistant manager. Not sure why the changes have been made as Jason was always the number one man who has been so instrumental in Brixham’s past success.
Match Report
There have been a number of improvements to Walls Park since I was last there and the pitch looked the best I have ever seen it. One big change is at the end of the ground that once backed onto a holiday park now has a housing estate there instead.
I have watched many Brixham AFC teams over the years, but I left the ground at the end of the match thinking today’s team on display was the best one I have had the pleasure to watch play. Movement, pace and excellent running into spaces and always so keen to win any lost ball back.
This game had plenty of quality goals and a sending off that in my honest opinion should never have happened Referees are never going to get everything right, but with Plymouth Marjon already a few goals behind, this just about finished them off. More about the incident later so lets get onto the match.
Plymouth started the opening minutes brightly enough and an early cross into the edge of the Brixham box was met by Theo Ramsey who side kicked the ball just over the crossbar.
But it did not take Brixham very long to open up the scoring when a loose ball in the Plymouth box was fired home by Callum Leech. Brixham soon got on top of the game and stayed very much in control of it right to the end of the match.
The movement and pace of Brixham’s front players was just too much for the Plymouth defence to handle and you just knew more goals were on the cards. A powerful shot from outside the box by Callum Leech was well tipped over by the Plymouth keeper Gabe Smietanka. The second goal was a cool left foot shot just inside the Plymouth box by Cole Harford.
Plymouth were still working hard and had a second half chance when Liam Donovan hit a good shot that just went wide of the post.
Brixham nearly made it three nil when a good run down the right hand side resulted into a low cross into the Plymouth box that was met by Kieron Parkin, but his shot hit the right hand post and stayed out.
Then came the moment of drama when a shot fired close in on the Plymouth goal struck Adam Smietanka clearly in his stomach and then the ball fell down to his right hand side nowhere near his hands. The referee at first looked to take no action but the linesman had his flag up. After consulting with him the ref pointed to the spot and got his red card out.
Adam protested his innocence and was trying to show the ref the red mark on his stomach where the ball hit him, but the ref was simply not interested. As is often the case when a wrongful penalty has been awarded the ball sails over the crossbar as it did from the Callum Leech spot kick, so at least some justice was done.
Just before the halftime break Brixham made it three goals to nil, there did not seem any real danger when Jake Chisholm had the ball at his feet outside the Plymouth box, but he fired in a very low shot that went inside the left hand post.
The match referee blew up for halftime and then had to deal with a number of angry Plymouth players and club officials; it was understandable after the costly mistake the referee had made in the game.
The second half got underway and with only ten men on the pitch for Plymouth and being behind by three goals the match now resembled a training session of attack versus defence. I think Plymouth only got close to the Brixham box twice during the whole of the second half.
Shots were being fired from all angles at the Plymouth keeper who pulled off a number of good saves. It was soon four goals to nil when Josh Parry was played into the right hand side off the Plymouth box and placed a great shot past the helpless keeper.
The Plymouth keeper then pulled off another good save but could not hold onto the ball, it fell kindly to Arron Wellington who turned neatly and fired the ball home.
A very rare attack deep into the Brixham half saw Laim Donovan head towards the Brixham goal, but he took his shot a bit to early and fired it over the crossbar.
Goal number six came about from yet another short corner routine by Brixham with the ball finally being fired high to the back post for Sean Adderley to head home.
A good game to watch and I feel Plymouth Marjon can play much better than they did today and it was just not their day today in more ways than one.
Nothing can be taken away from how well Brixham played today, a class act worthy of regaining their spot at the top of the table.
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