Post by Dave on Sept 4, 2021 8:44:08 GMT
Match Referee Ethan Harris
Final Score llsington Villa 5 East Allington 2nd 1
Match preview
I was due to cover my first Ilsington Villa match against Bishopsteignton United last season on the 19th September 2020, but sadly the game was called off due to Bishopsteignton not being able to raise a side. We all know what happened to the rest of the season due to covid 19.
After covering two South West Penninsula League matches and one Western league one so far this season, I decided it was time to cover a South Devon league game.
I have never covered a game featuring either team before today, so its new ground for me and a very first visit to the lewthorne Cross ground.
I do know that Ilsington Villa had won their opening two games in last season’s ill-fated season and were topping the table; will they open their new campaign this season with a win?
Without a single ball being kicked in division two of the South Devon league so far, Ipplepen Athletic 2nd are sitting at the top of the table on three points after being awarded an away walkover in their match against Dittisham United 1st. I do not know the reason for that but which ever team in this division today finishes with the best goal difference today; they will be the new early league leaders.
Match Report
I always find there is some extra magic covering a game from the South Devon league. Tell me if there is anything better on a sunny Saturday afternoon than standing watching a game of football in a lovely location. A game where the players are playing for their love of the game, not for money or any other rewards, it’s pure and honest.
I received a very warm welcome at the ground and all the help I needed as far as the team sheets were concerned. The pitched looked good, but it does have a slope its whole length from the left touchline to the right one.
The match referee Ethan Harris blew his whistle to get the game underway and it was all action for the next ninety minutes and it did not take Villa very long to get the first goal of the match.
Daniel Langford was played into the right hand side of the Allington box, got the ball neatly under control and passed the ball coolly past the keeper into the back of the net.
The Allington defence were at six and sevens and a very poor pass out of defence was intercepted by Matthew Warman who raced into the left side of the box, picked his stop and fired the ball home.
Daniel Langford was causing the Allington defence so many problems with his pace and trickery on the ball, it was not a case of will Villa score again, but when.
Goal number three for Villa came along very quickly; a shot was fired at the Allington goal from inside the right hand side of the box. Jake Mason in goal for Allington made a good save but could only push the ball towards the other post where George Harris was waiting to score into the empty net.
Not content with just one goal George Harris got his second goal of the match and Villa’s fourth after a blistering run into the Allington box, beating three defenders in the process before hitting an unstoppable shot.
The Allington defence started to greatly improve at the back and were now regular catching the Villa players off side, Lee Presage found himself sent to the sin bin for swearing, but Villa later had players guilty of the same offence without any action being taken.
Daniel Langford was still very dangerous on a good run down the left hand side of the pitch, but his final shot went wide of the right hand post. The match referee checked his watch and blew up for halftime.
The second half got underway and straight away Villa were on the attack again, George Harris took a shot that was saved, the ball came back to him and his second shot hit the post. Tape Micheal hit as good shot from inside the right hand side of the Allington box that was well saved by Jake Mason.
Allington were now enjoying their best spell in the match, but found it hard to create any real clear cut chances due to the you will not pass mentality of the Villa defence.
The ref blew up for another water break and it must have done Daniel Langford the world of good, for not long after he hit a wonder shot from all of thirty yards that flew over the keeper into the roof of the net.
While Villa were worthy of their five goal lead, you just felt Allington were worth a goal at least for all their hard work. They did in fact score from a corner from the left hand side; the ball was hit to the back post for Matt Duffy to head home.
After the restart Villa was on the attack again but once again getting caught offside to many times. Then came the moment of drama that resulted in a sending off.
Allington’s Jake Blamey was close to the touchline with the ball at his feet when a tackle was made on him. It was one of those you would have heard no matter where you were standing in the ground. He went down clearly in pain and the game just carried on.
A Villa player finally put the ball out of play so he could receive some attention. He was screaming he had been fouled and was getting rather abusive towards the match referee. The Villa manager went to check on the players well being and was told in no uncertain terms to go away. Not really necessary to be like that, but he did as he was asked.
Jake Blamey at some point swore at the referee who reached for his red card, my own view and clearly that of the referee was it was a fair challenge for the ball.
The last exciting piece of action came when Villa’s Thomas Harcourt-Smith hit a great volley from outside of the box that sure stung the keepers hands as pushed the ball high and over the crossbar.
A very entertaining afternoon and a good avert ffor the South Devon League.
