Post by Dave on Nov 13, 2021 9:55:42 GMT
McDonalds League Cup 2nd Round
Match Referee Andy Distan
Final Score Teignmouth AFC 3 Topsham Town AFC 2
Match Preview
During my forced absence covering local football matches the new Devon league was born. I have taken the time to read up why this league was formed, it certainly had a big impact on the South Devon Football League in its very first season. Only two clubs playing in the SDFL Premier League did not leave to join the Devon League.
A good number of those clubs have now returned to the South Devon League for a number of reasons, the extra travelling required to play in the Devon League is just one of them. The formation of this league has also had a big impact on the South Devon League as far as match referees are concerned. It’s currently harder to find a game being played that actually has one.
Looking at the clubs now making up the 2021/2022 season in the Devon league I noticed a number of clubs who were a few years ago playing in the Peninsula League, Teignmouth were one of them.
Back then I know the club would have loved to move up the league ladder further, but I seem to remember their Coombe Lane ground was deemed unsuitable for whatever reason.
In the first round of this league cup, Teignmouth faced Watcombe Wanderers away on the 11th September and won the game by four goals to two. Topsham Town had a bye in the first round and went straight into the second round.
Teignmouth play in the South West Division of the Devon League and are currently the league leaders. They have played nine league games to date winning all of them and have a massive plus fifty four goal difference already. Their last match against Watcombe Wanderers away on the 6th November they won by a staggering seventeen goals to nil.
Topsham Town play in the North East Division of the league and are currently sitting in sixth place in the table on fifteen points after winning five of their opening seven games and losing two of them. They have a plus four goal difference, their last league outing saw them lose away to Exwick Villa on the twenty third of October by two goals to one.
Match Report
What a great game of football, what a comeback, cup football at its very best. I am so pleased with my choice today covering the cup game between Teignmouth AFC and Topsham Town AFC. A game that was all action and had everything you would want in a cup game.
Before the start of the match both teams lined up for a minutes silence which was well respected by everyone in the ground. Match referee Andy Distan blew up for the start of the match and the watching spectators had no idea what a treat lay in store for them.
Teignmouth started the game slightly better than Topsham and their number eleven Jack Baxter had the first effort of the match. He hit a shot from about twenty yards out that was well held by Martin Rice in goal for Topsham.
There were a good number of strong tackles going in and mostly from the Teignmouth players, but nothing that over concerned the referee.
Topsham took what I thought was a bit of a surprise lead, Ben Watson who stood out for his team in the first half found himself on the edge of the Teignmouth box with the ball at his feet. He made the space he required to fire off a left foot shot that went over the keeper into the back of the net.
Topsham did not have to wait very long to add to their early lead. Kevin Pike raced into the Teignmouth box and was hacked down by Phil Kingman. Andy Distan reached into his pocket for a card and pulled out the red one. Ben Watson took the spot kick low into the left hand corner of the goal sending the keeper the wrong way.
Teignmouth now faced a real up hill battle, two goals behind and down to ten men as the Topsham players looked to add further to their lead. Jessie How fancied his chances from the left hand side on the edge of the Teignmouth box, but his shot flew wide of the right hand post.
Up the other end there was a very large shout for a penalty for Teignmouth, but Andy Distan just pointed to the corner flag, and waved away all the protests, Teignmouth were not able to make anything from the corner.
Topsham’s captain Ethan Philips hit a very powerful shot from outside of the box that was well tipped over the crossbar by Harrison Montandon in goal for Teignmouth.. The referee blew up for halftime, I have never known a half go so quickly.
At halftime my thoughts were that the end result of this game would be a win for Topsham, I did not see a way back for Teignmouth, thankfully for their manager the Teignmouth lads clearly had other ideas. It must have been one incredible halftime team talk.
The second half got underway with a twenty five yard effort by Topsham’s Ethan Phillips that only just went wide of the right hand post. But Teignmouth were growing more and more into the game.
Topsham were trying to make their extra man count with some neat passing, but were coming under increased pressure by the Teignmouth players. Teignmouth’s captain Myles James led the charge with a good twenty yard shot that only just cleared the crossbar.
The attacks from Topsham on the Teignmouth goal were now few and far between, but if was not for Harrison Montandon, Topsham would have got a third goal. A low cross came into the box from the right hand side and Harrison did so well to dive down and hold onto the ball, Ben Watson was unmarked waiting to fire the ball home.
Teignmouth’s hard work finally got a reward when a ball pinged around in the Topsham box and fell kindly to Ashley Donahue for fire home. Game on and the big question was could Teignmouth find another goal which would take the game into extra time.
Topsham were now very much on the back foot as the Teignmouth players looked to get back onto level terms. It did not take very long to come. Teignmouth won a free kick out on the left hand side. The ball was floated to the back post, the keeper came and missed it and Hayden Rowe headed it home.
I was getting ready to phone home and ask for my tea to be delayed as surly we were going to have extra time and then maybe a penalty shootout.
But one again those Teignmouth lads had other ideas and they need to thank Ashley Donahue for putting a goal on the plate for Sean Ayre. Ashley made a good run down the left hand side with a defender by his side. He got to the corner flag and somehow got past his man and picked and inch perfect pass to Sean to hit first time into the back of the net.
Teignmouth’s second half comeback was amazing, but we have all seen games where the ten men finally came out on top.
A very enjoyable afternoon, a cracking game of football and what a pleasure is was to talk with a few of the lads in the Teignmouth under ten side. One of them had me in stitches, he asked me how old I was, I said sixty seven, he said I do no believe you show me some ID.
Well done Teignmouth I can see why you are the top of your league, many thanks to Andy Distan for all your help with the team sheets.
