Post by Dave on Nov 27, 2021 9:40:37 GMT
Match Referee Alastair Muirden
Final Score Brixham AFC Reserves 1 Newton Abbot 66 1
Match Preview
After last weekends wasted trip to Harbertonford and discovering the game was called off very late due to Ashburton not turning up, I was not sure I wanted to risk covering another South Devon League game this weekend.
I spend around two hours in the morning of match days making the banner and writing my pre match report. I then cover the match and spend another three hours when I get home sorting out the match photos and writing my match report. So finding myself in Harbertonford at 2pm it was not really realistic to cover any other game that day.
I decided in the end to take the risk, my aim has always been to try and cover games at park level as much as possible, to provide a match report and photos that might otherwise not be taken. It involves a bit more work having to make contact with clubs to kindly ask the correct numbers are entered onto the team sheet, but I only need to do this for games played in the South Devon League.
On to today’s game and it is good to see that both the Brixham first and reserve team has made such a fine start to the 2021/ 2022 season. I have always had a lot of time for this club and have always been made so welcome at Walls Park and enjoyed my visits there.
Brixham Reserves reclaimed the top spot of the Premier Division of the South Devon league last weekend. They beat Meadowbrook Athletic away by five goals to one with goals from Callum Barber, Mark Griffiths, Scott Robinson, Mitchell Thomas and Dan Rankin.
To date Brixham have played ten league games, winning seven of them, drawing two and losing just the single game. They have amassed a total of twenty three points, scoring a total of thirty seven goals and conceding thirteen, giving them a plus twenty four goal difference.
I was born and bred in Newton Abbot and was just twelve years old when Newton Abbot 66 were formed, I seem to remember back then they used the old soup kitchens in Union Street for meetings etc. it is good to see the club still going strong in 2021 and having two teams in the South Devon League.
Last weekend the 1st team did very well at home at Osborne Park to earn a one all draw, a battling performance against a very good Buckfastleigh Rangers side, their goal was scored by substitute George Dodge It will give them plenty of confidence as they take on the league leaders today.
They currently are in eighth place in the league table on ten points. They also have played ten league games so far, winning three, drawing one and losing six. They have scored a total of twenty one goals, conceded thirty one giving them a minus ten goal difference.
Match Report
A very bitter and windy afternoon at Wall Park today, gusts of winds so strong at times I came close to being blown over. Not ideal conditions for a game of football and the only way to combat the high winds was to keep the ball on the deck. A game when the better team on the day so nearly came away with nothing.
Match referee Alastair Muirden looking very smart in his blue top, blew his whistle for the start of the match. Straight from the off Brixham tried to get their passing game together and looked very neat on the ball, but were unable to create any early meaningful chances.
The very first effort of goal came from a Newton 66 player, Joe Clarke-Farley who fancied his chances from a good twenty yards out, but could not keep his shot down and the ball flew harmlessly over the crossbar. Newton were slowly getting into the match, but were not able to use their first half advantage kicking with the wind at their backs.
Brixham’s Joshua Cawsey managed to find some space inside the Newton box and get a good head onto a cross from the left hand side of the pitch, but had to stand and watch his effort fly over the crossbar. Up the other end Michael Booth for Brixham facing his own goal very close in, did very well to hook a ball off the goal line and away to safety.
Daniel Rankin playing up front for Brixham, got a good low shot away from inside of the Newton box, Newton’s keeper Matthew Thorning dived low to his left and managed to push the ball away and save his side from going behind.
Brixham were passing the ball very well at this stage and looked certain to get the first goal of the match, but that did not prove to be the case Newton won a corner that was swung in from the right hand side, the ball ended up going inside the far post with the help of a strong gust of wind.
The referee blew up for halftime with Newton leading by one goal to nil, the players headed for the warmth of the dressing room, while I sheltered in the dug out and tried to get some life back into my fingers.
The second half got underway and it was mostly a one way affair as Brixham tried to get back onto level terms. Brixham’s Thomas Hopper was the first of many to find his name going into the referee’s book. A needless foul close to the halfway line followed by kicking the ball away.
Brixham were now kicking with the wind and won a free kick just outside the Newton box, Daniel Rankin placed the ball down but fired his shot high over the bar. A good chance wasted as the Newton defence grew stronger and stronger.
Brixham’s Michael Booth was hacked down and then we were treated to one of those handbag moments. Plenty of pushing but thankfully nothing else. Alex Harding took the free kick this time, but his effort also flew over the bar.
On a rare second half attack, Newton’s Joe Clarke-Farley hit a very good curling shot from the edge of the Brixham box that only just went wide of the right hand post.
Wave after wave of Brixham attacks, but the Newton defence got the blocks and tackles in to prevent Brixham getting back on level terms. Michael Booth hit a powerful shot that saw Matthew Thorning pull of the save of the match as he got across his goal and pushed the ball behind for a corner.
Substitute Chris Mitchell saved the day for his side, from a tight angle inside the right hand side of the Newton box; he hit a powerful shot towards the near post that went in off the underside of the Newton keeper. It was no more than Brixham deserved, but was there time to get another one?
Brixham won four corners on the trot and could make nothing from them, the match referee looked at his watch and blew up for full time.
Brixham may well see today’s result as two points dropped, they were the better side on the day but nothing must be taken away from the very hard working Newton 66 side.
I have never been so glad to hear a referees whistle, I was chilled to the bone and my only thoughts were getting back to the car and getting the heater on.
Many thanks to both managers and match referee for all your help with the team sheet. Well done both sets of players for providing a very entertaining game in very difficult conditions.
