Post by Dave on Nov 27, 2010 19:50:48 GMT
Bishopsteignton V Marldon 27th Nov 2010
Marldon took on table toppers Bishopsteignton and with second place South Brent not playing today, a win would have taken Marldon into second place, level on points with South Brent but with a better goal difference. Marldon had a game in hand over South Brent and have been climbing the table in recent weeks due to a number of good wins.
First thing to say is what a far from anywhere the Humber Park pitch is and even worse it’s so exposed to the elements. I can’t remember the last time I was chilled to the bone for 90 minutes as a Siberian wind blew across the ground. The afternoon light was very poor and put my photography skills to the test and as the afternoon wore on I found I had to keep reducing the shutter speeds.
I decided to sit in on the pre match Marldon team talk; it was a chance to get out of the bitterly cold wind. I was impressed not only by the talk given by Marldons assistant manager, but how the players all chipped in with their own thoughts and it was clear these lads are a great bunch and have a great team sprit.
Not a great deal to write about the first half really as there was not a lot of goal mouth action. Marldon were playing the slightly better football, while Bishopsteignton looked to knock the ball long to many times.
Marldons Keith Moon did score what I thought was a very good goal around the 20 minute mark, but the ref disallowed it. It looked to me the ref claimed Moon had committed a foul to get onto the ball, but that dear lady the Marldon secretary, had it in her head that Moon was ruled off-side.
But a short while later Keith Moon did put Marldon in front; he received the ball out on the left hand side of the pitch and ran with it into the Bishopsteignton box. With just the keeper to beat, he toe poked the ball with his right boot low and hard to the keepers left and the ball just went inside the post.
The game then went a little bit scrappy for a while with the ball mainly being contested in a packed midfield. Just before the end of the first half Bishopsteignton went and equalised, I missed the goal so can’t explain how it was scored, but I thought that Marldon secretary lady would know, but it seems she missed it as well.
The ref blew for halftime and a chance to try and get some warmth back in me, I had taken a small flask of coffee, but it did little to take the chill away from my body. Secretary Lady said she was not feeling too cold, well understandable really as she was dressed more like a bloody Eskimo; I bet she was even wearing her thermal nickers.
The ref came bombing out of his dressing room to start the second half and shouted out loudly “ its warmed up at last” well it was colder if anything and I really did not fancy another 45 minutes out in the freezing cold.
The second half got underway and Marldon were on top for a while, Ant had a great strike just inside their box, but the linesman ruled him off-side when he was clearly on side. He also swivelled on the ball and took a shot near the penalty spot, but got no power into his shot.
Marldon then took the lead again, the ball was in the Bishopsteignton box and a goal bound effort was punched off the line by a Bishopsteignton defender. Now the ref later said he saw the hand ball, but the question is, did Ant head the ball in from that punch, or did he punch the ball in himself. Well I know the answer but I’m saying nothing.
Bishopsteignton than started to show why they are top of the table and had most of the rest of the game. They got the ball down and started passing it very well and the Marldon defence were constantly under great pressure.
They have their keeper to thank for the win as far as I’m concerned as he made a number of excellent saves. One with his feet when he looked well beaten and then at the death he saved a penalty.
It was a stonewall penalty and Marldon could have no complaints but the Bishopsteignton management sure did after the save was made. They were annoyed that with the players that had out on the pitch, only their left back wanted to take the spot kick. He hit the ball to the Marldon keeper’s right, but he dived full length to pull off a fine save, the ball dropped back toward the penalty spot and thankfully a Marldon defender got to the loose ball just before a Bishopsteignton player, to complete the clearance.
The final whistle blew and I did not even put my camera back in its case, but headed for my car and got the engine started to get the heaters working. It took the whole drive back to Paignton to get to feel my hands once again.
So Marldon continued the fine run they are on and as this rate I won’t just be the official lucky mascot, I recon they will ask me to be the honorary chairman.
