Post by Dave on Jan 22, 2022 8:35:44 GMT
Herald Cup Second Round
Match Referee Jason Haywood
Final Score Brixham AFC 2nd 3 Elburton Villa Res 0
Match Preview
This week I bring you action from the Herald Cup second round featuring Brixham AFC 2nd against Elberton Villa Reserves. The Herald Cup last took place in the 2018/2019 season (due to covid) when Buckland Athletic 2nds were crowned as the winners. They now play in the Devon League so will not have the opportunity to defend their title this year.
The prestigious Herald Cup has had a good number of winners during its very long history, in the last ten years Watcombe Wanderers won the cup four times, but they also no longer play in the South Devon League. Their reserve team still does but they were knocked out at the first round stage of the cup by Babbacombe Corinthians
Brixham Villa who merged with Brixham United in June 2012 to form Brixham AFC who’s first team play in the South West Peninsula League, won the Herald Cup final in 2006 and 2007. This is Elburton Villa reserves first experience of the Herald Cup after deciding to join the South Devon league for the first time in its history.
Let us look at how both of today’s teams are fairing in the league to date. Brixham are sitting in second place of the SDFL Premier division on twenty seven points after playing twelve games, winning eight, drawing three and losing just the single game. They have scored forty one goals, conceded sixteen giving them a plus twenty five goal difference,
Elburton Villa is currently in seventh place in the SDFL Premier division on nineteen points after playing ten games to date. They have won six, drawn one and lost three, scoring a total of forty six goals, conceded eighteen giving them a plus twenty eight goal difference.
The two teams met in the league on the 23rd of October 2021 at Villa’s Haye Lane ground in Plymouth. Villa were winning the game by four goals to nil, but Brixham fought back hard, but still ended up losing the match by four goals to three.
Elberton’s played away in the first round of the Herald Cup against Kingskerswell & Chelston who play in the first division of the South Devon league; they won the game by five goals to nil. Their last league outing was on the forth of December 2021 when they thumped Barton Athletic by twenty goals to one. They also beat Barton at home on the twenty seventh of November by ten goals to nil, But they did suffer a home defeat the week after at the hands of Windmill FC by three goals to two.
I imagine Brixham must have had a bye in the first round of the Herald Cup as they do not feature in the results for the first round. Brixham won their last league game last Saturday by three goals to two away at Watts Blake Bearne 1st. They only managed to draw one all at home on the twenty seventh of November 2021 against lowly Newton 66, a game I covered and expected Brixham to win. They did win their two previous games handsomely however.
Report on that game
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/953/sdfl-brixham-reserves-newton-abbot
Elburton Villa reserves will feel they may well have the beating of Brixham after their four goals to three home league win over them. But Brixham are not second in the league table for nothing, they are just a single point behind league leaders Buckfastleigh Rangers and will also feel confident it will be them in the hat for the next round of this cup.
Match Report
Dull and overcast skies at Wall Park but that could not be said for this all action cup tie. I left the ground wondering what happened when these two teams met in the league earlier in the season when at one point Elberton Villa were winning the game by four goals to nil. While Villa were in the game for a good part of it, on chances created alone, Brixham could have won by a much higher score line today.
The match referee Jason Haywood got the game underway and at first it was all even stevens as both teams cancelled each other out. Villa’s Cody Jones burst into the Brixham box, but he hit his shot wide of the left hand post. Up the other end Brixham’s Luke Manuell took a shot from the edge of the Villa box that flew past the right hand post.
Brixham at this stage were looking the more likely of the two teams to get the first goal, Alex Harding did fire a loose ball into the back of the net, but the referee had blown his whistle a faction before as Alfie Eccles in goal for Villa had taken a hard knock and was laid out on the deck injured.
Shortly after this Brixham had the ball in the back of the net again when Daniel Rankin fired a shot past the keeper, only to find it was ruled out for offside.
It was a case of third time lucky when the ball hit the back of the net again for Brixham. Alex Harding hit a long range shot that the keeper failed to hold onto. Mark Griffiths was onto him like a shot and nodded the ball down before controlling it and firing it home.
That was pretty much it for the first half, the Brixham lads headed back to the dressing room while the Villa players stayed out on the pitch. I took the opportunity to catch up further with Jason Haywood.
The second half got underway and every time Villa went on the attack they kept getting caught offside, it should be said the Brixham defence played very well winning all the high balls and snuffed out all the Villa attacks.
Brixham looked dangerous every time they went forward, Samuel Green hit a powerful shot at the Villa goal that pulled out a fine save by Alfie Eccles. But they soon added to their first half lead. Villa were failing to clear the ball out of defence, I had looked down just for a second and looked up to find Luke Manuell on his own in the Villa box with just the keeper to beat which he did with ease.
The only really good chance for Villa in the second half fell to Scott Allen; he was played clear in on goal and maybe should have done better as his effort went wide of the left hand post.
From a Brixham corner Samuel Green rose above everyone else and got a good head on the ball, but sadly for him the ball cleared the crossbar. The only booking of the game came about when Joshua Cawsey hacked down a Villa player who was racing into the Brixham half, he could have no complaints when he was showed the yellow card.
Brixham won a promising free kick just outside the Villa box, Alex Harding fancied his chances but his shot flew high over the crossbar. Brixham’s substitute (number 4 do not have his name) was played in on goal, but keeper Alfie Eccles did very well to close the space down and block any attempted shot on goal.
Brixham then got their third goal; I do not know where the Villa defenders were. A long ball was played up to Mark Griffiths on the right hand edge of the Villa box. There was only one defender anywhere near him and Mark was simply able to pass the ball past him to the waiting Luke Manuell to fire home.
Villa had worked hard during the whole match but they came up against a strong and determined defence. On the balance of play and chances created Brixham fully deserved to win. Thanks to both team managers for all your help with today’s team sheet.
A very enjoyable game to watch and I should also thank both sets of players for a very entertaining game of football.
