Post by Dave on Feb 6, 2022 18:04:22 GMT
Match officials Jason Haywood Reginald Cross Jack Smith
Final Score Bovey Tracy U16 4 Newton Abbot Spurs U16 2
I was asked if it would be possible for me to cover this game and I dully obliged. I know very little about the Pioneer Youth League, so will just stick to doing a match report.
I was told this match is in effect a title decider, the three main contenders are Bovey, Torquay academy sports and Newton spurs. After beating Torquay academy last week, a win for Bovey will mean the league title is their's. A win for Newton spurs will mean the title will go to them. A draw would mean both teams will finish the season equal on points at the end of the season and a playoff would be required.
Match Report
Despite my very best efforts today, I sadly am not able to add a team sheet to my report, or use any of the the players names, so just shirt numbers. I will amend this report if I get the required information.
It must be over thirty years ago since I last watched a football match from the Pioneer League. I watched my son bang in goals for fun and felt so proud, just like all the parents watching today’s game. A game that had everything you could ever wish for in a football match, goals, all action and so much skill on show from such young players.
Sadly the game was abandoned three minutes from the end and Bovey will have to see if the league award them the win, but more of that later.
The game kicked off very late due to having to wait for Reginald Cross to get to the ground after having to referee another match, not the best planning by the league.
Jason Haywood blew up for the start of the match and the action began. Bovey won the first corner but nothing came from it. Minutes later they won another corner from the other side and took a very early lead. Their number 14 blasted home a ball that fell kindly for him giving the keeper no chance of making a save.
Their second goal soon followed, once again from a corner, the ball was swung in close the left hand post and came off the back of number 4 and over the goal line.
Bovey could not have asked for a better start in the match and Spurs were facing an uphill battle to get back into the match. They won a free kick on the edge of the Bovey box that was taken by their number eleven, but the shot was well held by the Bovey keeper. Spurs number 12 came close to getting a goal back close in on goal, but his effort hit the post.
Bovey’s number 8 was the first player to get sent to the sin bin, others followed and a number of players were booked during the match, but it was not a dirty game by any stretch of the imagination.
Bovey looked to add to their lead, their number 7 hit a powerful 25 yard effort that only just cleared the crossbar. Up the other end and another Spurs free kick that resulted in a backward header on goal that lacked any real power to trouble the keeper.
These young lads were full of running and Bovey’s number 4 went on a blistering run down the left hand side of the pitch, he cut neatly inside the box and hit a good shot that just went wide of the right hand post.
Spurs number 10 hit a powerful volley just inside the Bovey box, it would have been goal of the match if it had gone in, but sadly for number ten it flew over the crossbar. Bovey’s number 8 put the ball in the back of the Spurs net again, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Spurs then went and got a goal back, a wonder strike from just outside of the area by number 11 that went clean in just inside the right hand post.
Spurs gave the ball away on the halfway line, Bovey’s number 12 went on a very strong run towards the Spurs goal, he hit his shot well enough but had to stand and watch the ball go wide of the right hand post.
That was it for the first half, Bovey still winning by the odd goal, could Spurs turn things around in the second half? They nearly went a further goal behind when a shot inside their own box hit the left hand post just after the restart.
But then their number 2 hacked down a Bovey player inside the box and number 8 made sure of the spot kick. The pitch which looked so perfect before the start of the match was cutting up badly now; tackles were flying in left right and centre.
Spurs then went and got their second goal, the ball was played in low from the right hand side and number 12 hit a first time shot into the back of the net. They came close to scoring again from a free kick on the edge of the Bovey box, number 11 took the kick that only just went wide of the right hand post.
On a breakaway Bovey’s number 8 hit a shot just wide, a cross into the box from the right hand side was headed over by him as well. But he made up for those two misses when he burst into the left hand side of the Spurs box; he hit his shot in off Spurs number 26.
Four goals to two in favour of Bovey and no way back for Spurs as time was running out. Jason blew up for a foul and then was subjected to some shouting directed towards him from the Spurs manager. It ended up in him being shown two yellow cards and then a red one.
My understanding is the manager then refused to leave the field of play and as a direct result Jason abandoned the match with three minutes still to play. The league will have to decide if to award the win to Bovey, but surely they will as if not any manager could do the same if his team was losing to force a replay. I get to see plenty of match referees, Jason is one of the best, always fair and does it with a smile of his face, the good ones like him need to be respected and valued.
A cracking game of football and thanks everyone for such a warm welcome at the ground today. Providing I live long enough I am sure I will cover adult games in future featuring a number of these rising stars.
