Post by Dave on Feb 12, 2022 9:01:56 GMT
Match Referee Keith Hawkins
Final Score Harbertonford 0 Kingsteignton Ath 4
Match Preview
Both teams have already played each other twice in the league so far this season and Kingsteignton have won both games and will be looking for a hat trick of wins over the Fords.
It will be my third attempt to cover a Harbertonford game this season. I made the trip to the Steve Jane Memorial Ground on the 20th November only to find just one hour before kick off, Ashburton phoned to say they were not coming. A completely wasted day for me.
The Fords were awarded the three points by the league, but learnt earlier in the week they will now be taken away as Ashburton have now folded. Worrying times for the South Devon League with clubs folding left right and centre this season and I wonder how many others are close to calling it a day.
I also planned to cover the Fords last weekend in their away game against Paignton Saints 2nd, but the Fords were unable to raise a side, so hopefully third time lucky.
Harbertonford announced this week that they will be parting company with their team manager Andy Hartley at the end of the season. Also a number of players will be leaving the club at the end of the season for a variety of reasons. So they are on the lookout for a new manager and a number of players for next season. Fords are a great club and one that must never be lost, so why not get in contact with them if you would like to play for them, or become their next manager.
My late wife when she was a very young girl would spend every second she could with her granddad who lived in the village. Watching the Fords play was a must and I always feel her presence at the ground when ever I am there.
Fords first game on the 2021/2022 season was away to Kingsteignton Athletic on the 4th September 2021, a game they lost by four goals to one.
In their home fixture against the Rams played on the 11th December 2021, they also lost, this time by four goals to two, so I am sure Kingsteignton will come into this game confident of a third win over Harbertonford.
As far as league form goes Harbertonford are in 9th place in the table on twelve points after playing fifteen games, winning three of them, drawing three and losing nine. They have scored a total of twenty five goals, conceded forty seven giving them a minus twenty two goal difference.
Kingsteignton are in third place in the table on twenty nine points after playing twelve games, winning nine of them, drawing two and losing just one of them. They have scored a total of forty two goals, conceded sixteen giving them a plus twenty six goal difference.
I fear the odds are stacked against the Fords in this match, but it is a cup game and if they can raise their game high enough and get a bit of luck, they still have a chance to make the next round of the Dartmouth Cup.
Match Report
I arrived nice and early and the Fords ground staff was busying cutting the grass and then marking the pitch out. It was dry at this stage but it soon turned into a damp and miserable afternoon, even more so for Harbertonford. They worked hard, battled hard, tackled hard but were out played by a good Kingsteignton side.
Match referee Keith Hawkins reached into his pocket and brought out his treasured 1950 half crown (two shillings and sixpence in old money) he flicked it up into the air and the call was made. The players stayed as they were and Fords kicked off to get the match underway.
The rams made the better start of the two teams and had the first attempt on goal when Sam Barnett hit a shot from just outside the Fords box that Fin Symons in goal for the Fords did well to hold onto low down.
Rams Thomas Reeves turned neatly on the edge of the Ford box and hit a decent shot that sadly for him flew over the crossbar. If any team was going to score I felt it was Kingsteignton. I did not have to wait too long.They won a corner and Thomas Reeves rose unchallenged to head his team into the lead.
Fords Alex Boon was the first player to have his name taken, a silly needless trip on a Rams player on the halfway line. From the resulting free kick the ball found its way to the edge of the Ford box, James Perrins hit a wonder strike that crashed up on the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the goal line.
Fords were unable to create any chances in front of goal, they did win their first corner of the match but nothing came from it. Rams Chris Barnett when on a bursting run from just inside the Fords half, he did all the hard work getting to the edge of the box, but his shot was wayward and flew high over the crossbar.
A rare Fords attack was flagged offside, Mark Hancock who was in his own half made his feelings known to the match referee. The match referee blew up for halftime and then had to go and stop Mark having a right go at the lineman who had made the decision.
The Rams could have gone in at halftime winning by a bigger margin; I could not remember any meaningful attack by Harbertonford in the whole of the first half.
The second half got underway and the rain was getting heaver but the pitch was holding up well. It did not take the Rams to long to add to their first half lead. Mark Voisey was played in and to be honest I thought he was offside. But nothing was given and he ran into the box and fired a low shot past the keeper into the back of the net.
It was all one way traffic as the Rams pilled on the pressure, Thomas Reeves close in on goal had a great chance, but hit his shot wide of the post. Chris Barnett hit a good shot from the edge of the box that was well held again by Fin Symons.
I missed the build up for the Rams third goal, ( writing down notes) but looked up to see Mark Voisey coolly placing the ball home. From a corner Kelsey Leech headed just wide of the target, the Rams were hungry for more goals.
The Fords were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply far too often close to their own box; it resulted in even more pressure on their goal. It was no surprise to see Fords Mark Hancock receive a yellow card for a foul he committed, but on the whole he had a good game and broke up a number of the Rams attacks.
Fords Sam Passmore decided to hack down from behind a Rams player who have cleverly beat him close to the touch line, I think in more frustration than anything else. As a result there was a bit of a scuffle between a few players that result in a Rams player getting booked and Sam receiving a straight RED card..
The free kick was taken and the ball was sent high into the Fords box and was met by James Perrins but he could not keep his header down and the ball flew over the crossbar.
Wave after wave of Rams attacks kept Harbertonford in their own half and it was no real surprise when the Rams added to their lead. A shot was fired in from the right hand side just out side the box. It hit the left and post and stayed in play and dropped kindly for Thomas Reeves to hit first time into the back of the net.
The very few times Harbertonford were able to get over the halfway line the lone front man lacked any support and was easily dealt with by the Rams defence.
Keith Hawkins blew up for fulltime, the Rams fully deserved their win, but credit must also be giving to the Ford players who gave their all, but just feel a bit short on the day.
Many thanks to both managers for your help with the team sheet and also the legend Keith Hawkins who referred the game to the very high standard you expect from him.
Footnote. Many clubs are suffering from a lack of commitment from some of their players. What an example today’s match referee Keith Hawkins sets to us all. 70 years young and he has no plans to give up doing one of the most difficult and unthankful jobs in football.
