Match Report

Thursday night, and just around the corner at Brixham Utd’s senior ground, complete with bars around the pitch, dugouts and stands! This time Callum came down for the match, making it just five minutes before kick-off to give us 12 players. Brixham are a mid-table first division side in the local league. As Andy was trying to get photo’s, Jon took on Match Reporting duties. And the first thing he reported is that he beat Dave at Golf and that Dick was very good at Boules. Jordan was Captain for the night.

The line up was:

Jamie

Sam K

Sam B Jack

Josh James Tom Josef Max

Jordan Joe

Rolling Sub: Callum (When Callum came on, he took over sweeper, and Sam K moved into midfield)

Sam B hit the ball down the line for Joe, who made a great run down the line and crossed. It was cleared to Max and he set up Josef for a shot which was cleared on the line. Tom played Joe in who showed a good bit of strength and got a shot on target, but the ‘keeper made the save. Tom then had a shot which was cleared wide for Joe to cross back, but their ‘keeper cleared it. Joe went down the wing and overcrossed it to where Josh was. He returned the ball, bit Max’s shot went wide. Apparently, Dave can get right on Jon’s nerves!!! A good throw on the left was won by Max and he played Joe in whose shot was blocked for a corner. Dave also didn’t win the “lifting your injured child up” Award! There was a scramble in the area and a shot from Jack went just over the bar. Dave then came on the mic, to remind everyone that he was champion of both Boules and Tennis! Their centre forward burst through and shot. But Jamie made a tidy save and held onto it well. Tom picked up the ball on the edge of the box from a throw and shot, but it went wide. Sam K then took a quick throw down the line for Tom to again cut in and shoot, but again wide. From a goal kick, Tom won it and had a shot. It was blocked and came out to Max who crossed it in and Josh got the flick on only to see it go just wide of the far post. Max ran through but stood on the ball, however Tom was following and hit a shot just over the bar.

HALF-TIME : BRIXHAM 0 FRYS 0

In the second half, Steve Batt kindly took over on the mic, Tim took over refereeing from their man. Tom won the ball and shot, and Josh chased in forcing the error, which led to a corner. Joe swung it in and Sam K, Josh and Jack all just missed it. At the same time apparently Tim missed a blatant handball. The ball was then played through for Jordan to shoot, but the ‘keeper made the save. They then broke through on the right, but Callum, doing the sweeper’s job, got across and cleared it. They exerted more pressure however and although Callum got to the attacker, he couldn’t stop the shot, which gave Jamie no chance 1-0. They were buoyed by this and Jack had to be alert to stop another attack. From a throw Sam K passed to Jordan and he returned the ball. Sam then got the ball to James who in turn found Callum. Callum tried a long range shot, but it was just wide. They broke down our wing and Josh with James made the block. They got the ball to Sam K and from there onto Tom and he forced a corner. The ball was played back from the corner and we won a free kick which Tom took. He leathered it high into the box and the mass lost it in the crowd 1-1. Joe went down the line and crossed but it was cleared to the halfway line where Jack hit it as hard and as high as he could, and it fell over the ‘keeper’s head perfectly 1-2. Joe ran left, crossed inside for Josef, and his shot was well held by the ‘keeper. Tom then won the ball on the edge of the area, passed it into the box for Joe to run in on and he made no mistake 1-3. Into the dying seconds and their attacker ran at our defence, past two and hit a low shot which gave Jamie no chance 2-3.

FULL-TIME : BRIXHAM 2 FRYS 3

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for effort – James, chosen by Tom B for performance - Jack

Afterthoughts………………………………………

What a Match Report! I heard young people pretending to be motorbikes, profanities that cannot grace this publication and more arguments over who had done what than you could shake a stick at! “Tom couldn’t have done that as he’s stood over there!”, “Josh crossed it in, no it wasn’t it was Joe”, and so on!

What we saw on the pitch however was a battling performance, only their second time on the big pitch and against a good side for the second time in three days. We passed the ball well, closed down when not in possession and had lots of shots. Didn’t matter that lots went wide, it’s better to take 50 shots when only one in ten go in, than take just ten.