Beer Albion 2nd’s 0-3 Tedburn St Mary 1st’s

Devon and Exeter League Division 2

In front of a Furzebrake crowd of 90, Beer Albion 2nd’s slumped to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tedburn St Mary 1st’s in Devon and Exeter Division 2 on Saturday writes Richard Honnor. The Teds currently sit at the foot of the table but have been strengthened recently by the appointment of a new manager and a fresh intake of players and on this impressive showing they will soon start to climb up the league.

The Fishermen got off to the worst possible start, conceding an own goal from a misplaced back pass with just one minute showing on the clock. The early goal fired the visitors and the Beer defence was at full stretch to contend with the pace and direct running of Tedburn’s young forward line. 

Beer struggled to control the ball in tricky, blustery conditions and it wasn’t until the final 10 minutes of the first half did they start to pose an attacking threat, going close twice from well-delivered corners from Harry Lawrence.

The Fishermen started the second half strongly with Alex Paget and James Melville combining well to put Jack Prior in the clear on 46 minutes but Prior’s strike went over the crossbar. Melville  then tested the Teds keeper with a good effort from 12 yards and from the resultant corner Paget went close with a header.

But on 53 minutes, the Fishermen went 2-0 down. A promising attacking position on the left wing was conceded by two sloppy passes back to the defence, putting centre back Ashley Driver under unnecessary pressure from the swift Tedburn forwards.  Driver was dispossessed, resulting in a clinical finish from 15 yards from the Teds number 14  giving Beer keeper Leo Gribble no chance.

Reece Hales responded for Beer with a shot on target but the experienced Tedburn keeper saved comfortably. Then Tedburn wrapped the game up with a third goal on 62 minutes. Once again, the Fishermen gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and were caught chasing back this time by the Tedburn centre forward who skilfully held off a couple of challenges to coolly place the ball past Gribble from 12 yards.

It was clearly not going to be Beer’s day when two late efforts struck the woodwork and then the visitors somehow survived a desperate scramble in the box from a Beer corner.

Although the Fishermen were second best on the day, the three goals conceded were all as a result of sloppy defensive play. After a poor first 35 minutes, Beer did have plenty of possession and opportunities to score, including twice hitting the woodwork.  Alex Paget strived hard in midfield to get his side back in the game and James Melville showed good touch and creativity going forward. Harry Lawrence also showed some quality touches after he was pushed further forward. Unsurprisingly though, it was Tedburn number 10 Brayden Morris who was awarded man-of-the-match on behalf of sponsor Beer Fisheries.

Beer 2nd’s are at home again next week to South Zeal United 1st’s. Kick- off at the Furzebrake is at 2:30 pm and  Amy’s Cafe at  Colyford is the match sponsor. Meanwhile Beer 1st’s have a tough Devon League assignment at Appledore who currently lie 2nd in the table.