In Devon and Exeter Division 2, Beer Albion Reserves suffered their second consecutive league defeat going down 4-3 at home to local rivals Seaton Town in front of a crowd of 140 writes Richard Honnor.
The Fishermen never really recovered from a poor first half performance conceding a 2-0 lead at the break. To their credit they pulled back to 2-2 within 15 minutes of the restart and two brilliant saves from Seaton keeper Alfie Tucker-Vincent kept the Fishermen at bay. But Beer then conceded the initiative to a determined Seaton side, gifting the Seasiders two goals in a thrilling final 15 minutes. The Fishermen did pull back to 4-3 in added time but it was too late to deny Seaton 3 well-earned points. On balance, Seaton deserved the win for showing more determination and attacking intent than an unusually cautious Beer side.
In a brisk start, Seaton showed their intentions to take the game to their opponents and were a whisker away from scoring on 6 minutes. A strong run and cross from the right was desperately defended by Fraser Beamont with two Seaton forwards ready to pounce at the far post.
Beer almost went ahead on 11 minutes when James Hill hit the side-netting from Jack Prior’s whipped in cross from the left. For 10 minutes, the Fishermen produced some good football going forward, with centre forward Richard Walker creating good opportunities for the players around him. Simon Smith forced a good save from Tucker-Vincent, Sam Walker went close and then Richard Walker had a 20-yarder disallowed for offside.
But when Seaton did get forward they did so in numbers and they opened the scoring on 27 minutes. Beer keeper Shaun Denslow failed to hold a well-struck free-kick at his near post and Dan Tratt was at hand in a crowded penalty area to slot home the rebound.
One sensed that it was not going to be Beer’s day when Richard Walker’s shot went narrowly wide after their best passing move of the match involving 6 players had opened up the Seaton defence.
But midfield possession was being conceded too often and Seaton went 2-0 ahead on 33 minutes. Denslow got his finger tips to a teasing cross to the far post but it was not enough to deflect the ball away from Ed Kenworthy volleying home from an acute angle.
It could have been 3-0 on 49 minutes but for a fine save from Denslow, tipping a fierce free kick on to the crossbar but Beer then failed to capitalise on two good chances before the break created by Walker and James Hill respectively. A frustrated Walker was sin-binned for dissent a few minutes before the half-time whistle.
After the break, Beer showed much more purpose and they reduced the deficit to 2-1 on 57 minutes through Josh Lund scoring from yards following good work by Max Richardson, Chris Long and Richard Walker. Lund was in an offside position but was played onside by a deflection off a Seaton defender. Two minutes later, Beer were on level terms when Beamont hit an unstoppable free kick from 20 yards.
But Seaton weathered the storm and were gifted a third goal on 74 minutes. Denslow hesitated to come for an innocuous-looking cross from the left and the ever-alert Tratt was on hand to slide home his second goal of the match at the far post.
In a rip-roaring finish Seaton had two good chances to increase their lead but they were thwarted first by Denslow and then by the crossbar. Beer responded with another goal bound free kick from Beamont deflected over the bar by a Seaton defender.
The game was sealed on the stroke if 90 minutes. After Tucker-Vincent made another great save, a long clearance was latched onto by Seth Wakely. Seeing Denslow off his line the Seaton forward executed a speculative lob from inside his own half to make score 4-2.
The Fishermen rallied to score their 3rd goal, again through Beamont, but Seaton held on to clinch the 4-3 win.
Two-goal Tratt received “man-of-the-match” from match day sponsors Anning Heating and Plumbing. For Beer, Richard Walker was their stand-out player.
Beer 2nd’s will be needing to raise their spirits when they face Exmouth Spartans 1st’s at home next Saturday. The Fishermen certainly have the players with the ability and experience to get back on track. Kick off is at 3 pm and the match sponsor is Clinton Devon Estates.
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