Beer Albion 1st’s sailed through to the 4th Round of the Devon Premier Cup with an impressive 4-2 away win against South Devon Premier league side Morley Rangers writes Richard Honnor. The Plymstock-based outfit provided worthy opposition but were up against the Fishermen at their very best.
The 3G surface made for a highly entertaining feast of football and whilst Rangers did have their moments, the Fishermen created so many chances that the margin of victory could, and should, have been far greater.
Playing a very attacking formation with 3 at the back and the wing backs pushing high up the field, Beer made the perfect start. With 6 minutes gone, Josh French put them 1-0 ahead with a perfectly placed shot into the corner after being put through by Tony Pinder.
On 8 minutes the Fishermen were 2-0 ahead. This time it was French providing the assist with a perfect pass from the left into the stride of midfielder Charley Skilton who assuredly placed the ball home from 12 yards.
One minute later, Morley pulled back the deficit when their number 10 was allowed to run unchallenged from the halfway line and hit an unstoppable 30-yarder which took a slight deflection into the top corner. Beer keeper Elliot Driver could only look on in admiration as the ball flew past him.
For the next 15 minutes the contest was closely fought with both sides driving forward at every opportunity. But the home keeper was much the busier of the two and after Aaron Daniels went close on 21 minutes, the Fishermen increased their lead to 3-1 with another well-crafted goal in the 27th minute. Great pressing by left wing back George Harwood enabled him to win possession and feed Tony Pinder who in turn provided a perfect lay off for the marauding Skilton to slot home his second goal in similar fashion to his first.
Showing some frustration as half-time approached, the Rangers tried to unsettle Beer, testing their composure with some unsavoury, cynical fouls. But in the main, the Fishermen kept their cool and were able to regroup and settle again after the half-time.
In the second half, the Fishermen continued to slice through the overworked Morley defence. French was feeding quality passes out to the wings and through the channels regularly finding his colleagues.
Pinder went close on three occasions early on in the half and had the ball in the net after a perfect pull-back from substitute Cody Bowditch down the left but, incredulously, was ruled off side. Both Finley Rooke and Daniels narrowly missed the target as the chances came thick and fast.
When Morley did go on the offensive they found centre back George Richards in dominating form well supported by Liam Cox and Charlie Ledger. The visitors did have one scare on 62 minutes when a last-ditch tackle from Ledger prevented Morley from scoring.
Not content to sit on their 2-goal advantage, Beer continued to drive forward but they could not convert their superiority into more goals. Manager Rooke introduced a strong array of substitutes and the 4th goal eventually came after 74th minutes when Matt Berry scoring from close range after good work in midfield by substitute Brooklyn Wilkins.
Morley did manage an 89th minute consolation, their number 17 finishing a slick move with an excellent 12 -yard volley but in truth the 4-2 scoreline flattered the defeated hosts.
In a game full of fine performances, Beer’s man-of-the-match was George Richards but forward player Josh French ran him very close.
Next week, Beer 1st’s are back in Devon Football League action away at Topsham Town 1st’s.
Meanwhile Beer 2nd’s entertain University of Exeter 4th’s in Devon and Exeter Division 2. Kick off at the Furzebrake is at 2:15pm and the Match sponsor is Alyson Arbourne.