Page 15 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Mousehole 130822

Match Report

ASHTON & BACKWELL UFC 0 VS SHEPTON MALLET FC 2
Second match of the season and after Saturday’s defeat to a lacklustre
Buckland outfit, more was expected at Shepton; sadly that was not to be the
case. On a very dry, rough and bouncy pitch, where moving the ball quickly
along the ground was challenging, there was no lack of effort and application
from the Stags, rather an inability to combine to threaten the Shepton goal.

Charlie Saunders, before he had to go off injured in the first half, was bright
and a threat, he might have scored with his head from a White free kick and if
he had connected better with a Borges pass, but apart from a Cattermole effort
just after the interval and when man of the match Hardidge crossed to Price
for him to place the ball for Newman at speed, drawing a dive at feet by
Easterbrook in the home goal, there was little to report. On a more positive
note the Stags could be very proud of their defensive effort particularly the
outstanding centre half pair, Joe Bishop and Reece Hedges, who were well
supported by Luke Newman and Regan Sollers.
The home side on the other hand were profligate in the extreme. They were
very much on the front foot and the Stags defence and midfield were tested
throughout the ninety minutes. Whilst Crowe did score the opener on the hour
when he robbed Newman and his solo effort was slotted past Coombes, he had
numerous wasted chances. Coombes did make a number of great saves, twice
from Morgan, but also from Seviour, Wood and Constable, the latter finally
scoring on 89 minutes after his initial shot from a corner was charged down
and he managed to connect for a second try. These attempts are the ones
worth noting, very many more were off target.

At the end the home side had doubled their win tally, whilst the Stags have the
distraction of FA Cup action on Saturday before they visit local rivals Clevedon
next week in search of their first points of the campaign. Much for the
management team to ponder and the players to apply.
MAN OF THE MATCH: MILES HARDIDGE – didn’t stop running and chasing all
match.

Team:
COOMBES, NEWMAN, SOLLARS [SUB MOORE 80M], WHITE, HEDGES, BISHOP,
CATTERMOLE [SUB PEARCE 68M]
CONNOR SAUNDERS ©, HARDIDGE, CHARLIE SAUNDERS [SUB PRICE 38M],
BORGES [SUB WALKER 68m]
Reporter DON DAVIES