Page 20 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Street 220423

Match Report

Ashton & Backwell UFC 2
Ilfracombe Town FC 0

A & B DO THE DOUBLE OVER TOWN
18th April 2023 at The Lancer Scott Stadium at Backwell
FINAL SCORE: A+BUFC 2 [CONNOR SAUNDERS 41M; CUMMINGS
90+7M] V ILFRACOMBE TOWN FC 0; HALF TIME 1-0
A strange match in a strange week, fixture congestion demanding three
home games in five days, this the first, saw Stags eventually winning a
game against their Devon visitors which should have been easy but
made hard. The home side scored twice, a first half poke into the net at
close range from skipper Saunders after a game of pinball in the Town
box, ball sent in by Anthony’s free kick, and a goal at the death from
Cummings at pace on the right, after quick supply by Langlais and
Jaiyeoba. It should have been many more, Bennington-Mannings’s weak
penalty was saved by McCormack and the penalty taker had a couple
more chances, as did Anthony, Bishop, Hedges, Connor Saunders,
White, Jaiyeoba and Banks; on another day the score might have been
four or five. The visitors, though busy, did not trouble Roberts a great
deal, Evans-Loude was their most dangerous player and Richards had a
testing curler too, but overall their quality in the Stags half was not
threatening.
The reason that the Town attack was blunted was some very strong
defensive work at the back and in midfield by the Stags, the pairing of
Pearce and Hedges, then Bishop, was very solid, they worked well with
Ford and Anthony as wingbacks and White, laying deep in almost a
sweeper role, policed the middle in conjunction with skipper Saunders.
And that whole group’s speed back and forth was impressive, Man of
the Match Ford in particular, made some decisive tackles and passes
throughout.
Man of the Match: Zak Ford
Team: Roberts, Anthony (sub Walker 85m), Ford, White, Hedges,
Pearce (sub Bishop 61m), Banks (sub Jaiyeoba 75m)
Connor Saunders ©, Bennington-Mannings (sub Langlais 72m), Charlie
Saunders, Hardidge (sub Cummings 78m)
MATCH REPORTER DON DAVIES.