Page 10 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Mousehole 220122

Match Report

Ashton & Backwell UFC v Cadbury Heath FC
Toolstation Western League Premier Division

rd
3 January 2022 at Lancer Scott Stadium, Backwell.
FINAL SCORE: A+BUFC 1 [Sam Price 89m] CADBURY HEATH FC 0;
HALF TIME 0-0

A bumper Bank Holiday crowd of nigh on 250 were well entertained in a competitive
basement battle with both teams desperate for points to get them out of the Western
League Premier Division’s relegation places and, after a torrid time in December, the
Stags need for points was certainly in the ‘must win’ category. With new faces and
players returning from injury and suspension there were further changes in the line-up,
yet, on a very sound surface, unlike the mud baths of previous weeks, the home side
were able to play their brand of football, moving at pace, passing on the ground and
this made it very difficult for the visitors to settle or dominate. Indeed Heath had very
few chances, Anthony, Hedges, Bishop and Man of the Match Devoy in defence in front
of the returning Coombes looking very solid and effectively snuffing out Heath’s attack,
whilst the Stags midfield, even with the early loss through injury of skipper Saunders,
took control of the centre of the pitch. Heath’s only real chances were a header over
from McMillan in the first half and another saved by Coombes from Huxley in the second
period.
Meet the Player
So having extinguished the visitor’s attacking threat, the problem for the Stags was
converting their dominance in possession into chances and then goals. This proved very
difficult against Kendall’s well-marshalled defence, their use of the offside trap
frequently frustrated the Stags when they attempted to unleash the pace of Hartley and
Jackson on the flanks. When these two did break free the Heath defence was able to
cover the crosses that rained in. Early on Hartley seized on a defensive error and crossed
to Jackson, only for his effort to be blocked, minutes later Hartley and Anthony linked
to supply skipper Saunders, with Schofield saving the headed ball, which he had to do
with an outstretched leg to thwart Anglin’s goal bound shot from a Hartley pass in the
66 minute.
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The longer the game went on without a goal the more tense the atmosphere became.
Sam Price replaced Charlie Saunders for the last twenty minutes to add a little variety
for the Stags and the pace and urgency clearly increasing in the last five minutes. First
Jackson took a deep ball into the left corner, crossed to Hardidge who shot narrowly
wide, then from a Hogg free kick Price’s shot was turned round by the keeper for a
corner. The corner ball came across for Hogg to control, the ball finding Anglin who set
up Price for a simple close range header for the only goal of the game and a winning
start to 2022 for the Stags and into double figures with 12 points;
REPORTER DON DAVIES
Lewis Coombes, Tom Anthony, Billy Devoy (sub Regan Sollars 83m), Lewis Hogg, Reece
Hedges, Joe Bishop, Conor Hartley, Connor Saunders ©, (sub Miles Hardidge 15m),
Aaron Anglin, Charlie Saunders (sub Sam Price 69m), Tyler Jackson. MoM: Stags – Billy
Devoy