Page 18 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Keynsham Town 261222

Match Report

Torpoint Athletic 3 Ashton Backwell 1.

It was another coach journey down to Cornwall with the backdrop of sub-zero
temperatures, causing the rest of the Premier division fixtures to be postponed. Some
with some sensible early calls on Friday evening. I think there was more excitement in
the pre-match drama whether the game would actually get underway than there was in
the 90 minutes of football.
We boarded the coach at 9:30, just as the match referee announced that the pitch was
playable, to be then followed by social media comments from Torpoint disputing the
decision.
On our arrival, we found out that the referee was one of the least popular people in
Torpoint, despite actually living there. Athletic were adamant they didn’t think the pitch
was safe and did not want to play the game.
Only if we listened to them and agreed with their observations!
On a pitch that was certainly very hard underneath the muddy, top surface, for the 1st
10 minutes, it appeared most players were wearing slippers rather than metal studs as
it was difficult to adapt to the conditions. Then it became apparent that 1 team were
really up for it and it wasn’t us. The hosts took control and forced at least 5 corners in
the opening 15 minutes.
Stags were grateful to Lewis Coombs on 2 occasions as he made a very good save
diving to his left from Callum Thompson shot and followed it up with an even better
save, diving low to his right to deny Ryan Richards. Tom Press made a vital defensive
header that crashed against his own crossbar. It took 30 minutes before the visitors
could construct anything creative, a good six man move saw Harry Walker’s header just
clear the bar. Torpoint responded immediately with Danny Zellick, giving them the lead
with a close range header. Ashton Backwell finished the last 10 minutes of the half down
to 10 men as Harry was sin binned. During this period Kyle Marks came close to doubling
the lead as his 20 yard free kick just grazed the crossbar. Half-time 1-0.
The 2nd 45, saw Ashton & Backwell come out with a more positive attitude and created
an opportunity for Jack Fillingham who shot went just over. 5 minutes into the half Lewis
Coombs pulled a thigh muscle which saw Tom Press move from centre half to
goalkeeper. Torpoint, immediately had a free kick, a goal mouth scramble ensued a yard
from the line which Tom Press impressively saved.
Shea Mannings saw his 20 yard drive drift just wide of the post. Around the hour mark
the referee, who, by now we had worked out why he was so unpopular in Torpoint,
awarded dubious free kick against Connor Saunders. This put the Backwell defence
under pressure, a poor clearance was matched by an equally poor Walker tackle and
concede a penalty. Ryan Richards stepped up to give Tom Press no chance to double the
lead.
Beach made 3 substitutions, who made an immediate impact, stepped up the pace and
brought Ashton Backwell back into the game. However, another dubious free kick near
the edge of the box saw Paul Heveran smash his 20 yard effort into the right hand
corner again, giving Tom Press no chance. For the last 10 minutes, the Stags stepped
up their game and saw Jack pull a goal back with an impressive, 18 yard curling shot,
he then had 2 more chances that went close, but it was all too late. Overall disappointing
performance that lacked intensity, movement and really didn’t start putting together
their passing game until the game was gone.
Next home game, Boxing day, Monday December 26, 1 pm KO V Keynsham Town
Coombes (Pearce), Ford, Press, Bishop(Banks), Hedges, Walker(Newman), Connor
Saunders, Hardidge, Anthony, Mannings(Cummins), Fillingham