Beer Albion (main sponsor Edenvale Turf (SW) Ltd) lost 2-0 to Heavitree United in their penultimate home game in the Macron Devon & Exeter Premier Division, and an 11th place finish is the best that can be hoped for after a disappointing season writes Mike Adkin. The game was typical end of season fare, although the Heavies were well worth their victory, with Beer never really looking like taking control of the game at any time through the ninety minutes. The Fisherman had an early chance in the third minute from a free kick ten yards outside the box, but a Chris Long piledriver was well blocked by the defensive wall. The visitors saw most of the ball through the first half hour, slightly favoured by the windy conditions, and struck the Beer crossbar in the nineteenth minute. They then went ahead on thirty minutes when Sam Ord latched onto a through ball thirty yards out, running unchallenged towards the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable left foot shot into the top left of Elliot Driver’s goal. Heavitree continued to have the better chances of the half, and would have made things 2-0 on thirty four minutes if not for a great block from close range by Driver. Into the second half, the Fishermen had a great chance to even things up on sixty minutes, when Max Richardson’s driven ball across the visitors penalty area just evaded the left boot of Chris Long. However, Heavitree continued to threaten, and were aggrieved not to go further ahead on seventy two minutes when a shot was judged not to have fully crossed Driver’s goal line. But with five minutes to go, the visitors put the game to bed, when the ball was nodded into the Beer net from an unchallenged corner. On a positive note, several reserve players featured in the Fishermen’s line up, and all equipped themselves well at the higher level, especially Fraser Beament in central defence, who was singled out by match sponsor Fred Hansford Ltd as pick of the Beer players. For the Heavies, veteran defender Stuart Francis caught the sponsors’ eye, but Sam West worked hard throughout the game, controlling midfield, and was rightly awarded man of the match.

Exwick Villa are the opponents for the Fishermen’s 1st's final home game next Saturday, with the visitors looking for a win to seal the league title; match to be sponsored by Beer Head Bistro.