Beer Albion Reserves 9 Honiton Town Reserves 1

Beer Albion Reserves opened their home campaign in Division 2 of the Macron Devon & Exeter League with a convincing 9-1 victory over local rivals Honiton Reserves writes Mike Adkin. The Hippos arrived at the Furzebrake on the back of two defeats and were no match for Beer’s more lively and creative second string. Beer opened the scoring on 10 minutes, with a well worked goal from gloveman Jones’s throw out to Ryan King, who found Kyle Gould in space, and a precision pass allowed Jamie Walker to slot home. However, Beer were given a wakeup call three minutes later when Honiton levelled things up, the Hippos centre forward side footing into Jones’s net after some sloppy defending. Beer re-gained the lead on 29 minutes, when a Jack Harwood flick-on found Jay Catley, who coolly slotted home from close range. A minute later, an own goal made it 3-1 after a Walker shot went in off a defender via the Hippos’ keeper, and on 35 minutes a Walker header put Beer 4-1 ahead. The homesters were now rampant, and a well struck Jay Catley shot on 40 minutes outside the box put them 5-1 up, and two minutes later it was 6-1, with Josh Lund completing the first half scoring. The second half saw Beer struggle to create any meaningful chances for the first 15 minutes, but Honiton still produced little to suggest they might get back into the game. However, on 63 minutes King made it 7-1 with probably the best goal of the afternoon, an unstoppable volley from 25 yards out after a poor clearance from the Hippo’s keeper. Substitute Brandon Hopkins completed the scoring, turning well in the box and firing into the net on 78 minutes, and scoring Beer’s ninth four minutes later after a spill from the Honiton gloveman. To their credit, the visitors never gave up, the game was played in a good spirit throughout, and was well managed by referee Richard Clutterbuck. Match sponsors Beer Fish and Chip Shop named captain Louie Dyer as the pick of the Honiton players, but picked the Fisherman’s Kyle Gould as man of the match for an excellent midfield display. Next up for the Fisherman’s second string is a Bill Slee cup first round tie at Upottery Reserves on Saturday 7th September, with a later kick off of 5 pm.

Beer Albion Firsts saw their 100% start to the season blown away with a 5-0 defeat at Bampton, and joint managers Mark Rooke and Alan Potter will be looking for a much improved display at the Furzebrake this coming Saturday. The Fishermen will entertain Winchester in the first round of the East Devon Senior Cup, with an earlier kick off of 2 pm. Match to be sponsored by Marine House at Beer