Beer Albion moved up to 6th place in the Macron Premier Division table with a 4-0 win away at Kentisbeare writes RIchard Honnor. The playing conditions and the narrow pitch did not make for a great footballing spectacle and for 70 minutes the Fishermen were made to work really hard for their victory by a determined, physical Kentisbeare side. But in the last 20 minutes the Fishermen’s superior fitness showed and they ran home comfortable winners.

The first half was evenly contested with neither keeper being seriously tested until Beer went ahead on the stroke of half time. The Kentisbeare defence failed to clear a corner and after a goalmouth scramble Alex Hunt scored from a couple of yards out.

Immediately after break the Fishemen increased their lead when Finley Rooke found winger Giles Basson in the clear with a 20 yard cross-field pass. The youngster took the ball on and slotted it into the right hand corner past the advancing keeper.

Undaunted, Kentisbeare took the game to Beer creating a couple of chances from set pieces. But Beer resisted solidly with Fraser Beaumont and George Harwood the pick of their back line.

The Fishermen always looked dangerous on the counter and after wide man Jay Catley had missed the target from 6 yards out on 69 minutes, he put his side 3-0 ahead a minute later with a fine goal from 15 yards after another pinpoint pass from Finley Rooke.

Rooke who is just 16 years old was the outstanding player on the park as holding midfielder for 70 minutes and then in a more attacking role for the final 20 minutes.

The victory was sealed when on 73 minutes, Beer striker Chris Long thundered an unstoppable 30-yard free kick into the top corner.

Next Saturday, the Fishermen face a stern test when they play Devon League outfit Exmouth Town 2nd’s for a place in the quarter finals of the Devon Premier Cup. Kick off at the Furzebrake is at 2:15 pm and the match sponsor is East Devon Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic.