Beer Albion 2nd’s achieved a creditable 2-2 home draw against 3rd placed Wellington 2nd’s in this Devon and Exeter Division 1 encounter writes Richard Honnor. In front of a Furzebrake crowd of 90, the two sides served up an entertaining end-to-end contest in tricky, windy conditions.
The Tangerines started strongly and throughout the match they were a constant threat down the right wing. The warning signs were there after only 20 minutes when right-sided players Chivers and Healey combined well to lay on a great opportunity for Paulson from 8 yards out but the striker spooned his shot over the bar.
The Fishermen capitalised on this by taking a 1-0 lead just six minutes later. Midfielder Simon Smith was tripped in the penalty box and Smith got up to despatch the resultant spot kick.
Wellington equalised on 30 minutes through another penalty. Another swift counter-attack down the right put centre forward, Paulson, in the clear. Young Beer keeper Leo Gribble made a fine save one-on-one but, as the ball broke loose, Paulson was caught fractionally late and the striker scored from the penalty spot.
Beer missed a good chance to go in front on 39 minutes when Harry Lawrence shot over the bar after a good move down the right. But Wellington came on strong towards the end of the first half and went 2-1 ahead when Paulson finished a well-crafted move which once again emanated from good play by Healey and Chivers down the right wing.
After the break it was the Fishermen’s turn to apply the pressure and with just two minutes gone they were on level terms. Daley Holmes was brought down in the box after a slick counter attack and once again Simon Smith stepped up to execute a perfectly placed spot kick.
Beer had often been at full stretch in the first half but they showed more attacking intent in the second half with creative midfielders Smith and Daley Holmes prominent. But neither side could force another breakthrough and the game finished all square.
There were plenty of good performers on show. Wellington’s best players were Healey and Chivers. For Beer Barnaby Down, Daley Holmes and Ashley Driver all played well but sponsors Beer Fisheries awarded man-of the-match to Simon Smith.
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