Match report by Neil Hocking/Clubnets. Photos ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Brixham AFC Reserves celebrated a hard-fought win at Abbrook Park in a game of many chances but just the one goal.
The Fishermen could have gone ahead within the first minute, Dalton Sanders rounding Watts Blake Bearne goalkeeper Jamie Howarth but putting his shot agonisingly wide of the far post. Having survived that early scare, WBB were then rocked by the early loss of Billy Clinch to a dislocated knee. Shortly after that they fell behind when Tom Dare hit Mark Griffiths’ right-sided cross into the top of the net.
WBB pressed for an equaliser and created more than enough chances to score one, Kane Gonzalez coming closest in the first half when he rattled the post with a fierce drive. Hugo Griffiths, who had come on for Clinch, really should have levelled ten minutes before half-time. Cam Gill’s neat ball put the substitute through on goal. But he took one too many touches and Luca Martinez did well to force him off the ball. Two minutes later, Gill stung the gloves of Tom Hopper with a low, close-range drive from the left.
Brixham did have their chances to add to their lead, and they could have doubled up five minutes before half-time when a low shot from a wide angle grazed the post. But the next drama came from an unlikely source, an accidental collision between Gill and referee Barry Hayward leading to the latter giving way to WBB’s Andy Moore for the remainder of the half (he did return for the second half though).
Hugo Griffiths hit the bar in the ten minutes of injury time but the ball bounced down just the wrong side of the line from a home perspective. Hopper tipped over Charlie Madden’s goalbound header two minutes later, and WBB went into the break a goal down.
Determined to find a way back, the home side fired wide from their first attack of the second half and hit the woodwork for the third time two minutes later. Brixham soon settled though, and the second half was more even than the first, Mark Griffiths a constant danger on the counter-attack. The WBB defence did well to keep him quiet though, Mark Perring with some vital tackles at the back. Antony Williams also made an important interception when Griffiths’ header put Sanders through on goal.
Chances came and went for both sides, but the home side couldn’t seem to find that extra gear they needed. With five minutes remaining, Alex Harding had a great chance to seal it for the visitors, but Howarth pulled off a low save to keep the hope alive. That hope fell apart in a frustrating end to the game for the hosts, which saw them waste numerous chances in the final minutes.