Saturday 27 September

Lewdown Rovers 3-3 Grampound Res.

(Duchy League Div. 4)
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Grampound made the long trip to Lewdown passing several different time zones before eventually ending up in Devon at Lewdown FC. Manager Berry was able to pick the same side that lost to Gerrans the week before apart from a change in goal, with Andy James at a wedding - Matt "The Cat" Clemence making his first competitive appearance for the club this season having lost out during the pre-match paper, scissor, stones competition so went into nets.

Lewdown started the brighter of the two teams, and at every opportunity lumped the ball into the Grampound penalty area. Lewdown on a narrow pitch had current Javelin World Record Holder Jan Zelezny in their side and his long throws at every opportunity meant that Grampound were under a lot of presuure, but Clemence is goal made a number of good punches, with Mike Berry and Woodman at the heart of the Grampound defence able to deal with most of the threat. Grampound's inability to keep the ball meant that Lewdown had the greater of the possesion without making any real clear cut chances. Grampound were guilty of playing the ball long too often with Lewdown's 8 foot centre backs dominant, giving Ryan Orchard and Kieran Reilly very little service upfront. Grampound's best chance came from a Varnell snap shot that just went wide of the post. It looked as if Grampound would go into the break level, having defended for long periods with the sun in their eyes but 5 minutes before half time Grampound only partially cleared from a Lewdown attack and a long range effort deceived Clemence in flight and found the back of the net.

Grampound were much improved after the break with the side showing a higher level of commitment, and were rewarded on the hour after a low driven corner from Orchard found Reilly who side stepped past his marker and curled an effort towards goal that found the back of the net via the bar and the keeper with a despairing dive. Grampound now began to play with more confidence with Varnell and Al Berry in midfield getting more of the ball and wide men Fryer and Lannon looking more dangerous with every attack. It was therefore no suprise when Grampound took the lead with 20 minutes remaining, good play between Reilly and Orchard resulted in the latter's though ball finding Fryer who's determination saw him slide in and get to the ball before the keeper despite looking second favourite in order to give the away side the lead.

However the lead didn't last long after Lewdown won a throw-in straight from kick and the ball was launched to the back post. Lannon won the first header but the ball fell kindly to a Lewdown player who smashed the ball towards the goal but it hit Mike Berry on the line, the ball came back out only to be hooked into the bottom corner of the net via a deflection and the hands of Clemence.

Grampound however made a number of good chances with firstly Orchard seizing on a bad back-pass and winning a 50/50 with the keeper and from a narrow angle hooking the ball goalwards only to see his left foot strike crash against the inside of the post and roll back across the line only to be cleared by a defender. Lannon then fired straight at the keeper when finding himself clean through after latching on to a herculian kick from Clemence. Varnell then sewed up the club miss of the season award after Al Berry challenged with the keeper for a ball from an Orchard corner only for it to miss both of them leaving Varnell free 2 yards out and the goal open but his header went agonisingly inches wide of the post.

With 6 minutes remaining Grampound deservedly took the lead after a superb burst forward from left back Yeo who had a fine game throughout. He played a neat one-two before putting Reilly through on goal who lobbed the advancing keeper to make it 3-2. Unbelievably though Lewdown again equalised straight from kick off after a player broke down the Grampound right and the ball was only partially cleared to an advancing midfield player who's low drive found the corner of the net to make it 3-3.

Both teams then had chances to win the game, firstly a Lewdown forward fired straight at Clemence from close range and then Reilly's lob went just past the post with only seconds remaining.

Overall Grampound's Reserves were disappointed to have only got a point from this game after letting in a couple of sloppy goals and having enough chances in the second half to have scored 6 or 7 goals.

Squad

1 .Clements
2. Richards (sub Leaney A, 70)
3. Berry M
4. Woodman A
5. Yeo
6. Fryer
7. Varnell I
8. Berry A
9. Lannon
10.Orchard
11.Reilly

Goals

Reilly (2), Fryer

Man of the Match

Aaron Yeo

Yellow Cards

James Fryer

Red Cards

Nonen of the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards