Alphington 1 - 6 Totnes & Dartington 22nd March 2008

The game started brightly for the Alphas who took a tenth minute lead when they were awarded a free kick which was sent into the edge of the penalty area where Ryan Leverton spun around the ball to volley it into and actually through the back of the net making it 1 - 0 to Alphington.

that was really to be the best bit of football from the Alphas for the rest of the game. Around the 12th minute mark the Tots were almost equal but for a great stop by Spike in goal which he could only parry out to the feet of Hopkins, but he closed him down and Hopkins could only shoot into the side of the net. the Alphas allowed the Tots to get into the game and they started pressing forward and with the Alphas well and truly on the back foot Neil Whittaker was forced into a mistake when he was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area in the 25th minute, the penalty was coolly slotted home by Bowhay 1- 1.

5 minutes later the big man Ireland up front made it 1 - 2 to the visitors with a well taken header from a well flighted cross it was only another 8 minutes before the same player was gifted an opportunity he simply could not miss. the first half finished 1 -3 and it must have been a welcome break for the Alphas when the whistle went for half time.

The Tots came out flying in the second half against a side who came out looking beat already. It was 5 minutes in before Gower found himself with another early easter present to make it 1 - 4, Bowhay then made it 5 and got his second of the game with a rare right footed shot from short range after beating the Alphas back line to the bal again!! The rout was complete when Jordan Hopkins was denied by another great save by Spike but he could only push it into the path of the oncoming Tom Comyn who would have found it difficult to miss from 3 yards out.

All in all a lacklustre and disjointed performance from the Alphas who would have got the proverbial "must show more effort, could do better" if this was a school report.


Ed's Man of the Match: ADRIAN ROBERTS

All first team reports are written by and are the sole view of Russ Murch, they are in no way endorsed by Alphington AFC