Photographs ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR
A stunning Gavin Hammon chip from the centre spot saw Chudleigh Athletic cement a 4-2 win at fellow Torbay Clearance Services Premier Division strugglers Paignton Saints, in an entertaining tie at South Devon Sports Centre
The persistent rain relented on Saturday afternoon, but strong winds and icy temperatures at the exposed South Devon Sports Centre meant that this basement battle was not for the faint-hearted. Still, the artificial pitch ensured that the surface was playable, which was more than could be said elsewhere. Only two other SDFL games survived the weather.
Chudleigh had edged the opening exchanges but briefly fell behind on the half hour mark, Aaron Knapman converting a penalty with a decisive shot into the bottom left. Saints’ lead lasted a matter of seconds. Straight from the restart, Chudleigh drove into the box, and Nik Garrett fired into the top right corner to level the scores. With their tails up, the visitors took the lead four minutes later, Alfie Luscombe arriving in the box just in time to nod a cross from the left past Callum Waite in the Saints goal.
Chudleigh were good value for their half-time lead, but Saints upped the tempo after the break and there were decent chances for both sides before Chudleigh extended their lead, Gavin Hammon heading over the goalkeeper following a long ball. A minute later and it was 3-2, although the goal was a controversial one. Having made his way into the box, Matt Reed stumbled before firing home. However, Chudleigh were convinced that he had used his hand to control the ball and wasted no time in letting the referee know about it. Hammon wasted even less time in restoring Chudleigh’s two goal cushion, chipping Waite from the centre circle immediately from the restart.
There were decent chances for both sides before the end of the game, but it ended 4-2, a result that lifts Chudleigh up to seventh in the table.
“We had been playing well, but results hadn’t been going our way,” said Andrew Snell, Chudleigh’s manager. “It’s nice to finally see it happen. We like to get the ball down and play and we saw some glimpses of that today. That’s two wins on the bounce.
“Given the start we’ve had, we have to aim for mid-table, because I think the top four are running away with it, but hopefully these last two results will have other teams thinking that Chudleigh have now started to find their rhythm.”
In Division One, Paignton Villa came away from Paignton Community College with four goals, a clean sheet and three points. Harry Atkinson scored twice, and Nigel Vass and Alfie Lloyds also found the net. Hosts Barton Athletic travel to Villa on Saturday for the reverse fixture.
Waldon Athletic Reserves once again scored all of their goals in the first half as the Division Three leaders overcame Paignton Saints Thirds 3-0 at Windmill Hill. Ash Harris, Daniel Wayne and Stephen Rohan scored the goals that put the Clarets nine points clear.
