On an extremely hot September day, Beer Albion 2nds and Clyst Valley 2nds shared the spoils, drawing 1-1 at the Furzebrake on Saturday in front of a good crowd of 90, writes Richard Honnor. 

There was little to choose between the two sides, who toiled hard but lacked the cutting edge for either to gain the upper hand. It was a game where defences dominated and Beer’s back line were impressive on the day. The extreme heat played a huge part, as both sides ran out of steam in the last 20 minutes of the game.

After an uneventful opening,  Beer survived an appeal for a penalty when centre back Kieron Love appeared to handle in the box on 21 minutes. But 10 minutes later, the Fishermen were ahead through striker Reece Best following a delightful interchange of first-time passes.

The move was started by James Hill in midfield, who passed the ball forward to skipper Chris Long. Long played a clever flick back into the path of Hill, who then picked out Josh Lund on the left. Lund crossed the ball first-time to Reece Best, who scored from seven yards out with a powerful header.

The goal inspired the Fishermen to produce their best football of the game but they were unable to increase their lead going into the break. 

Beer started the second half brightly enough but they conceded the equaliser on 51 minutes following sloppy play in the middle of the park. The Clyst Valley forward line shifted the ball forward quickly and their no. 9 despatched a low cross from the left from six yards out.

Apart from conceding the equaliser, Beer’s defence were an impressive unit with James Hill, Kieron Love and Ashley Driver dominant. Ahead of them, Max Richardson worked tirelessly but man of the match awarded by sponsors Hansford Funeral Services went to striker Reece Best. For Clyst, their defensive play was also good but their best player was wing man Myles Fletcher, who made several threatening runs down each flank.

Beer 1st’s were without a game but travel to Ottery St Mary on Wednesday, hoping to reverse the 2-1 league defeat inflicted on them by the Otters in August. 

Once again, the Fishermen’s 1st’s are without a game next Saturday, whilst the 2nd’s are away at Westexe Park Rangers in Devon and Exeter Division 2.