The Recreation Ground, home of Newton Abbot Spurs based in Devon and play their trade in Step 6 of the non league pyramid in the South West Peninsula Premier Division East. It’s the first time ever for me personally that I will be going to this part of the country!! Very excited! Let’s hope the football doesn’t let me or Kizz down! Teignmouth AFC the visitors to the Rec tonight.
Off to Handsworth Asda I go! 1:30pm and here is Kizz! And now for the long journey down to the South West… 38 minute delay on the M42… Kizz knows these areas well and we get past that! Another delay in Bristol… We can’t miss Kick Off!! But it was nice to see the sights of Bristol!
7:15pm and we have finally landed in Newton Abbot!! It sure is a nice little town! And now for the ground, £3 to get into this tie! Sweeeeeet! The players have just finished warming up and now a bit of banter between the fans in the beer garden now! Non league what would I do without you!?
Kick Off! Teignmouth come straight out of the blocks from kick off and work the ball upfield, they win a corner, in it comes, it’s over hit and Newton’s number 4 wins the header… Oh no he’s misplaced it and it’s headed across goal straight to Teignmouth’s number 8… And he heads home!! It’s 0-1 straight away!!
11 minutes in and Newton come forward, number 9 is played through and he’s in, he’s around the keeper and he shoots… Fantastic goal line clearance from Teignmouth’s number 5!! It is a corner for Newton Abbot, in it comes… Teignmouth head away.
Newton Abbot are starting to get just a bit of a foothold in the game now but Teignmouth do still possess a bit of danger. 21 minutes now and Newton Abbot have a throw in on the right wing, in it comes to number 10, he beats his man and gets into the box, he plays it across goal, number 11 is there at the far post… It’s there!! 1-1!!
24th minute and Teignmouth play forward, it comes to number 9 who plays it forward to number 3 who gets to the edge of the box and he shoots… Good save by the keeper and well held. 27th minute and here come Teignmouth again, number 10 receives it and he drives forward, he gets into the box, the keeper comes out, he squares it… Newton’s number 4 is there to block and Newton clear the danger.
28 minutes on the clock and Newton come forward now, the ball is played to number 10 on the edge of the box, he makes space and he shoots… Soft shot… Oh it’s gone in!! It’s gone under the keeper and he should have done better there!! He won’t be happy with that one… But Newton Abbot are!!
The game has become an even affair now, it could be anyone who scores next and it would be a fair one! 42 minutes now and Teignmouth come forward, a through ball is played to number 16, he gets into the box and he plays it to number 14 in the box with plenty of space… He puts the shot straight into the keeper’s grasp… Should have scored easy there! The score at half time remained 2-1. More banter from the drinkers in the beer garden as the players walk off! Fantastic!
Second half, very kind of the club to give me and Kizz a free pin badge each! Thank you! Teignmouth charge forward now, the ball is played through to number 14, he gets just inside the box and he goes for goal… Good save by the keeper! It’s still an even game here!
59th minute and Newton have a corner, in it comes… Well over hit but nevertheless Newton can retrieve it and it’s crossed in again, number 10 runs in on goal… He bundles it in!! Teignmouth are shouting for handball! Not sure about that me… It did look suspicious but the goal stands! 3-1!
61 minutes gone and number 16 is played through down the right hand side, he crosses, number 10 is there at the far post!! Is this the hat-trick? No… He’s put it over!! Sitter! Should have been the hat-trick!
64th minute and Teignmouth play a long ball forward, number 14 runs onto it, keeper hesitates but charges out… Number 14 goes down and… “Penalty!” Says the Referee! A definite foul in my book but was it just outside the box? Number 10 steps up… And scores!! It’s 3-2!
70th minute now and Teignmouth come forward down the left, number 14 gets into the box and he squares it, number 11 is there!! He’s scuffed it… It’s not gone yet as here’s number 15 on the right to play it back in… Newton stop the cross but it comes to number 4 on the edge who shoots… Blocked! Newton have it and clear… No they don’t it’s come off their own man and comes back to number 15 on the right, he crosses in again… Newton do clear this time.
The game has fizzled out for the first time with both teams having a fair share of the ball but with no real conviction in the final third. The more the game goes on, the more likely that Newton Abbot will add to their tally, but would they do it? No! Would Teignmouth equalise? No! Game over! Good win for Newton Abbot there!! Now for a bevvie with Kizz at The Richard Hopkins!
FT: Newton Abbot Spurs 3-2 Teignmouth
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – Good banter between the people in the bar and players and you could tell there was a crowd there today clapping their teams on.
- The Ground: 5/10 – It’s a fairly basic ground with 2 decent stands and the view from one of the sides is fantastic!
- Expense: 10/10 – £3 is a great price and with 5 goals, even better!! Free pin badge too!!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – Brilliant to finally get to this part of the country! Great to see a game with Kizz again and great to meet a local in the ground tonight! Good game too! Thank you for the free pin badge as well!
25/40