Pinhoe 3 Central 0

On a pitch more suited to ice hockey than football, Central played a good passing game in the first half, resulting in a few early half chances. However, they thought that they had taken the lead when the ball was switched from right to left, George Pym ran at the defence and shot at an angle. The keeper parried to Sam Perry who finished calmly, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The first half was pretty even, both sides passing well, but Central often trying to over- elaborate, attempting the killer ball when keeping possession would have been the better option.

Seconds before half time, Central's failure to clear their lines resulted in Pinhoe's first goal from a looping shot. The second half started with Central pressing hard for an equaliser, and it looked to have arrived as Joe Thomlinson rounded the keeper, but the lack of power on the shot enabled a defender to clear. from that point their threat diminished as Pinhoe mopped up efficiently at the back. 2 goals in the last 5 minutes, both from ineffectual clearances, gave the score somewhat of a disjointed feel. The boys can take pride in their performance though and although the score does not suggest it, feel that they took part in a good, even contest.

Richard

Action from the game

Central 0 St Martins 1

Central played a number of players in new positions today resulting from absences and injuries, Joe Thomlinson and Rhys Beauchamp formed a central defensive partnership and Sam Chamberlain played in central midfield, also Tom Short returning from a long absence.

Honours were even at half time, both sides only really having half chances, Central’s defence was well disciplined. Tom Short made two excellent runs down the right channel but his crosses were not found by his striking partner. Sam Perry also made a good run on the left. However, having chosen to play with their backs to the sun, Central failed to test the keeper with any high balls.

St Martins broke the deadlock early in the second half. A corner from the right was bundled towards goal, Luke Somerwill made a partial clearance on the line, but on receiving the ball, a St Martins striker had bags of space and was able to deliver the ball into the top corner of the net.

From then on, it was all Central. The highlight of this period was from an initial blocked shot, the ball fell to Sam Chamberlain, who from 20 yards out was unlucky to see his shot hit the underside of the crossbar and a defender clear the ball. Central continued their pressure but an equaliser would not come.

Credit today to the defence who looked solid throughout and the wide midfielders for providing good cover. The team’s shape looked good but need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Team: Nathan Jones; Luke Somerwill, Robert Somerwill (Ben Sweet), Joe Thomlinson, Rhys Beauchamp; George Pym, James Mitchell, Sam Chamberlain, Barnaby Harris; Tom Sort, Sam Perry.

Richard Somerwill

Stoke Hill Celtic 4 Central 1

action from the game below-

(above) And Smile

(below) body behind the ball

(Above) Sometimes it does not matter how many you have back!

(below) On your marks get set

Richards Report -

Playing against Stoke Hill Celtic does nothing for the confidence of the average 11 year old. Many of their players play for Exeter City under 13s and 12s, and the first 10 minutes of this match showed the Central boys’ wariness. If it were a boxing contest, at that stage the ref would have stepped in. So 2 down after 10 minutes, the first goal resulting from a corner that took 3 attempts to clear and ended in the net and the second which would have looked good at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge.

But somehow, Central recovered some composure and although rarely threatening the Stoke Hill goal that half 2 long range free kicks from Josh Bray come to mind- a cricket score was averted. A 3rd goal arrived just before half time and although heads were down, a turnaround of sorts was about to happen. The priority was to deal with attacking threat early and Joe Thomlinson’s quick reading of situations aided the team’s recovery. Tom Short’s ability to hold the ball up, George Pym’s running, creating opportunities for crosses and Nathan Jones’s willingness to command his box made a difference.

Although conceding a good quality 4th goal, Central still didn’t give up, and another Pym foray, set up by sterling work by Robert Somerwill and Ben Sweet, won a corner on the left. The corner sailed over the head of intended target Josh Bray, but as Ben Sweet ran for the ball his legs were chopped away. Joe Thomlinson put the penalty into the corner, but not without a brave attepted save from the Stoke Hill keeper. A 4-1 defeat does not sound good, but the boys can take lots of credit for their second half performance.

Richard

Central 0 Stoke Hill Utd 3

Another harsh lesson learnt today by the boys. If you are not prepared to battle in football, you win nothing. Bill Shankly said football is like a piano. It takes 8 men to carry it and 3 who can play it. Today the piano lacked carriers.

They conceded early on from a defensive mix up, not helped by the distraction of a microlite taking off beside the pitch. The second goal was down to the fact we did not collect a simple cross. Central had chances in the first half, Josh Bray’s corner was cleared off the line and Sam Chamberlain had an excellent run on goal but the angle on his eventual shot favoured the keeper.

Stoke Hill scored again in the second half when their player was allowed to run to find the perfect angle to shoot well for number 3. Central had further chances for George Pym, Barnaby Harris and Luke Somerwill but Stoke Hill deserved their victory.

Richard

Westexe 2 Central 3

This was a richly deserved victory in which Central dominated for much of the game. However, it took until the final seconds to win it.

A defensive mix up gifted Westexe an early goal, but Central went on to dominate the first half, Luke Somerwill putting numerous balls behind the Westexe defence for Tom Short and Sam Chamberlain to chase, causing them problems. On one of these, Short was chopped down but a penalty was denied, a similar scenario happening with Chamberlain. Just before half time, Central equalised when Nathan Allen put in Chamberlain who beat the keeper and scored from a tight angle.

In the second half, Central carried on from where they had left off. Sam Perry’s corner was flicked on by Barnaby Harris, and on his 3 rd attempt, Somerwill forced the ball into the net to give Central a 2-1 lead. At this stage Central looked well on top and spectators awaited further goals. But an innocuous looking long ball was spilled and Westexe equalised from a tap in.

For a few minutes, Westexe looked more likely winners, but in the closing 5 minutes, Central again mounted an onslaught. After 2 clear chances were missed, Somerwill broke from his own half, fed Harris who spotted Perry unmarked on the edge of the penalty area. He made no mistake to give Central a 3-2 lead, sparking great celebrations from the players and Central spectators.

Richard

Central 6 Cullompton 0

It took Central 6 minutes to breach the Cullompton defence when George Pym played the ball behind their back line for Tom Short to run onto and score. A similar through ball put in Sam Chamberlain, who struck a shot against the keeper, only for a defender to put the ball in his own net in the ensuing confusion.

Central turned around at half time 3-0 when a defender rifled an attempted clearance into the roof of his own net to make it two own goals. Good work on the right set up George Pym for the 4th goal before Joe Thomlinson latched onto Luke Somerwill’s precise through ball for number 5.

Tom Short completed the scoring when he lashed in James Mitchell’s neat angled pass. Credit to the Cullompton keeper who was always alert and well positioned and to all the boys who played out a good game on an exceptionally cold morning.

Richard

Plate Competition 2005-06

St Martins 1 Central 0

Central’s 3rd 1-0 defeat to St Martins this season, we are surely due some luck sometime. The game started frenetically with the ball barely touching the ground in the first 10 minutes. Each defence comfortably cancelled the opposing attack out but St Martins were able to get one shot on target which was held well by Josh Bray. At the end of the half, Central won a free kick on the right but were not able to threaten, George Pym’s shot only bothering those in neighbouring gardens.

The second half changed as St Martins had the wind at their backs and Central had difficulty clearing beyond halfway. The blow came from a clearance, St Martins attack reacting quicker and their striker calmly lifting the ball over the oncoming Josh Bray. Central were unable to threaten an equaliser.

Central 1 Kentisbeare 0

By this stage, St Martins had qualified for the final, but Central were not conceding second place without a fight. Central had the better of early exchanges and should have scored when Tom Short ran onto Robert Somerwill’s free kick but failed to get a shot on target. On half time, Central won a corner, Sam Perry lifted it to the near post where Joe Thomlinson headed home…..but the referee had bizarrely blown for half time as the corner came over.

The second half continued in a similar vein, Will Greenslade playing well on the right side of midfield. Joe Thomlinson then played a well weighted through ball for Sam Perry who was illegally challenged by the onrushing keeper. fortunately for the referee, he was able to play advantage as the ball fell to Barnaby Harris who was able to find the unguarded net from 25 yards out. Central then saw the game out sensibly, a highly creditable performance against a team they had lost heavily to (5-2) earlier in the season.

Richard

Central 1 Exmouth Town 1

Two strong teams played out an excellent match which Central were seconds away from winning. Although Exmouth enjoyed much early possession, and had an early ‘goal’ ruled out for offside, Central came more and more into the match and after a couple of half chances for Luke Somerwill and Tom Short, took the lead before half time.

Luke Somerwill’s precise cross found Joe Thomlinson who headed home superbly. Central continued to look strong through much of the second half as they saw the game out, the back 4 of Rhys Beauchamp, Sam Chamberlain, Charlie Greenslade and Robert Somerwill reacting quickly to any loose ball .

But 3 minutes into injury time, a cross was spilled and with the keeper out of position Exmouth equalised. However, questions were asked about whether the striker was onside. The standard of football on display was high throughout the match, great credit to both sides. Each and every Central player played well but extra credit goes to Joe Thomlinson who fought for every ball.

Richard