Exmouth Town 1 Central 0

A venue change meant that the game was played on Exmouth Town’s Southern Road ground, a great experience for these boys.

Exmouth created a couple of early chances, but were thwarted by the linesman’s flag, they won a number of corners but Central’s defence held out well to ensure the first half was goalless. Exmouth took the lead half way through the second half.

Central’s defence allowed a high ball to bounce in the area and Luke Bradford was on hand to blast home. Central’s best spell of the game followed and some good link play on the right created 3 opportunities for the ball to be put across the face of the goal, but the openings were wasted. Both sides showed that on this form they can be a threat in this division. For Exmouth, there were strong performances for Tom Steer and Josh Hempstead and for Central, the defensive pairing of Sam Chamberlain and Charlie Greenslade let very little past them.

Richard.

After weathering some early pressure, Central looked comfortable in the first half and tried to take advantage of Westexe’s high defensive line. Minutes before half time, they missed a golden opportunity to score when excellent play between Tom Short and Luke Somerwill, releasing Somerwill into the box. His ball across the face of goal needed a touch, but Toby Armes couldn’t force it over the line and Sam Perry was then unlucky with a great strike that the keeper somehow stopped.

At the start of the second half, Joe Thomlinson played a precise ball between the Westexe defenders for Short to chase - it looked a composed finish but went inches wide. Then the counter punch. A Westexe break was not dealt with and their striker waltzed through the right side of defence to score past the blameless (and excellent) Rhys Beauchamp. Central struck back within minutes. Somerwill played a ball in behind the defence for Thomlinson to chase. He cut it back and scored from a narrow angle. 1-1.

The game was for the taking and wave after wave of Central attacks followed. Somerwill spurned 2 simple chances when 1 on 1 with the keeper, as did Sam Chamberlain. Sam Perry had 2 long range shots saved well. But with 3 minutes to go, Westexe scored a carbon copy of their first goal and although Central attacked hard, it was Westexe’s day. A good game played in the right spirit, very well refereed by Aiden Barrett.

Richard

Central 2 Sidmouth Junior Vikings 1

Central made hard work of Sidmouth, and had to wait for the last 10 minutes to score the winner. Joe Thomlinson opened the scoring when he latched on to a Sam Perry through ball, but Central then spurned chance after chance and were caught out at the other end when slow reactions gifted Sidmouth an equaliser.

But Central’s pressure was to pay off when the constant threat of Thomlinson won a penalty which he calmly converted. Also strong performances from Luke Somerwill and Will Lambshead.

Richard

Heavitree 0 Central 1

Central ended up victorious in this muddy battle at Bromham’s Farm, thanks to Adam Saunders goal on his Central debut. Joe Thomlinson beat his defender and set it up on the near post for the quick reacting Saunders to score.

Both sides hit the crossbar and Rhys Beauchamp was always quick to come off his line and an assured presence in Central’s goal. Credit also to defenders on each side, particularly Charlie Greenslade and Rob Somerwill for Central.

Dan Hazleton and Luke Walmsley stood out for Heavitree

Richard

Central 2 Brixington Blues 3

Joe Thomlinson chased down what appeared to be a lost cause to open the scoring for Central after just 40 seconds, but Brixington, after a brief wobble, regained their composure and equalised from a rapid break.

It was Central’s turn to rock, and 2 more goals in quick succession resulted from defensive errors. Central reduced the lead with Barnaby Harris’s direct free kick and Brixington led 3-2 at half time. Both sides had chances to score in the second half and Central piled on the pressure in the last 10 minutes but all to no avail.

Richard

Central 1 Crediton 5

Although the score does not suggest it, this was a very tight game, not settled until the final 10 minutes. In an even first half, Central missed 2 clear chances before Crediton opened the scoring. They extended their advantage to 2-0 soon after half time.

Central came back with a high quality goal with good approach work from Sam Perry, finding Luke Somerwill who did well to outpace his marker and finish well for 2-1. Central looked good for a draw and had clear chances again, but were caught on the break and late goals sealed the game. A sound game from Olly Johnson, coming in as a late replacement.

Richard

Central 0 Exmouth 1

This was a game dominated by well organised defences and few goal chances. However, great credit must go to Charlie Greenslade who played in goal at a moments notice. Exmouth took the lead early in the second half , but Central were unlucky not to level the match when Sam Perry’s corner was deflected onto the underside of the crossbar, bounced on the line and Central were unable to force the ball over the line. Sam Chamberlain was outstanding in defence for Central.

Richard

Central 4 Westexe 1

Westexe shook Central in the first minute when James Copp placed an excellent shot out of the keeper’s reach. Central took time to recover their composure, but Tom Short made the most of some misunderstanding in the Westexe defence following a corner to stab the ball in to level proceedings.

He soon put Central 2-1 up, latching on to Sam Perry’s well timed through ball. Perry added a third, finishing off from Pip Arnold’s challenge on the goalkeeper. In the second half, Arnold created his own opening, finishing calmly for 4-1. Strong midfield performances from James Mitchell and Luke Somerwill lay the foundations for the win.

Richard

This was a well contested match, in which the final score does not do justice to the level of competition. The difference between the two sides was Stoke Hill’s awareness and sharpness in the final third of the pitch.

Their second goal, scored by Alex Paltridge was outstanding, as he weaved past three defenders and drove the ball into the top corner. Central made some good chances but were unable to capitalise. Robert Somerwill was outstanding in defence for Central.

Richard