25th January 2009
Pinhoe Spears 5 v 0 Heavitree Hawks
Goals: Joe Chandler 2, Tom Crees, Harry Taylor and Simon Priddle

The unfamiliar starting line-up for Spears quickly got into the match and began to pressure Hawks all over the pitch. Tom Crees and Liam O’Garo bossed the midfield, and showed good vision and awareness in their passing. Joe Chandler had an outstanding game wide right and he grabbed the first goal after Harry Taylors pass put him clear. Tom Crees coolly finished with the outside of his right boot to extend the lead and Harry Taylor made it three before half time well set up by Crees.

Although they started bright enough the re-jigged Spears side struggled to maintain the high standards they had been setting of late. They did go a goal up through Simon Priddle after fine interplay with Jamie Vaughan-Ryall and deservedly so, but the cracks were starting to appear. The team looked ragged and lack-luster in defence and Eagles scored twice to lead at half time.

A much more determined attitude was evident in the second half, and the introduction of Nathan Smeath made Spears far more difficult to break down. They started to produce some fine approach play yet the final ball was often weak. Eagles battled hard to retain their lead and the goalkeeper pulled off a number of fine saves and looked solid.

Simon Priddle evened things up; tough in three tackles to win the ball and then shooting home from close range. Spears pressed and pressed, but lacked a little quality in the last third. A fierce shot from 15yards was tipped over by the fine Eagles keeper, who was not caught out by his own defenders attempt to disrupt the balance in what certainly was a game of two halves.

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17th January 2009
Pinhoe Spears 2 v 0 Cullompton Rangers

The game started off very even, with both sides working hard to close down the opposition whoever had possession. Chances were few; the first clear opportunity fell to Cully, but the close range shot on the turn was superbly saved by Connor Radford going down fast to his right and holding on well. Spears took the lead through when Simon Priddle pressured a defender on the ball, latched onto the ball as it ran loose and fired home across the keeper inside the far post. That’s how it stayed until half time, hard fought, few chances and great defending on both sides.

The crucial next goal was a superbly taken free kick, with Nathan Smeath hitting home from 18 yards into the roof of the net. Cully never really caused sustained problems, Spears coping well with anything they had to offer, without really getting into their attacking stride and flow.

Another outstanding team performance saw Spears cruise to a three goal lead. Jamie Vaughan-Ryall scoring twice, the second a superb solo run past three players and slotted finish, and Cody Cox grabbed the third after a great run and cross from Simon Priddle. Numerous changes did not seem to upset the patterns, and further goals came from Joe Chandler and Harrison Taylor who had a simple tap in after sprinting forward to support a brilliant run from Liam O’Garro.

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22nd November 2008
Pinhoe Spears 6 v 0 St Martins

Spears were quick out of the blocks and into their stride, they put St Martins under a great deal of pressure but their defence was resolute and difficult to break through. Eventually Cody Cox tapped in from close range after Alex Roberts had squared the ball, giving Pinhoe a slender lead at half time.

The second half saw Pinhoe continue to press and further goals came through Simon Priddle and Jamie Vaughan Ryall. Cody Cox stepped forward and really began to assert himself on the game, his run and brilliant cross set up Harrison Jones who grabbed his first of the season and then Cody produced a fine solo effort for his second. A superb passing move started with Liam O’Garro bravely winning the ball and putting Tom Crees free on the right, he crossed to Cody who cooly completed his hat-trick.

This was a much tougher encounter for the full 30 minutes. Spears looked to be the more dominant side but could not score due to some good goalkeeping and excellent tackling by Dawlish.

The visitors did push forward but never really troubled debut keeper Connor Radford, although his quick reactions were necessary to prevent an own goal from a near post corner.

The match was a good advert for two teams defending and closing down well, giving neither much time or space and keeping it very tight. There were great performances across both teams in terms of effort, endeavour, and hard work limiting the opportunity for flair.

Playing down hill with the wind in the second half helped Spears press for long periods and two well taken goals from Simon Priddle gave them their just rewards, but it was never comfortable.

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1st Novemberr 2008
Pinhoe Spears 2 v 0 Stoke Hill Rangers

Despite their managers efforts to make it tough for them, Spears dominated the early exchanges in this match and took the lead when Jamie Vaughan-Ryall headed home a Simon Priddle corner. Rangers responded well and pressed the Spears defence and it was then Ray Jones realised he had only sent out 6 players.

With a full team restored Spears regained the upper hand and only the frame of the goal and some stout defending prevented a bigger lead developing. After hitting the post three times, Cody Cox rattled the cross bar with a superb free kick and it looked likely they would not score.

Rangers kept coming back at Spears and Hamish Edmond swept well in front of debut goalkeeper Alex Roberts who did well to keep a nervous lead, until Cody Cox finally got his rewards and slotted home a right foot shot from outside the area.

In the opening minutes it looked like this game could be close and hard fought, both teams creating early chances and some tough tackling on show, but as soon as Spears conceded they just drained in confidence. The first half continued down hill, some players looking stiff and cold, scared and just not up for the challenge. Celtic have some talented players, and took their chances well.

Finding themselves 5-0 down before half time, some were upset by the team performance; others did not want to play. It looked like it was going to get much worse.

The second half saw more fight and Spears were unlucky not to score on a number of occasions, but with a good side against them they always looked vulnerable in defense. Celtic were gifted three stupid goals through defensive naivety repeating the same mistakes.

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18th October 2008
Pinhoe Spears 10 v 1 Moors Comets

Right from the first minute Spears dominated the game and created goals scoring chances and it was pleasing to see everyone working hard to close down the opposition and regain possession when lost.

Goals flowed freely, even when the side was changed, and some of the passing and support play was excellent.

Goal scorers were, Cody Cox (5), Alex Roberts (3) and Simon Priddle (2), and it was rewarding for Comets to grab a fine goal at the end, when Kai struck a volley on the turn. They never gave up and were faced by relentless energy from the whole of the Spears line up.

The game started even enough and Spears took the initiative, applying pressure before grabbing the early lead through Cody Cox after fine work by Alex Roberts.

As Stars came more into the game Spears looked as if they were up for the job, but a soft goal from a long free kick where the keeper was unsighted seemed to drain confidence rather surprisingly.

Stars began to press and one player really dominated, he was hard working good on the ball and had a keen eye for goal. He made the difference and although Spears huffed and puffed and did manage to show glimpses of their ability, they just weren’t playing as a team. The wanderlust had started towards the end of the first game and they could not control it.

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4th October 2008
Pinhoe Spears 1 v 7 Countess Wear Dynamos

The result suggests a very one sided affair but this game remained pretty even for the first ten minutes, with both teams limited to long shots, and closing each other down well. It was Countess Wear who were sharpest when counter attacking and they deservedly led 2-0 at half time, a fine strike from the edge of the box and a deflected cross.

The second half was not all Dynamos either, they were just much quicker to pass the ball and more clinical in advanced positions. Even at 5-0 down Spartans kept trying; they just lacked the quality needed to break down a well organized side. It took a defender to catch the ball to give Pinhoe their consolation goal through a well taken Jamie Vaughan-Ryall penalty.

Overall Pinhoe looked out of sorts, lost their shape all too often, struggled to pass fluently and towards the end were slack in defence.

 

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