Despite being reduced to 10 men after only 15 minutes, Beer Albion completed the double over Barnstaple 2nds with a 4-1 victory at the Furzebrake. 

The match started at a furious pace with both sides going close to scoring within the first minute and the 70-strong home crowd did not have to wait long for Beer’s opener.  

A pass from Josh French in midfield to Brooklyn Wilkins, who hit a great long ball out to Tony Pinder wide right. Pinder cut inside his man and squared to Wilkins in the box, and the midfielder executed the perfect finish wide of the keeper. 

Four minutes later, Wilkins’s match was over when he received a harsh red card for being the last man.  

To their great credit, Beer’s response was perfect, going 2-0 ahead on 19 minutes. Charlie Ledger’s long ball down the middle caught the Barnstaple defence napping and French slotted past the advancing keeper from 18 yards. 

Barnstaple reduced the arrears on 24 minutes in somewhat controversial circumstances when a Beer clearance from a corner was blocked by a Barnstaple hand 20 yards from goal. Play was allowed to continue and their midfielder scored with a well-placed shot from 18 yards. 

After the interval, the Fishermen applied relentless pressure on the Barnstaple defence. Liam Cox was switched from central defence to right midfield and his energy, pressing and strong running pegged the visitors back in their own half.  

Indeed, Beer’s third goal was created by Cox’s persistence on 47 minutes when he forced his way to the byline and pulled the ball back to French, who notched his second at the far post. 

Elliott Driver made two excellent saves at close range to preserve his side’s 2-goal cushion and the result was put beyond doubt on 61 minutes when Pinder fired home an unstoppable penalty after Finley Rooke was brought down following a Beer corner. Match-day sponsor picked Norman Lambert out midfielder Alex Paget as Man of the match. 

Beer Albion 2nds took an unexpected tumble on Saturday when they were defeated 6-0 at East Budleigh.  

Both Beer sides are involved in tough cup ties away from home on Saturday. The first-team travel to the University of Exeter and the 2nds are at Plympton Athletic 2nds.