Playing their fifth game in ten days, Beer Albion 1st’s chalked up a crucial 3-2 win against mid-table Hatherleigh Town at the Furzebrake on Saturday, writes Richard Honnor.

It was a thrilling encounter and the visitors deserve credit for their contribution in an extremely close contest.

Fisherman midfielder Chris Long found his shooting boots for this match and scored with two memorable strikes to clinch the points.

In fact Hatherleigh could have been out of sight in the first 30 minutes as Beer failed to control the ball on the bumpy surface.

The visitors should have scored on 15 minutes when Beer were saved by keeper Steve Jones’ outstretched leg and then on 22 minutes when they missed the target with a header from a corner from four yards out. The Beer defence was getting regularly caught out by Hatherleigh centre forward getting between the centre backs and only poor finishing kept the Fishermen in the contest.

However, as the half drew to a close, Beer’s excellent mid-fielder Pedro Fontes began to run the game and on 39 minutes the Fishermen took the lead when Chris Long scored with an unstoppable left-foot volley from 30-yards after his free kick was only partially cleared.

It has to be best goal seen at the Furzebrake this season. Beer were now transformed and three minutes later Long notched his second goal this time with a right footer from 20-yards after a neat passing move between Fontes, Walker and Long. Then on 45 minutes another good piece of football involving Fontes created an opportunity for Luke Bartlett, who scored from 15-yards to make it 3-0.

But Hatherleigh were far from finished and came at Beer in the second half with high intensity. The Fishermen were at full stretch and it was no surprise when the visitors pulled a goal back on 59 minutes with a far-post header somehow trickling across the line with the Beer defence caught flat-footed. Beer’s cause was not helped on 61 minutes when the influential Fontes hobbled off after clumsy tackle, but two minutes later they almost wrapped the game up when substitute Shaun Denslow found Richard Walker with a long pass. The Beer striker beat the advancing keeper only to see his effort agonisingly hit the post.

It was all Hatherleigh now and after another wasted opportunity from a header, the visitors pulled back to 3-2, again with a header from inside the six-yard box after good work down the right. Beer continued to live dangerously as the visitors pushed for the equaliser, but they somehow held out. The Fishermen did however have two late opportunities. First Long was denied his hat-trick when another screamer was pushed away by the keeper and then Jacob Clode headed over from close range.

Match sponsor Anning’s Plumbing and Heating awarded the Man of the Match honour to defender Josh Harrison who mage some crucial tackles and interceptions when Beer were ‘under the cosh’.

The Fishermen now sit 12th in the Premier table and a win in their final game with Feniton next Saturday at the Furzebrake may well be good enough for them to avoid having to apply for re-election to the top division next season.

The sponsor for the final home game will be Colyford Butchers Ltd.