Despite holding a three-goal lead, Beer Albion had to be content with one point as mid-table Clyst Valley fought back to earn a 3-3 draw in a re-arranged Premier League fixture at the Furzebrake, writes Richard Honnor.

As the old cliché goes, it was a game of two halves, the windy conditions playing a major part.

With a strong wind at their backs, Beer gained a massive early advantage. Player-manager Richard Walker scored a quick-fire eight-minute hat-trick as the Fishermen sailed into a 3-goal lead after only 10 minutes. Prior to this game Beer had only managed one goal from four home defeats! Walker’s first came after two minutes when he slotted home after good work by Jacob Clode. Four minutes later, Walker beat Clyst Valley’s offside trap and coolly slid the ball past keeper Jon Bardot for a 2-0 lead. His third on 10 minutes was a piece of individual brilliance. Quickly spotting that Bardot was off his line and taking advantage of the wind, Walker lobbed the keeper from 30 yards. The result would surely have been sealed on 17 minutes but Walker headed narrowly wide from a Pedro Fontes free-kick.

Despite the early setback, Clyst Valley kept calm and eased their way back into the game. Beer lacked composure throughout the match and on 20 minutes the visitors came desperately close when a shot went just wide of keeper Westlake’s left post. On 34 minutes Westlake had to be alert to keep out a shot from the visitors’ striker and just before half time only a desperate block from Keiron Love prevented the visitors reducing the deficit. Beer were still continuing to create chances however and Fontes had two great strikes from distance within minutes of each other both of which flew narrowly wide of the left-hand upright.

The game swung dramatically after the break. Clyst Valley now had the advantage of the conditions and quickly made this pay when their midfielder netted with an unstoppable header on 48 minutes. The visitors reduced the arrears further on 59 minutes. After poor defending the Clyst Valley striker tucked the ball pass the advancing Westlake. With the visitors now pressing hard for the equaliser, the Fishermen brought on James Melville and Chris Long both after long lay-offs and immediately they posed a threat. Both Melville and Long created several chances for themselves during the last 10 minutes which they might have put away on another day with sharper match-fitness.

Just as they appeared to have secured the three points, the Fishermen switched off and Clyst Valley dealt the hammer blow with a 92nd minute equaliser. Man of the match Walker was outstanding for Beer and was well supported by Ollie Morgan and Kieron Love.

On Saturday (December 19) there’s what should be a pre-Christmas cracker as Beer entertain local rivals Seaton Town at The Furzebrake. Both sides are desperate for Premier league points so it promises to be an exciting contest. Kick off is at 2.15 pm and the match sponsor is Nick Driver. Spectators old and new alike will be made most welcome.