Beer and Seaton share excitng -if goal less - draw

There were no goals but the game certainly wasn’t lacking in passion and excitement as both sides fought hard for superiority in the tricky windy conditions. The Fishermen were without in-form striker and player manager, Richard Walker who was unfit to play and they missed his quality and composure on the day.

Playing into the breeze, Seaton made the stronger start as Beer failed to to get any quality possession in the middle of the park. The Seasiders’ young midfielder Jake Rowe was particularly effective and much of Seaton’s creative play came through him. The Fishermen had an early escape on 4 minutes when a Seaton striker who looked offside burst through only to shoot wide from 10 yards. Apart from a long range effort from Josh Harrison straight at the keeper, Beer were under pressure for long periods. Only a desperate block by centre back Joe Adkin prevented the visitors from taking an early lead. On 15 minutes tempers flared following a midfield tussle but the game on restart continued to be dominated by Seaton. After 25 minutes the Fishermen were fortunate when a great strike from Seaton’s Rowe hit the upright and moments later Beer keeper Westlake a fine save from striker Josh French after some good interplay between him and Matt Hancock had split the Fishermen’s defence.

Somehow Beer weathered the storm until half time when their Manager Walker, unhappy with his side’s first half showing gave his side a strong team talk. This seemed to have the desired effect as the Fishermen stepped up their game after the break. Seaton did produce a worthy solo effort on 46 minutes but with Ollie Morgan winning some great challenges in midfield, Beer at last started to get a foothold in the game. On 47 minutes, Beer striker Callum Gribble had shot deflected after a neat football between him and hard-working James Melville. Soon after Jacob Clode had a good effort parried by the keeper after Chris Long’s fierce shot had been blocked by Seaton’s centre back. The game was now opening up and on 51 minutes Beer’s centre-back Foster was on hand to clear a Seaton effort off the line. At the other end, a Chris Long free kick was deflected to Melville whose shot across goal was scrambled away by the Seasiders’ defence.

As the game went into the last quarter Beer were getting stronger and on 77 minutes, Jacob Clode shot just wide for Beer and then Phillips made a determined run down the middle only to see his fine left-footed effort go narrowly wide. But the Seasiders were not finished and came close to scoring on 86 minutes when Beer keeper Westlake who otherwise had a good match missed a straightforward catch and he had to thank Foster for another goal-line clearance. The excitement still wasn’t over as both sides had further chances to steal the points. On 88 minutes Seaton’s French just failed to get his outstretched foot on the end of a wicked cross and then on 89 minutes, Gribble almost won it for Beer but his effort from 10 yards was scooped narrowly over the bar.

There were some strong performances on both sides but match sponsor Nick Driver awarded man-of-the-match to Beer’s midfielder Morgan who was outstanding throughout. Beer’s next Premier Division fixture is on 2nd January away at Newton St Cyres. The next home game at the Furzebrake is also on 2nd January when Beer 2nd’s play Priory in a Division 5 fixture when the match sponsor is Jimmy Green Marine Sail Surf and Snow,