Beer Reserves continued their good run and moved up to fourth position in Division Six of the Fresha League after grinding out a 1-0 win at Railway Club, writes Richard Honnor.

It was a resilient performance under sustained pressure from the home side.

For long periods of the game, The Fishermen, missing key defenders Robert Adkin and Ollie Page, fought a rear-guard action with Josh Moughton and Matt Smith outstanding at the back. In difficult, muddy conditions, they had to dispense with their normal short-passing game and adopt a more direct approach.

Beer’s winner came in the second half after a goal mouth melee, the ball being bundled over the line by Tom Neale. After the game, Beer player-manager Simon Smith commented: “We were a bit lucky today, but it was another gritty team performance by our young side. We look forward to our home game with Dunkeswell on Saturday, hoping to reverse the 2-1 defeat over there earlier in the season.”

The next game at the Furzebrake is on Saturday (February 21), when Beer Reserves entertain Dunkeswell Rovers in a Fresha League game. Kick off is at 3pm and the Match sponsor will be East Devon Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic Ltd, Sidford, (email info@eastdevonphysio.co.uk)