Beer Reserves completed their league programme with a stirring 2-1 victory over Fresha Division Six table-toppers Kentisbeare, writes Richard Honnor.

From the kick-off the M id Devon side seemed surprised by the Fishermen’s industry and quality.

Beer denied the visitors space to play and the Kents only real threat in the whole game was from delivering the long ball in the hope that their quick forwards could catch the Albion defence square.

It almost paid off on a couple of occasions, but Beer looking very solid at the back coped well with the threat.

The hard pitch made the ball difficult to control and so from a purist’s point of view there wasn’t a great deal of free flowing football. However, Beer looked the better side and opened the scoring on 14 minutes through Callum Gribble.

The away linesman had flagged for offside against Gribble just inside the Kentisbeare half, but was overruled by the referee. Instead of playing to the whistle the Kents protested the decision, but Gribble continued his run and bundled the ball over the line after the away keeper had parried the first effort.

For the rest of the first half the game was a stalemate and Beer looked fairly comfortable with centre backs Josh Moughton and Robert Adkin coping with the long ball threat and Matt and Simon Smith controlling the midfield. Just on the stroke of half time the visitor’s frustration showed through when one of their midfielders was sent off for a high tackle on Simon Smith.

Beer came out in the second half with a new centre-back pairing. Both Moughton and Robert Adkin had suffered knocks so Matt Smith and Joe Adkin slotted in and the back line looked just as solid. Immediately after the break Beer went 2-0 ahead through Tom Neale. Ross Broome crossed to the far post where Neale was lurking and he coolly slotted home from eight yards. As the half wore on, the game opened up as Kentisbeare desperately sought to get back into it, but it was Beer who carved out the better chances with both Tom Neale and Ben Abbott going close and full back Josh Harrison being foiled by the Kentisbeare keeper after a fine run and fierce shot.

In the dying minutes Kentisbeare were handed a lifeline when they equalised after sloppy Beer defending. The Fishermen lived dangerously for the last couple of minutes but held on for a well-deserved win. Beer are guaranteed fourth place in the Division Six table, a creditable performance for a team with some young inexperienced players and bodes well for the club’s future.

Beer Reserves rounded off a great weekend with a 5-1 victory on Sunday against local rivals Seaton Reserves in the quarter-final of the Golesworthy Cup.