In what was undoubtedly their best performance of the season, Beer Albion pulled off one of the surprise results of the day with a 4-1 victory at Bow, writes Richard Honnor.

In what has been a mixed season for the Fishermen so far, their team spirit and determination have never been in doubt. In this match, not only did they display those qualities and but they also played some of their finest football of the season.

Bow had surprisingly beaten high-flying Sidbury last week and with home advantage they must have fancied their chances against their fellow-strugglers on a pitch which is much narrower than Beer are used to playing on at home. It was however Beer playing their familiar narrow 4-4-2 formation who mastered the difficult conditions better, denying their home opponents any space through mid-field and forcing them to resort to long-ball tactics.

Player manager Richard Walker opened the scoring for the Fishermen and both he and co-striker James Melville were causing the Bow defence plenty of problems. Before half-time Beer went two-up through teenager Jacob Clode. After the turn-around a clean strike by midfielder Sam Phillips put the visitors further ahead. Bow pulled the score back to 3-1 and might have got back into the game but for a couple of good saves by Albion keeper Steve Jones and some solid defending by a determined Beer back line. Beer wrapped up the result when man-of-the-match Clode notched his second goal.

The next game at the Furzebrake is on Saturday (February 28) when Beer first team entertain the only unbeaten side in the entire Fresha League – Hatherleigh Town.

Kick off is at 3pm and the Match sponsor will be Woozie’s Deli, Fore Street, Beer.