Beer Albion visited local rivals Feniton on Saturday and were a bit unlucky to go down 2-1 in a close, hard-fought encounter, writes Richard Honnor.

The Fishermen were without striker James Melville and full-back Andrew Foster, but it was good to see a full substitutes’ bench after having none in the previous week’s game against Hatherleigh.

Feniton, who sit third in the Fresha League top flight table, started strongly and Beer were at full stretch for the first 15 minutes. Only some poor finishing kept the Albion on level terms, firstly a header over the bar from just six-yards out and then Beer getting caught square, but the home side’s forward slicing wide with only keeper Jones to beat.

Feniton continued to dominate possession, but Beer, well-marshalled by skipper Ollie Morgan, worked hard to contain the home team’s pacey forwards.

As the first half wore on the Fishermen’s young midfielder, Jacob Clode, became more influential and created Beer’s best chance in the first half, cleverly beating his man, but the shooting straight at the keeper.

Feniton again started the second half strongly and went ahead after 48 minutes through Dan Norman. Beer’s defence allowed Norman too much space to run at them and he slotted the ball past keeper Jones after a mazy run. The Fishermen responded well however with Shaun Denslow testing the Feniton keeper from 20-yards and then Chris Long firing just wide from a long Jones clearance.

Beer deservedly equalised on 61 minutes when a long throw from Josh Harrison was flicked on at the near post by Clode to Richard Walker. Walker somehow created enough space in a crowded penalty area to toe-poke a shot wide of the Fenny keeper.

The Fishermen now enjoying their best spell of the match went close to taking the lead through Clode with a clever lob and then Sam Phillips now finding more space down the left-wing hit the crossbar with a great effort. The game was now end-to-end and in the 82nd minute, Norman scored his second and the winner for Feniton after the Beer defence were again caught square.

This Saturday (March 14) Beer entertain Willand Rovers Reserves in a league game with a 3pm kick-off. The match sponsor will be Osborne’s Coffee and Wine Bar, Fore Street, Beer.