SMAFC1

OCTOBER 2006

Sunday 29th October

Danny Finch Signs!
South Molton Chairman Steven Seatherton, is pleased to announce that Bratton Fleming centre back Danny Finch has sign for the Images until the end of the season. Danny who has played for Bratton for over 15 years will be in the reserve team squad on Saturday for the game against J&A Loveacott and will hopefully be available for 1st selection by mid November.

Saturday 28th October

South Molton 0 - Combe Martin 2

1st team Improvement continues against high flying Combe Martin.

This game was another potential hammering for the Images, especially as goal keeper Ben Lock pulled out at the last minute due to his car breaking down. Rob Reed went between the sticks instead and played like it was his natural position!

It was a very close match with Tony Wilson creating the best chances for the Images.

More to follow......................................

Park Rovers 5 - South Molton Res 1

Another defeat!

For this contest against a physical Park United, Manager Steve Seatherton made the decision to have the team play a 4-5-1 formation. This however proved to be a questionable move, as within the first 10 minutes the Images were already a goal down. After a second goal went it, the Images then shifted back to a 4-4-2 formation which didn't help at all. Although 2 penalties for United (one missed and the other scored didn't help the score). The first one was a blatant dive by the United player who said he "fell over", and the second one by the same player this time was caught by Dave Beer which was a penalty.
The first half ended 5-0 with probably the worst half of the season so far for the Images!

After the interval the Images changes to a 3-5-2 formation with Keith Maynard now playing centre back and it was a completely different team to the one that played in the 1st half. The Images picked up their game tremendously, making more chances at goal, and defending with such determination! They gained a small glimpse of a comeback with a penalty won by Paul Jones, which Steve Seatherton stepped up to slot the ball home!

This however was all the team could muster up, as they saw out the remaining minutes of the game to a 5-1 loss.

Man of the Match – Rob Baker

Donkey of the Match – Elliott Short

(R)	Elliott Short			(L)
Steven Seatherton	Rob Baker		Andy Vernon	Darren Kingdon

Alex Boyd	Lee Parsons	Keith Maynard	Dave Beer	Ross Burbridge
(Graham Shapland)				(Paul Jones)
		Scott Paton
		(Mark Heale)

Saturday 21st October

South Molton 2 - Chittlehampton 0

Molton in Derby day victory

The Images finally pulled themselves up from an awful start to the season to record their first Derby win of the season. The images haven't been having the best of the luck in recent matches but on this occasion they rose to the challenge and came away 2-0 winners over a very good Chittlehampton side.

Its fair to say that both teams did have a number of chance with both team hitting the woodwork on numerous occasions.

But thanks to the brilliant Ben Lock in goal and a goals from Mark Seale and Scott Paton proved too much for Chittlehampton.

The next match is at Home to the League favourites Combe Martin, Although the Images will welcome back Phil Robison from his ban.

Torrington 3rds 6 - South Molton Res 0

South Molton Reserves we never at the races today ... not even slightly.

A depleted South Molton side welcomed back Matt Green, and the two uni boy Rob 'Crouchy' Fox and Henry Haydon. They also welcomed 2 new youth team players to the squad - Jake 'Ole' Turner and Ryan Dooley. Keith Maynard also returned to the midfield after is foot injury.

The day didn't start well at all with the Manager nursing a super hangover and the weather in monsoon conditions, the team arrived at Torrington to find the Torrington 3rd Team got changed at Torrington School but the pitch was actually a mile away! Even when the Images had got changed and had DRIVEN to the pitch, they were presented with probably one of the worst pitches in the league with 14 foot high grass.

No excuses though, Molton were just bad. Trying to play the off side didn't work and in truth the Images were lucky only to go into the half time break at 3-0 down.

The second half was just as bad and although the Images had 10 second spells of brilliance (twice I think) another 3 goals were let in. The two youth Players look promising when they came on and Ross ????????? came from the bench to make his Molton debut, he also looked lively.

So not a good day in Torrington. After the match the Torrington lads revealed that a number of players were 2nd players that would be playing in their evening kick off match and 2 other player were due to play for the 1st team!!! I'm not trying to make excuses for this poor performance ... but it makes me feel much better. So I'm combining the pitch, changing room location, weather, hangover and the fact they had better players in the team than we did for this defeat. :-)

Man of the match - Mr Mark 'Gordon Banks' Nicholson

TEAM

(R)	Mark Nicholson			(L)
Steven Seatherton	Rob Baker		Andy Vernon	Matt Green

Henry Haydon	Lee Parsons	Keith Maynard	Dave Beer	Mark Heale
(Ross Burbridge)		(Ryan Dooley)		(Jake Turner)
		Paul Jones

Saturday 7th October

Combe Martin 8 - South Molton 0

After last weeks battling performance the Images found Combe an ever harder task this time around. The league favourites defeated a brave South Molton team who were without midfield dynamo Freddy Short who had a hernia operation during the week.

The score was only 2-0 at half time but the images resilient defence collapsed in the second half with the game finishing 8-0 to Combe Martin.

South Molton Res 1 - Anchor 5

South Molton 2nds went into this top of the table clash far from being at full strength, up to 8 players were missing either due to injuries, work commitments or being with the 1st team squad down at Combe Martin. This was no excuses though and with the new players in it was definitely going to be a tough baptism of fire....!

Anchor started the better of the two sides by pushing the images straight rom the off, however a stunning 40 yard cross field ball from Steve Seatherton was brought down by Tony Wilson who fired the ball across the box for the un-marked Paul Jones to tap home to give the images the lead against the run of play 1-0. Unfortunately the lead didn't last long as the images defence failed to push out quick enough and an anchor striker ran through onside to fire the visitors level.

Half Time South Molton 1 Anchor 1

This was practically game over for Molton as anchor came out much more fired up for the 2nd half. At first the images defence held firm but once the visitors took the lead, scoring direct from a corner 1-2, the game was all over. Players heads went down and certain players fitness levels disappeared as anchor wrapped up 4 more goals to leave a very embarrassing score line of 1-5. Things will definitely have to change for next weeks trip to Torrington, which is sure to be another very tough test, though hopefully some of the 2nd teams more influential players will return.

Full Time South Molton 1 Anchor 5

(R)
Mark Nicholson
(L)

Kieren Short Rob Baker Andy Vernon Richard Carpenter

(Geoff Russell)

Tony Wilson Lee Parsons Darren Kingdon Steven Seatherton

(Simon Stubbington)

Paul Jones Mark Heale

Sunday 8th October

Combe Martin 4 - South Molton 2
Match Report to come................

Saturday 7th October

Woolsery 1 - South Molton 2
Match Report to come................

South Molton Res 2 - Buckland Brewer 1

Every game seems to be tough for the high flying Res team at the moment and this game proved no different. Buckland Brewer have a very well organised team and will be amongst those teams fighting for promotion.

In fairness Buckland controlled much of the 1st half which paid off after the images failed to clear a corner. The ball bounced about the box only to fall at the feet of a Buckland player who smashed the ball in from 8 yards.
The images did go close after the Buckland keepers goal kick feel to the feet of Mark Heale, who's drive back across the goal was brilliantly saved by the Buckland keeper who redeemed himself.

The second half proved a different affair with Molton coming out the strong side and dominating the play. The Images were soon level. Mark Heale making his return for the reserves robbed the Bucland centre back of the ball and raced towards the goal and neatly finish under the Buckland keeper.

The next 30 mins were a very tense affair with Scott Paton missing two good opportunities for the Images and the ever reliable Mark 'Banksie' Nicholson keeping the images in the game at the other end.

The Images continued to battle well and in the dying minutes of injury time a long ball was neatly won by Paul Jones who drove towards the Buckland goal and as he shot nipped off his shin and looped over the keeper into the net!

Man of the Match - Mark 'Banksie' Nicholson!

For a Buckland Brewer view of the match - click here - http://www.buckyfc.org.uk/results/2006/197/#result_197