KJM SPORT REPORT Saltash Utd 1 Brixham AFC 3

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Created on Sunday, 28 January 2024 09:04

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 January 2024 18:39

Published on Sunday, 28 January 2024 09:04

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at KJM Sports

It was a case of After the Lord Mayor’s Show for Saltash as the memories of last week’s win over leaders Clevedon were swept away at the Waterways Stadium.

Winger Kieran O’Melia gave the Ashes a 25th minute lead with his 10th goal of the season but after that the visitors stepped up to take the honours.

Josh Parry levelled things within four minutes and Aaron Wellington put Brixham ahead seven minutes before half-time. Brixham made sure of victory with a third goal from Sean Adderley 11 minutes from time.

All of which left Ashes manager Macca Brown to reflect on a disappointing day.

Brown said. “It was a real off-day for us all and to be fair to the lads there’s not been many of those this season.

“In terms of results, obviously there’s been poor days at the office, but generally speaking there’s always been a good performance and we’ve lost in a moment,

“But on Saturday I’ve got no complaints at all, we weren’t really at the races and were well beaten in most areas by Brixham, who I thought were excellent.

“I’m probably more frustrated at myself though to be honest because I think we got the balance of the team wrong with our selection and I do think it had a significant impact, and we knew it after 10 minutes or so that it wasn’t quite right.

“The balance of the team often outweighs individual qualities within a team, and we looked a bit disjointed and so it’s one that I take on the chin because that’s poor from me.

“It was in my mind when selecting the side and that’s why I’m frustrated at myself and I’ll be beating myself up for a few days about that one but we cross it off and move on.”

He went on: “We actually started really brightly and should have been awarded a penalty in the first two minutes, it was stonewall and I cannot believe the referee has not given it.

“I think with it being so early he wasn’t ready to make such a big decision and it’s frustrating because it could have changed the whole afternoon.

“Brixham quickly got a foothold of the game after that first 10 minutes though; they were aggressive and direct with their play and then controlled the game in our half, and we didn’t match it.

“We scored against the run of play and you hope that sparks you into life, but as I said previously the balance of the team just wasn’t right and before we had the chance to change it we were 2-1 down, with a worldy for their second just as we were about to make an early substitution.

“I think from that point we looked more fluid and the last 10 minutes of the half we looked like our normal selves in terms of our play, but it was an afternoon where we didn’t get out the blocks and weren’t able to get going.

“The effort was there but Brixham were winning the fight, first and second balls and that’s the basic foundations that help you control and win games.

“We started brightly in the second half and wasted some good chances but it was more of the same really.

“Brixham were comfortable and dominated the individual battles and we can thank Jordan (Duffey) for saving us a few times on the break.

“I do think it was poor officiating again though in the lead up to their third goal. Jordan got pushed into the net which should have been a free kick given the referee had awarded free kicks twice to their keeper for the same thing, but another corner was awarded which saw them score and it’s huge moment because the third goal finishes the game.

“By that point it was a mess though on that front, the ref started ignoring his linesman and making his own decisions which then had the linesman doubting himself for the remainder of the half with his flag going up and down in the same decisions.

“So it seems that Brixham were the only ones who turned up on Saturday so full credit to them, well deserved.

“The rest of us - myself, the officials and the lads - had an off day that we have to bounce back from next week.”

Saltash: J Duffey, T Love-Holmes, E Wright, E Goodman, H Greening, T Badcott, K O’Melia, B Goulty (L Murray 66), J Curtis (J Ewing 59), A Goulty, T Huyton (J Toulson 39).

Subs: J Angel-Crave, J Jefford.

Goal: K O’Melia (25).

Yellow card: T Badcott.

Brixham: G Fisher, B Hopkins, H Field, K Parkin, J Parry (J Maslen 81), S Adderley, R Somerset, B Aldous (C Harford 60), A Wellington, C Johansen (M Harford 86), S Robinson.

Goals: J Parry (29), A Wellington (38), S Adderley (79).

Yellow card: M Harford (90+3).

Attendance: 122.

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