KJM SPORT REPORT Saltash Utd 2 Portishead Town 0

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Created on Monday, 23 October 2023 11:34

Last Updated on Monday, 23 October 2023 11:38

Published on Monday, 23 October 2023 11:34

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at KJM Sports

Saltash got the business done early in Saturday’s FA Vase tie against Western League first division Portishead at the Waterways Stadium.

They were 2-0 up inside the first 30 minutes courtesy of an early strike by Josh Toulson and a Jordan Ewing penalty (27 minutes) and defended their advantage well.

The performance and result left Ashes manager Macca Brown a delighted man.

Brown said: “We are delighted to be through to the next round of the Vase. We are inspired by Brixham’s amazing run last year into the quarter-finals

“It’s a competition that we want to do well in, and now we are three games into the competition that’s exactly what is happening.

“I know some clubs sometimes write the competition off, and that’s fair enough if you are going all out for the league as more games isn’t always a good thing, but that’s not us yet and we are taking it seriously.”

He went on: “It was also important to get a win, it’s been a few weeks since our last one, despite some good performances and in the cup the only thing that matters is a result.

“We started the game well, JT got an early goal and then Jordan scored from the spot.

“At that point our performance really surprised me, as I didn’t know we had that level of maturity in us.

“We controlled the game without the ball, were well organised and although Portishead had more of the ball I felt like it was on our terms and we continued to pick them off on the counter attack.

“Britch (coach Lee Britchford) did well to find some footage of Portishead and we were aware that they operated with a midfield diamond which can be tricky to play against.

“So it was key to remain organised and compact so they couldn’t hurt us with that overload in midfield and naturally it gave us a lot of space to counter in wide areas and we should really have made it three before the break from this threat.

“We demanded more of the same at the break. We expected Portishead to twist a little bit and move away from the diamond and perhaps look for more width to get back in it, and that’s what they did but they boys responded well to that threat.

“It was a mature performance and we just saw out the second half really, and their goalkeeper made some excellent saves to keep the score at two.

“With Portishead flying in the league below, it was another potential banana skin, like Wendron and Radstock before it. They are teams that are used to winning so they’ll have that winning mentality so these types of games are always so tough.

“I’m a big believer in showing respect to your opponents by the way that you defend and the clean sheet speaks volumes on that front, so we are really happy.”

Brown singled out young goalkeeper Jake Mead-Crebbin for special praise, saying: “He didn’t have much to do because the lads were excellent in front of him, but I thought he was brilliant.

“It’s not been an easy couple of weeks for him with Jordan (Duffey) coming into the club and putting his position under threat, of course that is not going to be nice, but I have so much respect for how he went about his business on Saturday.

“It’s exactly how I’d like to think I would respond in the same position, but I’ve got nearly 20 years on him and at his age it’s easy to not have that level of maturity and professionalism so full credit to him.”

Saltash: J Mead-Crebbin, E Wright, T Huyton (R Howe 89), E Goodman, H Greening, A Goulty (S Cox 85), K O’Melia, J Toulson (J Preece 70), J Ewing, T Love-Holmes, T Badcott.

Subs not used: B Goulty, J Johnson.

Goals: J Toulson (6), J Ewing (27, pen).

SWSN Star Man Hayden Greening.

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