SWPL Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police 1 Ivybridge Town 1
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 17 March 2024 08:59
- Last Updated on Monday, 18 March 2024 10:01
- Published on Sunday, 17 March 2024 08:59
- Written by GRAHAM HAMBLY with Ivybridge Town
It looked good for Ivybridge as they took the lead in the second minute with Fletcher Williams heading in at the far post from a right-wing corner by Luke Forward.
Some lively attacking play saw Ivybridge put the home side under early pressure with goalkeeper Jimmy Weeks pulling off some important saves, including a one-on-one situation with Ivybridge leading scorer Forward.
Ivybridge were made to pay for their failings in front of goal when Stoke Gabriel equalised with a fine shot from Ryan McCaskill in the 71st minute.
It was the first time Ivybridge had conceded a goal this year with the last team to score against them being Torridgeside on December 30. Since then, Ivybridge had kept six consecutive clean sheets.
In fact, Stoke Gabriel are only the third team to take points off Ivybridge this season, the others being Bovey Tracey, who drew 1-1 at Erme Valley back in August and Sidmouth, who won 3-2 at home to Ivybridge in November.
Ivybridge joint manager Wayne Gamble admitted: “Credit where it is due, Stoke Gabriel deserved their point, so from a massive high last week when we won at Crediton, this was a bit of a low for us today. We did not lose, but that shows the high standards that we have set ourselves. Teams will get a draw against us and be excited at the result.
“We started really well, not just with the early goal, but in the first ten to 15 minutes we could have had the game wrapped up. Some great goalkeeping stopped us, and we were not clinical enough in front of goal. We did not have that bit of class in front of goal and when we did their goalkeeper was switched on. He was fantastic today.”
Despite seeing his side concede a goal for the first time in seven games, Gamble was impressed by the form of skipper and central defender Scott Pocock, who was the team’s star man.
“Scott was head and shoulders above everyone today,” said Gamble. “He gave a real captain’s performance and deserved to be on the winning side.”
Despite dropping two points, Ivybridge remain 21 points clear at the top of the East Division table and now need 13 points from their remaining eight games to secure the championship.
Gamble commented: “Spirit is still high in the camp. We know what we have got to do to get ourselves across the line. We celebrated massively last week after the Crediton game, but we know there is still a job to be done.”
Next up will be a visit on Tuesday evening (March 19) to Bridport, who moved to second place in the table on Saturday with a 2-0 home win over Torridgeside.
Gamble said Saturday’s dropped points could be a wake-up call for this side and added: “Sometimes this will spur us on and it would not surprise me if we go and have a superb game against Bridport.”
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