BY Richard Honnor

A &S Interiors Ltd Devon Football League North & East Division 

Beer Albion 1sts 5, Fremington 1

Devon Football League (North-East) leaders Beer maintained their 100 per unbeaten record with a convincing 5-1 home win over strugglers Fremington.

The Furzebrake crowd were treated to a feast of fine passing football and some quality finishing from the Fishermen. Fremington to their great credit played neat attacking football themselves but they lacked the firepower to trouble the home side's defence.

The Fishermen set off at a gallop and were 1-0 in front after just two minutes. Cody Bowditch delivered an inswinging corner to the far post where Finley Rooke, unmarked, planted an unstoppable header past the Fremington keeper.

Beer continued to pile on the pressure and went 2-0 up on 10 minutes. Again it was wing-back Bowditch who provided the assist with a defence-splitting through ball to Charley Skilton. The midfielder had made a great run to get in behind the Fremmy defence and he cleverly squeezed the ball past the advancing keeper.

Eight minutes later it was 3-0. A long clearance by Keeper Elliot Driver was mishandled by the Fremington keeper on the edge of the penalty box. The ball seemed to be going out of play but Giles Basson chased a "lost cause" and pulled the ball back for Josh French to pick his spot from close range with the keeper stranded.

Undaunted, the plucky visitors pulled a goal back almost immediately. Beer were caught at full stretch by a long pass down the left. The Fremington winger advanced to the by-line and delivered the perfect cross to his central striker who got in between the Beer centre backs to give keeper Driver no chance with a well-placed header from eight yards.

Beer continued to play scintillating football. Midfielder Jake Rowe was orchestrating play in midfield, going past defenders with consummate ease and then switching the play with a wide array of passes. Basson too was giving the visitors a torrid time with runs and crosses from the left wing. The chances rained in and only some desperate blocks and fine saves kept the Fishermen at bay.

A fourth goal on 42 minutes virtually sealed the result. A quick throw-in found French down the right and the Beer front man pulled the ball back across goal for Basson to score from close range. Fremington believed that the throw-in should have gone in their favour but their appeals to referee Owens were in vain.

After the break, the visitors had more of the possession but they made little impression on the Fishermen's solid defence. Beer were cruising to victory and manager Mark Rooke was able to give all of his substitutes valuable game time. 

Chances continued a-plenty but Beer had to wait until the 72nd minute for their 5th goal. Liam Cox delivered an early low cross from the right into the danger zone and Finley Rooke arriving at the far post scored his second of the match with a rasping first-time finish from eight yards.

There were plenty of worthy contenders for man-of-the-match but midfielder Jake Rowe deservedly got the award from sponsor MGR Roofing for an outstanding performance in midfield. 

Next Saturday the Fishermen travel to Topsham Town for a league fixture. Beer 2nds entertain Topsham Town 2nds in Devon and Exeter Division One. Kick off at the Furzebrake is at 2:15 pm and the match day sponsor is SeaSabre Boats.

Stitch2Print Devon and Exeter League Division 1

Newton St Cyres 1, Beer Albion 2nds 1

Beer 2nds gained a hard-earned point away against Newton St Cyres on Saturday. 

St Cyres deservedly opened the scoring on 20 minutes after some sluggish defending. That seemed to wake up the Fishermen and they started to get the ball down and play football. 

Beer equalised on 30 minutes after slick passing in midfield gave Kyle Gould a chance to shoot from the edge of the box and his deflected shot found the top corner.

St Cyres made Beer work hard in the secondhalf, who had keeper Adam Clinch to thank for vital saves to keep them in the match. But the Fishermen were unlucky not to win the game on 80 mins to win the match when Barnaby Down's 18-yarder hit the crossbar. 

Goalscorer Kyle Gould was Beer's outstanding player. He worked hard in midfield and was a constant threat with his driving runs.