Exeter United 1, Millwey Rise 1st 1

By Dick Sturch

Although the rain eased just before the match began it left a slippery surface on which both teams found ball control difficult.

Exeter playing with the wind at their backs created early pressure on the Rise defence but their progress was thwarted on the twin towers of Alex Rockett and Sam Waddon.

Ty Allen also made some important interventions and produced some excellent through balls from the back.

The home side were reduced to a couple of long range efforts which Nathan Hoole in the Millwey goal dealt with quite comfortably, although in the 20th minute an Exeter forward broke through the Rise defence and but for a great interception by Hoole would have opened the scoring.

Play went from end to end without creating any more clear cut opportunities. Matt Lewis broke up one threatening move with a well timed tackle in the penalty before Exeter eventually took a rather fotuitous lead minutes before half-time.

A long throw-in fell into a melee of players in the area and evntually went into the net off a Millwey boot for an own goal.

Rise began the second period on the attack and from Haydn Lewis's corner a header was glanced just over the bar. From the resulting corner Lewis pulled the ball back to Allen whose shot flew inches too high.

Exeter were then awarded a series of free kicks and put the Rise defence under sustained pressure.

Veteran Stuart King, leading the attack in place of the absent Tom Bastin, eventually broke away but his shot was the wrong side of the crossbar.

Sam Turner came on to replace Luke Thurlow who had chased everything in his forward position.

Millwey were given a spark of hope when they got the ball in the net only to be penalised for straying offside.

Sam Dibling dispatched a free kick just the wrong side of the Exeter upright and minutes later at the other end Hoole pushed a goal bound shot around the post for a corner.

Skipper Haydn Lewis and Dave Bridges were replaced in the last quarter. Millwey again got on the front foot and from a corner the ball bounced teasingly over the bar.

Dibling followed this up with a well struck shot that again was a fraction too high. The Rise goal came in the final minutes scored by veteran Stuart King who latched on to a through ball and delicately placed it past the advancing Exeter keeper.

In the very last minute the home side were awarded what appeared to be a harsh penalty decision. As if to agree the resultant kick smacked against the upright and bounced clear.

Exeter played some entertaining football and at times Rise, not playing at their best, were made to struggle but never gave up in their endeavours. Man of the-match went to goal scorer Stuart King.

Bishop Blaize 1st are the visitors to Cloakham next Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Millwey Rise 2nds 3, Bradninch 2nds 2

In what proved to be a very tight first half Bradninch scored first but Sam Burke equalised from the penalty spot after the visitor's keeper was booked for a foul in the area.

In the second period Bradninch moved back into a one-goal lead before Jack Bennett seized on some good build up work to fire his shot past the Bradninch keeper to again equalise.

For Rise the winning goal was scored by Millwey's 56-year-old Chairman Simon Flint, uncomplimentaril referred to as 'old father time' by some who should no better.)

Simon came on as a substitute for the last 20 minutes. With only a short time left he ran onto a through ball and with the outside of his boot steered it past the advancing keeper with aplomb.

The man-of-the-match award went to Matty Hall who was a rock in the middle of the Rise defence.