Loddiswell Reserves 4 Abbotskerswell 'Reserves' 8
Saturday 6th February 2010 - SDL Division 4

The Ressies can be pleased to have scored four goals in this encounter with third from bottom Abbotskerswell Reserves, as the visitors played football more akin to the Premier Division of the South Devon League.

Loddiswell, having to reshuffle due to four absentees, were grateful for stand-in 'keeper Chris Edmonds as he pulled off save after save to keep out Abbots front runners. The score could quite easily have been 5-0 to the visitors, however, the midfield of Dan Stathers and Sean Raymont, who had returned from injury ahead of schedule, battled away in the middle and fed the ever eager wide men of Rob Tapper and Andy Edmonds. It was from a cross from the right that an Abbots defender handled the ball giving the referee no other option than to award a penalty. Raymont coolly stepped up to open the scoring for Loddiswell.

This knocked Abbots confidence and the hosts did well to take advantage by increasing their lead when Andy Edmonds fired home to make it 2-0. Moments later Dan Stathers smashed in a shot that hit the bottom of the post - Lodds had gone from 'lucky to not be 5-0 down' to 'should be 3-0 in front', in the space of ten minutes.

However, the tide again turned and Abbots finally got themselves on the score sheet. This was then added to when 'keeper Edmonds was unlucky to mishit a clearance after the ball had bobbled up off the uneven turf, giving the visiting striker and easy tap in.

First to strike in the second half were the Greens. Chris Guard out foxed the defence to set Adam Sherring through, and the big number 9 scored his fifth goal in only six games.

From this point on however, Abbot's more 'experienced' players took a hold of the game to score another six goals, with Dom Farleigh's goal - a cracking volley from the edge of the box - the only reply from the home side.

Lodds were ultimately left frustrated that their opposition weren't a true reflexion of the side that languish near the bottom of the table, but will take heart from the fact they did cause the visitors some concerns that their bolstering hadn't worked!