SDFL division six

Chagford Reserves 1

South Brent Reserves 3

SOUTH Brent were so confident they elected to start the match with just nine players, an advantage not capitalised upon by their hosts.

In the second minute skipper Jon Philpott saw a left footed effort go over the bar with the 'keeper stranded. That set the scene for the following half-hour as Chagford became more awake after Brent added the two late players. Jon Scarry fired a fifth minute cross-shot just too far ahead of Oliver and Mortimore, then putting an effort over the top ten minutes later. The young forward's best chance was excellently saved by Harris, in the visitors' goal. Chagford had their skipper to thank in the 19th minute as he hooked the ball away from his own goal, Geering for once beaten.

It was Scarry who played a big part in the opening goal as he harried three defenders into conceding an unnecessary throw-in. The throw was taken quickly and Ralph sent in a superb cross for Gary Mortimore to calmly finish off. This period ten minutes before half-time was Chagford's best spell of the match. South Brent raised their game and eight minutes later were rewarded when Mark Mathison outran Chagford's defence to slot the ball past Geering. Geering then had made a superb recovery to claw a goal bound effort clear with Brent already celebrating. Both goalkeepers were called into action early in the second half, Harris saving from Mortimore and Geering from Mathison.

In the 72nd minute Geering was again exposed with Mathison again being allowed to run clear and finish coolly. Chagford's young 'keeper had every right to punch the ground in frustration at the ease South Brent broke through. Another superb save against Mathison came just two minutes later. The game was slipping away from Chagford and Brent were content to defend in numbers. Even so, Mathison completed his hat-trick in injury time with remarkably similar goal to his first two.