Mousehole 3-2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
The day before the clocks went back the sun was out, the wind was low and it felt like mid-summer. It was more cricket weather than football but here we were at Trungle Parc ahead of Mousehole’s match against Bemerton Heath.
Having not won since the first day of the month this felt like the Seagull’s first must-win match of the season. As we head into winter, points were needed on the board so when Ollie Challinor notched his first goal for the green hoops after just eleven minutes things looked good.
Whilst the possession stats were even in the first forty five it was the home side that looked the more dangerous. The vibrant attacking display away at Exmouth was repeated as chances were created, mainly due to great work down the left by Jordan Hackett and Challinor. Tim Nixon and Hayden Turner both had good chances to increase the lead before the break but these were spurned.
At the other end, the other Ollie, Chenoweth, had to make a couple of good saves to maintain the lead before the break. Half time came and as the minutes passed in the second half it would be no surprise if home thoughts did not lurk back to Exmouth’s late equaliser. Home chances were fewer and Bemerton were pushing harder and getting closer whenever they broke through.
It was with great relief then that the lead was doubled thanks to a solo effort from Torin ‘The Tornado’ Ntege. Picking the ball up just inside the opposition half he carried it left and dribbled it right, avoiding tackles and ignoring passing opportunities. Just at the point where it looked like he may have beaten one man too many without any reward he burst into the box and drove the ball hard and low to the keeper’s right. A gloved hand reached the ball but the strike was too strong, the lead was doubled and nerves were un-jaggled.
Two nil is a tricky lead but three nil is a game ender. When Hitman Turner was played through by Ntege there was only ever one outcome. With ice in his veins he pushed the ball wide of the keeper and cut it back into the net. And that was that.
Actually, it wasn’t. These seagulls like to entertain but sometimes it can leave a queue at the portable defibrillator. When the visitors got one back with a minute of normal time to play it seemed like a consolation but when the ball was bundled over the line again a full nine minutes into time added on it felt like two points were about to be dropped. The crowd were screaming for the whistle and there was relief all round when it came. Three goals, three points and three days to go before Tavistock visit. Get ready!