Brixham 2 – 3 Mousehole
Having already produced ten goals in the previous two meetings this season this match was always going to be a goal fest but with honours even at one win each the result was difficult to predict. Brixham are usually strong at home but their previous match at The More Seafood Ground (sic) had seen them lose four one so the bookies were unsure which way to go.
Having gone five games unbeaten on the road it was no surprise that Mousehole started this game strongly. Whilst the Fishermen had some long-range efforts which put the housing estate behind the goal in danger they never looked like scoring but the Seagulls were as clinical as a laser.
The first goal, after eight minutes, followed a flowing move with passes pinging between the players like an AI controlled pinball machine. The move ended with a shot from Mark Goldsworthy which was too powerful for the keeper to hold and when he spilled it Liam The Poacher Prynn was there to dink it home.
The Devonians were still getting over their disappointment at going behind when their night got worse and Jack Symons smacked one past the keeper. If Simmo was the finisher this was a goal made on the magical foot of Tallan Mitchell. His slide rule of a pass took out half the Brixham team and ran perfectly into the path of our very own midget gem. The keeper got a hand to it but again the shot was too strong for him to stop.
Two nil with ten minutes gone and yet another fabulous band of away fans were already dreaming about double figures. For the next ten minutes Mousehole played like 1970s era Brazil, then it all went nuts!
Having not increased their lead the men in white continued to push forward but in a less disciplined fashion. Maybe it was over confidence brought on by the ease of the first two goals but, whatever caused it, suddenly the tide turned and Brixham had pulled one back. The ball was lost in midfield and moments later it was in the net.
This should have caused Mousehole to turn on game-management mode and see out the first half but nothing changed and the momentum had shifted. Brixham saw blood and went for the throat; they piled on the pressure forcing six corners in as many minutes and whilst these were well repelled the home side did draw level before the break. Again, possession was given up too easily in the middle and unchallenged, Brixham smacked one into the far corner of the net.
Level at the break felt like being behind but the travelling ‘Gulls just needed reminding of what had got them the lead in the first place. Jake Ash took the half time break to push the Control-Alt-Delete button and reset the team back to the start mode. Who knows what he said but it worked.
Whilst the second half did not see so much of the scintillating attacking play of the opening ten minutes, Mousehole took control from minute forty six and never let it go. Brixham barely had a shot in the second half and it was only the away side who looked like scoring. They first came close when Tim Nixon hit the bar and then they took the lead with under half an hour to go.
A move reminiscent of the first ten minutes ended with the ball at Prynn’s feet. He looked into the box and could have picked out any one of three team mates. He plumped for his fellow striker Goldsworthy who accepted the invitation with his usual calmness. Three two up with thirty to go. The Seagulls have seen situations like this many times this season from both sides of the scoreline and have on occasion let leads slip but that wasn’t going to happen here. The back four flew into every challenge and block like their lives depended on it. There simply was no way through this wall made of pasties and scones with the jam on first.
A win is always sweet but under the lights in the next-door county when breath freezes as it leaves the lungs is the sweetest of all. A young wag had taunted the boys as they arrived with shouts of: “remember when we beat you in the FA Cup” and so your reporter took much joy in wishing the same youth good luck for the rest of his cup run as we left with three points.
