Clevedon Town 0-2 Mousehole
Western League Premier Division
Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd January 2023
At the ‘Everyone Active’ Hand Stadium
Scorers: Jack Bray-Evans (25’), Hayden Turner (45+3’)
Clinical finishing in a difficult tightly-fought contest enabled injury-hit Mousehole to gain the points that take them up to third place in the League table and put them in a good position to challenge for a promotion spot in the second half of the season
THE KEY POINTS
Today’s match has a distinct maritime theme as The Seagulls visit The Seasiders in north Somerset.
Continuous 70-mile traffic congestion all the way northbound up the M5 has significantly delayed Mousehole’s arrival, and the host club and referee have agreed to re-schedule the kick off to 3.30pm.
Both teams are on a commendable undefeated run of games, with Clevedon no doubt looking to be the first team this season to inflict a League defeat on the visitors.
Mousehole have four defenders unavailable today, so the ability to keep the home side at bay will be a real test of the squad’s strength and versatility.
It’s a cold, bright afternoon, and the pitch surface is soft.
……….
Goal for Mousehole on 25 minutes: Captain Jack Calver brings the ball forward from his central defensive position and passes left to Hayden Turner, who goes outside the full back to the byeline and chips a cross to the far post where JACK BRAY-EVANS has come in from the right to head home from inside the six-yard box – his debut goal for The Seagulls.
Goal for Mousehole on 45+3 minutes: Seconds before half-time, great work on the right gives Reece Thomson the opening for a fierce drive from the inside corner of the penalty area, keeper Luca Smith parries the shot but the alert HAYDEN TURNER is first to the loose ball to convert high into the net from 8 yards.
At half-time Mousehole lead by 2-0 after a composed opening period.
54 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Jack Bray-Evans is replaced by Jude Boyd on the right-hand side of attack
71 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Reece Thomson is replaced by Andy Elcock in midfield
71 minutes: Tallan Mitchell is fouled for a penalty as he jinks forward on the left in the box. He’s clearly injured and in a lot of pain, and play is held up for over two minutes as he receives on-field attention.
74 minutes: Mousehole substitution – Tallan Mitchell is replaced by Callam Mconie
74 minutes: Hayden Turner strikes the spot kick firmly and keeper Luca Smith makes a brilliant flying save – a replica of the penalty save he made against the same player at Trungle Parc last season
90+2 minutes: Mousehole’s last substitute – Mark Goldsworthy is replaced by Aaron Dilley in a defensive midfield position, as Mousehole look to repel the wave of Clevedon attacks that have been coming at regular intervals since the penalty save
90+9 minutes: The full-time whistle blows and it’s Clevedon Town 0-2 Mousehole, a great afternoon’s work in all departments – marred only by a serious-looking injury to Tallan Mitchell*.
*Thanks to Clevedon’s prompt help, Tallan Mitchell is taken to the local hospital where an X-Ray reveals a fractured collar bone.
CONCLUSION
Mousehole’s win is made all the sweeter by news of defeat for both leaders Saltash and second-place Bridgwater, and a draw for third-place Shepton Mallet.
This moves The Seagulls up into third place in the table at the start of the second half of the League season, now just 8 points adrift of leaders Saltash with 4 games in hand, and 7 points behind second-place Bridgwater with two games in hand.
Mousehole’s home and away games against Bridgwater – the first being away at Fairfax Park this coming Saturday – will be important – though, with another 15 games to play, not decisive
MOUSEHOLE line-up at Clevedon (with used substitutes):
Ollie Chenoweth (GK), Steve Burt, Max Hill, Jack Calver (Captain), Kyle Fraser, Reece Thomson (Andy Elcock), Tallan Mitchell (Callam Mconie), Paulo Sousa, Jack Bray-Evans (Jude Boyd), Mark Goldsworthy (Aaron Dilley), Hayden Turner.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Michael Halford (Referee) with Callum Taylor-Barry and Andrew Davey (Assistant Referees)
ATTENDANCE: 174
NEXT FIXTURES FOR MOUSEHOLE
Saturday 7th January, 3pm
Away v Bridgwater United (WLP)
TUESDAY 10th JANUARY, 7.45pm
HOME v BUCKLAND ATHLETIC
Les Phillips (WL) Cup 1st Round
SATURDAY 14th JANUARY, 3pm
HOME v WELTON ROVERS (WLP)
Saturday 21st January, 2pm
Away v Millbrook (WLP)
Saturday 28th January 3pm
Away v Street (WLP)
