Exmouth Town 3-0 Mousehole
Western League Premier Division
Wednesday 9th March 2022
At Southern Road
Summary
Mousehole were out-gunned by their hard-working promotion-chasing rivals on a soggy evening on the south Devon coast, where the conditions generally worked against The Seagulls’ style of play
Pre-match points
It’s a really big match between second and third in the race for promotion from the Western League Premier to the Southern League at Step 4. A win for Exmouth would see them go just a point behind leaders Tavistock, while victory for Mousehole would take them to within three points of the top spot with two games in hand. Whatever the result tonight, the return fixture at Mousehole on 26th March could be even more important.
This match was originally scheduled by the League for Saturday 30th April – the last match of the season – but was re-arranged after the FA announced that date would be reserved for the non-league play-offs.
Two seasons ago, Mousehole – then in the league below – visited Exmouth Town in their first-ever FA Vase tie and gained a creditable 0-0 draw at full time before losing in the penalty shoot-out.
Callam Mconie returns to the match-day squad after a three-match suspension, replacing Andy Elcock on the substitutes’ bench in the only change from last Saturday’s 3-0 win at home against Ilfracombe Town.
After prolonged rain, the pitch at Southern Road is very wet and soft, and with the rain continuing the surface is likely to deteriorate during the game. A crowd of 300 to 400 was expected but the weather has reduced that number significantly.
The key moments
11 minutes: GOAL FOR EXMOUTH TOWN. A lofted free kick from the right of the penalty area is headed down and over the line by ACE HIGH close to the far post, with the visitors complaining about a push inside the six yard box. 1-0 to the hosts.
12 minutes: A Mousehole half-chance – a through-ball sees Tallan Mitchell sprint past keeper Robbie Powell but it’s at a wide angle and a covering defender clears the danger
25 minutes: Another sight of goal for Mousehole as Hayden Turner fires in a right-footer from the edge of the box with keeper Powell beating it away at full stretch
27 minutes: Clear chance for an equaliser – Mark Goldsworthy seizes on an error at the back and has only the keeper to beat but hurriedly shoots wide of the near post from inside the area
30 minutes gone – Mousehole are on the front foot, but both sides are regularly mis-placing passes on the slippery surface
35 minutes: Hayden Turner sends in an inviting long cross from the left and Louis Price glances his header wide as he’s challenged mid-air by the keeper
38 minutes: GOAL FOR EXMOUTH. A set piece comes in low from the right where JORDAN HARRIS has time and space to turn and drill a low left footer into the corner of the net from 12 yards. The hosts are 2-0 up.
45+2 minutes: That’s half-time. The Seagulls have a lot to do to get something from the match against strong and determined opponents.
The second half:
47 minutes: Levi Landricombe is not far wide with a looping header for Exmouth
50 minutes: Mousehole put together a quick move out of defence ending with Robbie Powell smothering Hayden Turner’s goalbound drive
51 minutes: The visitors come so close! Keeper Powell flaps at a left-sided corner as he’s challenged by Mark Richards, Louis Price drives the loose ball low towards goal where it beats the keeper and looks certain to go in before it rebounds off Richards who cant get out of the way. A big let-off for the home side!
63 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Mark Goldsworthy is replaced by Callam Mconie, who goes over to the right with Louis Price now in the centre
Half-way through the second period: Mousehole are playing much better than in the first half but Exmouth are hustling them all over the pitch
70 minutes: GOAL FOR EXMOUTH. Levi Landricombe turns on the 18-yard line and chips a well-judged left-footed shot against the post with Ollie Chenoweth at full stretch, the ball rebounds kindly for JORDAN HARRIS and he guides his header into the empty net. Exmouth now 3-0 in the lead.
71 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Steve Burt is replaced in midfield by Jared Sims
76 minutes: The conditions underfoot are getting more difficult, but Mousehole mount another attack down the left flank, with Tallan Mitchell’s shot blocked by a defender and Hayden Turner driving wide of the far post.
79 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Paulo Sousa is replaced by Jack Symons, with Jack Calver dropping into a more defensive midfield position and the young sub joining the attack
90 minutes: Callam Mconie hits the near side-netting with a drive from the corner of the penalty area
90+2 minutes: Jack Symons hits the far post with a floated cross from the right, Tallan Mitchell collects the loose ball but hits keeper Robbie Powell with his shot. A couple of moments which prove it hasn’t been Mousehole’s night!
90+5 minutes: At full-time it’s Exmouth Town 3-0 Mousehole. An efficient performance by the home side in very wet conditions, with Mousehole not able to impose themselves on the play.
What this result means for Mousehole
A positive result for Mousehole would have been useful, but a win for Exmouth was vital. The Seagulls are now five points behind Exmouth and six behind leaders Tavistock but have two games in hand on each of them, albeit with an inferior goal difference. All three teams have some difficult fixtures remaining, including Exmouth v Tavistock in the last-but-one match of the season.
Mousehole line-up (with used substitutes):
Ollie Chenoweth (GK), Billy Curtis (C), Mark Richards, Max Hill, Paulo Sousa (Jack Symons), Steve Burt (Jared Sims), Tallan Mitchell, Jack Calver, Louis Price, Mark Goldsworthy (Callam Mconie), Hayden Turner. Other substitutes: Josh Otto, Kyle Fraser
Match officials: Matthew Uren (Referee) with Robert Williams & Dylan Williams (Assistants)
Attendance: 183
Next fixtures for Mousehole
This Saturday 12th March, Home v Bridport, 3pm
Next Saturday 19th March, Away v Buckland Athletic, 3pm
Saturday 26th March, Home v Exmouth Town, 3pm
Wednesday 30th March, Away v Helston athletic, 7.45pm
