Mousehole 4-0 Willand Rovers
The day had started with a crisis at the merchandise hut when the door could not be opened. Luckily for all the Christmas shoppers that problem was overcome but it took much longer than Mousehole took to unlock the Willand defence. “We’ve scored too early” is not something anyone has ever said so when Ryan Barrett netted in the second minute there was general delight and joy all around Trungle Parc.
The goal came when Tallan Mitchell flicked a pass to Hayden Turner. He got to it just before it crossed the byline and pulled it back to the onrushing Barrett. The galloping Geordie took one touch and lashed it across the keeper into the far side netting just inside the post. Actually, some people suggested it was a cross that took a lucky deflection but it’s Christmas so let’s be generous. He’s had a stop-go season with injuries so it was nice to see him in the scoresheet.
Six minutes later Barrett turned provider when he rolled a pass into the box for the waiting Mitchell. Tallan took a steadying touch then lashed it into the top corner. Actually, some people suggested that it took a deflection off a defender which took it over the keeper but it’s Christmas etc etc. Regardless of how the ball went it, two nil up within ten minutes was exactly what the seagulls needed after Tuesday defeat to Westbury.
Christmas truly did arrive early just after the quarter hour when Mitchell nicked the ball off the centre half about thirty yards out. He hurtled into the box just to the right of centre and whipped the ball in off the post to his left. Actually, some people suggested that he scuffed his shot and this sent the keeper the wrong way but it’s Christmas etc etc.
Three nil up with not twenty minutes gone and you could have been forgiven for thinking it was all over. The crowd sat back and waited for more goals to come but Willand made some slight tactical adjustments to close down the wide open spaces into which Mousehole had been running. They did create some openings at the other end but their shooting boots had been left at home and Ollie Chenoweth’s gloves were only needed to keep him warm.
The only thing missing from match was a first goal for Oscar Massey on his first start for the club. Fans waiting for that moment only had to wait ten minutes in to the second half. Paulo Sousa broke up a Willand attack and strode away from the Mousehole box with purpose. He passed to Massey who received the ball a good fifteen yards inside his own half but ahead of him was just one defender and a lot of grass. He sped off at pace and ran past the centre half as though he were stuck in cement. He sprinted towards the box as Turner’s run distracted the other defenders. Arriving in the box towards the right he looked up and rocketed the ball into the roof of the net. Actually, some people suggested that he…no they didn’t suggest anything else because that’s exactly what happened. A fabulous finish, a great way to get his first goal for the club and a lovely way to close the match down. At four nil all that was left was to secure the clean sheet and a really solid backline did just that. Four goals, three points and a clean sheet. Happy Christmas indeed.
