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Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive blogs about Brixham away in the Devon St Luke’s Bowl

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As we all know, the Cup Final hymn Abide With Me was written at Berry Head. Having failed to deal with The Fish, however, The Gulls departed Brixham with their tails between their legs (heads under their wings?) on Tuesday night, with their hopes of any cup run in any competition now looking more forlorn than King Billy’s statue after another spraying from the local shitehawks.

Wall Park is only about a mile- if that- from Henry Francis Lyte’s old gaff, and I was one of a bumper 900 crowd attracted by the prospect of a Bay derby in the- checks notes- Bayside Graphics Devon St Lukes Bowl. It was a beautiful night, still and clear, and I drove over in bright sunshine, looking forward to a relaxing evening watching what had been promised to be a strong Torquay side show TQ5 how good we are.

Wall Park doesn’t yet boast a turnstile, and a tenner into the till drawer on a trestle table got me in. Old school. No need to set up a ticketing account. No password needed, no screenshots required!

With no game this weekend and several players returning from injury, Torquay did take the opportunity to give several first teamers a run-out. The starting line-up featured Matty Carson, Ed Palmer, Denzel Akyeampong, Jordan Thomas, Dan Hayfield, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, and Dylan Morgan. Matt Wonnacott was in goal and the team was completed by Aidan Edwards, Fin Herbert and young striker Cody White.

I’ve been to Brixham AFC a couple of times. I saw them get hammered by a good Tavistock team in a cup tie a few years ago, but this spring they dismantled Barnstaple on their way to a play-off promotion into the giddy heights of the Southern League. They have been inconsistent this season, but have already seen off the likes of Mousehole, Falmouth and dear old Tavvy. Many predicted that they would go “straight back down”, as Curiosity Killed The Cat once sang, but they appear to be adapting to a tougher fixture list than they have been used to rather better than our friends from Truro.

Brixham weren’t fazed by their- ahem- illustrious opponents, and ripped into Torquay whenever they got a chance. The first half saw us maintain a lot of possession, but there was absolutely no cutting edge. Brixham brought pace and passion and had the only real chances.

The facilities at Wall Park are still fairly basic, but the essentials are all there. Decent floodlights, some covered standing and benches for those who enjoy a bit of comfort (I noticed they have got a few blue plastic seats for VIPs now too). They had made an effort too, with some portalooos and a can bar to take a bit of weight off the clubhouse. It’s not a ground which allows the non-league fetish of changing ends at half time, because there is no space to do it at the far end, which backs onto a housing estate.

You can tell I’m putting off writing about the second half, can’t you?

It’s got to be done. Actually, it was more exciting than the first. In a development that delighted many but surprised no-one, Cole Harford put The Fish into the lead after 53 minutes or so. I remember Cole from Colts Cricket several years ago. He was a tiny 11 year old who bowled deadly Yorkers good enough to dismiss kids several years older than him. He has gone on to become a fine local cricketer, and he kept his nerve to drive home a low shot which sent the locals wild. It took some time, but eventually the Pros started to carve out some chances. A corner miraculously stayed out, and Brixham used up a few more of their nine lives as fitness finally started to tell. We probably just about deserved Carson’s injury time leveller, which he made and took himself with a jinking run and a right foot finish into the bottom corner.

The housing estate end hosted the shoot out, and despite Wonnacott’s early save Brixham held their nerve whilst Carson and Thomas fluffed their lines.  

It was a great night for the hosts. As many will know, the current club only came into being in 2012 when Brixham United merged with Brixham Villa (a club that played host both to Torquay Talk’s very own Rachel Malloch in her playing days and to my Dad as he came to the end of his South Devon League bucket and sponge career). Thirteen years on, that looks a great decision, and a friendly club is on the up & up under the management of Tim Porter, Jason Couch and an army of volunteers. There was a plaintive appeal in the match programme for Torquay to return for a friendly next summer. Hopefully we’ll still be good enough!

COYY – Clive

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