Report by Neil Hocking/Clubnets. Photo by Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Torridgeside battled back from two down to beat Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police 3-2 and leave the home side bottom at Christmas.
Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police started this game in the knowledge that a point would be enough to lift them above Sidmouth Town and off the bottom of the South West Peninsula League. But despite going in two goals to the good, following a dominant first half, the home side succumbed to a spirited second half comeback from Torridgeside, ultimately losing by the narrowest of margins.
Stoke had by far the better of the first half and created the game’s first shot on target in the 9th minute. That was comfortably saved by the visiting goalkeeper who was tested again four minutes later, forced to rise and pluck Tom Kempson’s dangerous free-kick from a crowd of players in the box. Stoke kept up the tempo, pressurising the Torridgeside defence as often as possible.
To their credit, the visitors defended well, but they created nothing to trouble Stoke. Their only real chance of the half came half way through, full back Max Hammett deflecting a waist high cross into the arms of goalkeeper Sam Wells.
At the back, Stoke were vocal and well-organised, Wells and centre-back Warren Sarjantson (who can also play in goal) talking constantly to keep the home defence on their toes.
The breakthrough finally came 26 minutes in. A Stoke shot came back off the post into the path of Oli Elliott-Smith who couldn’t miss. The home side were good value for their lead and were determined to press home their advantage. Saul Vanes almost broke free on the right six minutes later but was pulled up by the referee’s flag.
Torridgeside had a rare opportunity to fashion a chance on 37 minutes with a free-kick just outside the box, but the Stoke defence cleared the danger and, three minutes later, doubled their lead. Elliott-Smith unlocked the defence with a smart pass and Vanes showed impressive composure in the box as he controlled the ball, picked his spot and beat the goalkeeper.
Having lost 3-2 at home to Elburton Villa a week earlier, it was no surprise to see Stoke push for a third before the break. Torridgeside’s left-back did superbly to keep a fired up Hammett at bay, while Rob Heaps’ valiant attempts to hook a Stoke corner back into the danger area came to nought as the referee spotted a foul in the box.
Torridgeside hadn’t registered a single shot on target in the first half, but they came out of the dressing room a transformed side. Just two minutes after the restart, they had found space in the box and beaten Wells to halve the deficit. Within ten minutes, it was all square, the visitors prodding home the loose ball after a scramble in the box. Torridgeside had Stoke on the ropes but, after surviving a penalty appeal on the hour mark, the home side composed themselves and fashioned their first chance of the half. Stoke won possession from a Torridgeside corner and were then awarded a free-kick. Elliott-Smith was put through on goal but the visiting ‘keeper was alert and just about beat him to it.
It was Wells’ turn to display his credentials next, the Stoke goalkeeper showing strength to grab the ball out of the air as Torridgeside hunted a third goal. One minute later they had it, converting a cross from the left in at the near post.
The last 20 minutes of the game was an even affair. Chey Hammond’s attack down the left was thwarted by the visiting defence on 73 minutes and, four minutes later, a Stoke player tried his luck with a long-range free-kick but didn’t trouble the goalkeeper. With 79 minutes on the clock, Torridgeside almost forced home a fourth, which would have sealed their win, but some last ditch defending kept Stoke in the game. Three minutes later, they could have been level had the visiting goalkeeper not kept his eyes on a dangerous high cross which was dropping on to his far post. With four minutes remaining, another free-kick to the far post ended with the ball coming out to Myron Vanstone, who fired over. Stoke had enough time to test the goalkeeper with a low shot in stoppage time, but they couldn’t quite grab the equaliser that would probably have been the fairest reflection of the game.