MATCH REPORT

DEVON & EXETER LEAGUE SENIOR ONE

SATURDAY 29 DECEMBER 2007

BUDLEIGH SALTERTON  (1)  1

v

WILLAND (0) 1

Budleigh welcomed in-form Willand to Greenway Lane and a tough game was expected.  It was Budleigh who made a fine start and took the lead after fifthteen minutes when Scott Howarth's clever back heel and then cross was met by Scott Thornhill and he struck the post only to smash home the rebound. Thornhills strong run and shot then clipped the outside of the post. Willand then had a long range effort that hit the bar and bounced out. Budleigh really should have made more of the chances which came their way in the first half but looked far the better side when half-time came

The second half was a different matter and Willand showed what a good footballing side they are, putting Budleigh's defence of Bennett, Pallett, Wicks and Bradshaw under pressure. They got their equalizer with twenty minutes remaining to set up a fine finish.   With ten minutes left Thornhill got away down the right and forced the visiting keeper into a fine save.  From the resulting corner Steve Tweedie really should have scored from six yards out but his header flew over. This was Budleigh's twelth game unbeaten and they will be looking to extend that next week at home to Broadclyst when leading scorer Simon Rose returns from visiting family for Christmas.

Starman Scott Thornhill.

Squad - B EVANS, BRADSHAW , PALLETT, BENNETT, WICKS, MORTIMORE, C HIGHAM, POULTON, THORNHILL, HOWARTH, D EVANS

SUBS -TWEEDIE, R HIGHAM (PLAYED), OWEN

Man of the match David Evans, but Aaron Poulton and Brad Evans pushed him close.

SQUAD - B EVANS, BRADSHAW, PALLETT, OWEN,C HIGHAM, THORNHILL, B WRIGHT, POULTON, LAVIS, HOWARTH, D EVANS

SUBS - WICKS, MORTIMORE, TWEEDIE (Played)

Report by Alex Freer