Exmouth Town Report (as promised)

From The Exmouth Journal:

Such was the drama at Street that, in the aftermath of 'the magic moment' it had been thought - indeed reported - that skipper Jamie Dirrane scored what was certainly the 'most dramatic' Town goal, of 2019.

However, once the dust had settled on a memorable 4-3 win at Street it was decided that the winning goal was in fact scored by Jordan Harris.

That means that the Town leading scorer - both in this current season to date and the year of 2019, ended the year scoring twice in each of the final three Town games of the year!

It also means that the Town hit-man has now netted 12 goals in his last eight game s scoring in each of them with the exception of the December 7, 0-0 draw at Southern Road against Hallen.

What's more, it also means that Harris now has 38 goals to his name in 2019!

Town president John Dibsdall, who has seen so many Town games over the years, said post match at Street: "There are usually four of us who travel together to Town away games and, after the match, I said to 'Hilly' (Town manager Kevin Hill) that we have a combined age approaching 300 and moments like the last two minutes at Street are not good for our health!"

He continued: "That said, perhaps those final moments at Street were a fitting end to a year that has seen us fight to the very end in every game and, even in the two league games that we have lost since this season started, we have been the better side from first kick to last in each of the second halves of those games at Parkway and Keynsham."

Results PM Saturday 28th December

I have to be happy today.

I just put all the results in my spreadsheet and there is nothing but GREEN to show.

There was a postponed match at the bottom of the list but the other results were all good.

Broadclyst beat Witheridge 2nds 4-2.

Elmore 2nds beat Beer Albion 2nds 6-2.

And now the results that interest those of you that follow the pyramid:

Exmouth Town travelled to Street and came away with a 4-3 win.
It sounds like a good match and if I find a match report I will let you know.

Weymouth were at home to Oxford City and emerged from the match with a 2-1 victory.

Torquay were drawing 1-1 with Woking at half time but wound up 4-1 winners.

All in all a good day with more to come tomorrow.

Results PM Thursday 26th December

Arsenal travelled to Bournemouth and went a goal behind. This is not unusual nor is the fact that it was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who equalised in the second half. The match finished 1-1.

Brentford welcomed Swansea City. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring and this was followed by two goals from Ollie Watkins. Swansea got a goal back in return and the match finished 3-1.

Southend United entertained Milton Keynes Dons. The Dons took the lead twice but two equalisers from Jason Demetriou and Rob Kiernan proved that defenders can score to keep a team in contention which they did as the match ended 2-2.

Lee Martin's 14th-minute goal was enough for Exeter City to bring victory at home to Newport County.

Courtney Duffus scored a hat-trick as Yeovil beat Torquay 6-2 to move level on points with National League leaders Barrow. Asa Hall and Ben Whitfield scored for Torquay.

Weymouth were due to take on Havant & Waterlooville but the waterlogged pitch prevented the match from going ahead.

Tiverton Town travelled to Truro City and came away with a 3-3 draw.

Barnstaple travelled to Bideford and twice went ahead before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat.

My current Western League pick Exmouth Town beat my old Western League pick Buckland Athletic 4-2. That sounds like it might have been a good match to watch.

Elmore and Liverton results have not appeared so I assume that they were postponed due to the rain which continues to pour day after day after day. This is more than forty days and forty nights so what does that mean?

Amazon Prime was the service provided today.

Results PM Saturday 21st December = A long day continues

I have the Liverpool v. Flamengo match on in the window beside this one. It is still Nil Nil as I write but Liverpool are peppering the Flamengo goal. Barbosa hits the ball over the bar for Flamengo.

I watched Everton play Arsenal in the match where both defences are considered so bad that we were guaranteed a goal fest. Naturally the match finished Nil Nil. Maybe the threat of the two new managers woke both defences up a bit.

Brentford travelled to West Bromwich Albion and earned a 1-1 draw.

Southend travelled to Bolton Wanderers and went down 3-2.

Exeter were 3-2 down to Walsall at half time but equalised in the second half for a 3-3 draw.

Both National League sides lost:

Chesterfield turned up at Torquay and won the match 3-0.

St Albans City travelled to Weymouth and won their match 1-0.

The Southern League gave me one win and one defeat. You can already guess.

Tiverton Town travelled to Dorchester Town and trounced them 5-1.

Barnstaple returned to form with a 2-0 defeat at home to Evesham Town.

From Exmouth in the Western League down all matches were postponed due to torrential rain.

Rain, Rain, Go Away. Do not return until the end of May.

Reporting AM Saturday 21st December = The shortest day

SO! What happened this week?

Arsenal lost 3-0 to Manchester City on Monday, a match which saw the end of the Freddie Ljungberg reign. Mickel Arteta has now been appointed manager of Arsenal. He has good strong ideas but will they translate to performances on the field. His management of Mesut Ozil will be a key factor.

Tiverton Town travelled to Blackfield & Langley on Tuesday managing a 1-0 win so the Tiverton story continues to be a good one.

Barnstaple took on Larkhall Athletic at home and managed a rare win 3-1. Any more scores like that and I will have to visit the ground and watch them live.

Today we can expect results from:

1) Everton v. Arsenal
2) West Bromwich Albion v. Brentford
3) Bolton Wanderers v. Southend United
4) Exeter v. Walsall
5) Torquay United v. Chesterfield
6) Weymouth v. St Albans City
7) Dorchester Town v. Tiverton Town
8) Barnstaple Town v. Evesham United
9) Exmouth Town v. Plymouth Parkway
10) Elmore Eagles v. Sidmouth Town
11) Liverton United v. Exmouth Town Reserves

The local league matches are mine to follow and nothing to do with you.

Results PM Saturday 14th December

From the lower levels up:

Most of the local league matches were postponed due to this incessant weather. I have checked the wood outside every day for the last two months and although it has partially dried it has not been fully dry since October. The backlog must be huge by now so special measures will be needed and I am expecting to see incomplete tables at the end of the season.

Now;

11) Shock of shocks. They play much better when I am not watching. Liverton beat Topsham 4-1.

10) Elmore travelled to Newton Abbot Spurs and came away 4-2 winners.

9) Exmouth Town took on Bridport away and beat them 3-1. Three wins from three at this point.

8) Barnstaple Town, my weakest club, surrendered to Cirencester Town 2-1 away.

7) Tiverton Town were due to play Farnborough at home but this weather saw the match postponed.

6) Weymouth went to Barnet for their F.A.Trophy matched and lost 2-1 to the team one level above.

5) Torquay were at home to Aldershot Town and won convincingly by 5 goals to 1.

4) Exeter had a good result after losing to Hartlepool in the cup, the beat Salford 1-0 away.

3) Southend welcomed Rotherham United to Roots Hall and gave them a chance to draw 2-2.

2) Brentford took on local rivals Fulham at home and bragging rights go to Brentford 1-0.

1) Arsenal play tomorrow.

Reporting AM Saturday December 14th

Arsenal won at last on Monday night, beating West Ham 3-1 although not before going a goal behind. Fortunately I know that whenever West Ham score they sit back and let teams come at them which is what we did and they paid for it.

On Wednesday evening Brentford continued the current good run by beating Cardiff City 2-1. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins sealed the win in the first half.

Thursday evening saw Arsenal qualify in the Europa League but not without the usual worries on the way. Standard Liege went 2-0 up in the 69th minute and Eintracht Frankfurt were beating Vitoria at the time. We were out. Goals from Alexander Lacazette in the 78th minute and from Bukayo Saka in the 81st minute saw us see off the threat from Liege but as the night wore on Vitoria went and stayed ahead against Eintracht Frankfurt meaning that we were safely through whatever happened. Liege could have gone through with us given one more goal. It did not happen. The match ended 2-2.

The matches this weekend are :-

Arsenal are at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

The other matches take place today:

Brentford at home to Fulham.
Southend at home to Rotherham United.
Exeter away to the new Manchester United, Salford City.

It must be F.A.Trophy Day with no National League matches for my picks.

Torquay United are at home to Aldershot Town in the First Round of the F.A.Trophy.
Weymouth are away to Barnet having beaten Hastings United in the previous round.

Tiverton Town are at home to Farnborough in the Southern League.
Barnstaple Town are away to Cirencester Town in the Southern League Division One South.

Exmouth Town are away to Bridport in the Western League Premier Division.

Elmore Eagles are away to Newton Abbot Spurs in the South West Peninsula League Premier East.

Liverton are at home to Topsham Town in the Devon League North & East Division.

My local league opponents are Colyton, Newtown, Tedburn St Mary, Winkleigh, Sidmouth Town, Witheridge, Chagford, Priory and HT Dons. You need not worry about those. They are for me.

Good luck to whoever you are supporting today.

Mostly defeats for my lot : 7th December

Brentford travelled to Sheffield Wednesday and went down 2-1.

Southend travelled to Bristol Rovers and went down 2-4.

Exeter took on Northampton Town at home and won 3-2.

Torquay travelled to Harrogate Town and lost the match 2-1.

Weymouth travelled to Dorking Wanderers and lost 1-0.

Tiverton had a successful trip to Harrow Borough winning the match 6-1.

Barnstaple welcomed Melksham Town to their own patch and lost the game 3-1.

Exmouth Town had a home fixture against Hallen but there were no goals in the 0-0 draw.

Elmore travelled to Cullompton Rangers and came away having been defeated 2-1.

Liverton (near the bottom) travelled to Exwick Villa (2nd place) and lost the match 10-2.

It does seem that the Liverton 1-0 win last week was a bit of an anomaly.

Last Week and This Week : 1st - 7th December

Arsenal continued the poor run of form with an away draw at Norwich. I realise how lucky I am to support a team where an away draw is a bad result. Pukki gave Norwich the lead before Aubameyang equalised with a retaken penalty. Cantwell then gave Norwich the lead for the second time and we relied once again on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to earn us a point. "Something better change."

In the Championship Brentford took on Luton and ran out 7-0 winners. Something is very right at my Championship club. The goals came from Mbeumo, Watkins, Jensen, Dasilva (3) and Benrahma. Two late penalties indicate how Luton were feeling by the end of the match.

 Exeter drew 2-2 at home to Hartlepool United in the second round of the F.A.Cup. The Exeter goals came from Ryan Bowman and Nigel Atangana.

Torquay United took on Stockport  County at home but capitulated to their visitors and went down 5-1 which is a terrible result for a home team. Something is wrong at Plainmoor.

Weymouth had to challenge Hungerford Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium (formerly Wessex Stadium). The team achieved the same result as their last home game running out 2-1 winners.

There were two defeats for my teams in the Southern League. Tiverton Town went down 3-2 at home to Gosport Borough and Barnstaple travelled to Highworth Town where they lost 2-1.

My favourite team this season who are doing very well even though they were promoted at the end of last season are Exmouth Town who were at home to Shepton Mallet and ran out 2-1 winners.

Elmore took on Millbrook in the South West Peninsula League with the match ending 2-2. This suggests that the match was an open one allowing both sides to mount attacks on the opposing goal.

My home village were due to take on Exmouth Town Reserves but that match was postponed which is probably a good thing as the match that actually took place saw Liverton beat Budleigh Salterton 1-0 for only their second win of the season. That is enough to keep them just above the two relegation places.

As you now know all my other teams play in the local league, outside of the pyramid, so you are not entitled to know what happened to them. Cronies beat Buckland Reserves in the Devon Premier Cup.
Elmore 3rds beat Bradninch 4-2 in Division Six. All the other results were worse and there were many postponements.

On Tuesday 3rd Southend travelled to Burton Albion in a rearranged fixture and the match ended 1-1.

On Wednesday 4th Exeter fought out a 0-0 draw with Oxford United in the Second Round of the EFL Trophy. Exeter won through 3-0 on penalties.

On Thursday Arsenal produced the worst result in their result bout of bad form. Brighton came to the Emirates Stadium and served up a deserved 2-1 win. Unai Emery is gone but Freddie Ljungberg is continuing the lack of improvement match by match. Defensive coach Steve Bould has to go.

This weekend:
1) Arsenal are away to West Ham on Monday.
2) Brentford travel to Sheffield Wednesday.
3) Southend have gone across the country to Bristol Rovers.
4) Exeter are at home to Northampton Town
5) Torquay are visiting Harrogate Town on the way to mother Shipton's cave at Knaresborough.
6) Weymouth have a trip to Dorking Wanderers before they walk beside the river Thames.
7) Tiverton Town are away at Harrow Borough.
8) Barnstaple are at home to Melksham Town.
9) Exmouth Town are at home to Hallen.
10) Elmore travel to Cullompton Rangers.
11) Liverton United are away to Exwick Villa.
The other nine fixtures are mine to know.

Have a good match viewer.