The season has begun

 1) Premier League

The first match of the season was Fulham v. Arsenal as the kick-off time was 12:30pm. I watched it on the television and saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put in a match winning performance. The opening goal was not a classic but PEA chased down the ball on the left wing and turned the ball into Xhaka who got his usual off target shot in. Willian was in the right place to pick it up and shoot at the keeper. The save was a push into the path of Alexander Lacazette who touched the ball over the line from a metre out.

Willian hit the post with his free kick before delivering a perfect cross from a corner for Gabriel to nod in a goal in his first game for the gunners. Two goals to the good and Arsenal were cruising.

PEA smashed the third goal in from the corner of the penalty box to give my boys the best possible start to the season.

Fulham 0 Arsenal 3

2) Football League Championship

Brentford lost their opening game of the season away to Birmingham. I have just watched the highlights and it seemed to me to be chance after chance after chance for Brentford, a Birmingham corner that found a head and into the net then more Brentford chances so let me check the statistics ...

POSSESSION = Birmingham 37 - Brentford 63%

SHOTS = Birmingham 11 - Brentford 16

SHOTS ON TARGET = Birmingham 3 - Brentford 4

I think there is enough evidence to say that Brentford had most of the game but lacked something, perhaps an Ollie Watkins. My Championship pick will have to be much more clinical in front of goal.

Birmingham 1 Brentford 0

3) Football League One

One of my new teams for this season is Plymouth Argyle. Last week they beat Queens Park Rangers by three goals to two in the Carabao Cup. This week the league campaign started at home to Blackpool. A single goal decided the match.

Plymouth Argyle 1 Blackpool 0

4) Football League Two

Exeter City are now a regular in my blog and last week they lost 2-0 away to Bristol City. Following this they took on Forest Green Rovers in a midweek match for the EFL Trophy. This home match was won 3-2 and was good preparation for the start of the league season. The campaign started away to Salford City. Salford took an early lead but Exeter came back at them with two goals of their own. Salford equalised in the second half to earn both sides a point.

Salford City 2 Exeter City 2

5) National League

Weymouth have just been promoted from the National League South so I would expect this level to be a bit more of a challenge. A midweek friendly saw Weymouth beat Dorchester Town 3-1 away. This weekend the friendly was against Poole Town at home and resulted in a 4-0 win. So far, confidence is high and Weymouth have a 100% record in the friendlies they have played. The league season does not start until October.

Weymouth 4 Poole Town 0

6) National League South

Bath City are another new team to my blog. I still have a lot to learn about this side. Following draws with Salisbury City and Weston-super-Mare my chosen team at this level travelled to Swindon to take on their Supermarine side and came away with a 4-0 win. There is hope for me at this level.

Swindon Supermarine 0 Bath City 4

7) Southern League Premier Division South

Tiverton Town had no match this weekend but have won more than they have lost in their pre-season friendlies. The most recent match was last weekend when they lost 3-0 at home to Bideford but look back a couple of weeks and they beat Bideford 2-1 away. The real action starts next week with a home match in the league against Wimborne Town.

NO MATCH

8) Southern League Division One South

Barnstaple Town have had two bad seasons on the trot escaping relegation twice, first time with a reprieve and second time with COVID cancellation of the season. This year they really need to put together a strong team to establish their place at this level. On Saturday my selection competed in the F.A.Cup preliminary round. This was a home match against Helston Athletic. A good result means that Barnstaple are through to the next round of the cup.

Barnstaple Town 2 Helston Athletic 0

9) Western League Premier Division

A week and a half ago Exmouth Town were beating Keynsham Town 3-1 in the F.A.Cup then midweek this week Exmouth started the league campaign with a 2-0 defeat away to Plymouth Parkway. The F.A.Cup was the focus again this week as Town took on Melksham Town at home. The result is that the F.A.Cup campaign is over for another season.

Exmouth Town 0 Melksham Town 2

10) South West Peninsula League Premier Division East

I fear for Bovey Tracey, my pick at this level, as they lost all their pre-season friendlies. This week they started the league campaign and things seem to be even worse. 

On Wednesday the league campaign started with a negative result at home.

Bovey Tracey 0 Brixham 6

On Saturday the bad news continued with another home defeat.

Bovey Tracey 0 Torpoint Athletic 4

This could prove to be a very long season for Bovey Tracey. They have a lovely little ground and bar though so I am sure I will pop in at some point, maybe when they have found some footballing talent to go with their ground.

11) Devon Football League

It is not just the first team at Bovey Tracey that is finding life difficult. The reserves took on my pick at this level, Liverton United, on Friday night and managed to lose as well.

Bovey Tracey Reserves 2 Liverton United 4

Maybe I should have gone to watch this one but under Boris' you can no you cannot rules I am not sure whether I am allowed to so I shall stay home.

That is the end of my official pyramid report but you know I cannot get enough so on into my pyramid base selections:

12) South Devon League Premier Division

I have chosen Buckfastleigh Rangers at this level and it seems to be a good pick so far.

5th September : Buckfastleigh Rangers 4 Salcombe Town 2

12th September : Buckfastleigh Rangers 3 Ivybridge Town Reserves 1

Two wins out of two in the league is a good start to the season.

13) South Devon League Division One

Ashburton who are just down the road from us have made a reasonable start away from home.

Beesands Rovers 2 Ashburton 2

14) South Devon League Division Two

I definitely have to go and watch my pick at this level. The start to the season has been a flyer.

5th September : Ilsington Villa 9 Torbay Police Reserves 1

12th September : Bishopsteignton United 2 Ilsington Villa 9

I am SO disappointed that my team could not reach double figures.

15) South Devon League Division Three

Some good results in the pre-season friendlies for my Liverton Reserves team, but the league has now started and it was not the best beginning.

Totnes & Dartington 2nds 5 Liverton United 2nds 3

There is room for improvement but it was an away fixture. The home results will be the measure of the team.

THE WOMEN

My results sheet now contains the women's results and you already know about Arsenal beating West Ham United away by 9 goals to 1 so I just have to add the only other result on my sheet.

Durham United Women 3 Lewes Ladies 0

I hope that Lewes can turn that result into motivation for the future.

Enjoy your week. Watch some football (if Boris says Yes!).