‘Frustrated’ Newton Abbot Spurs squander late lead

NEWTON Abbot Spurs thought they’d secured a third victory of their league campaign when Dev Webb struck late on Saturday, September 26, only for Middlezoy Rovers to peg them back minutes after.

Talking of thirds and this game, a third in eight days, brought to an end a busy week which saw Spurs lose to Cullompton Rangers the weekend prior before exiting the St Luke’s Challenge Cup against Holsworthy AFC on penalties.

The hosts enjoyed a bright start at The Rec with a plethora of opportunities from both the edge of the area and from set-pieces.

They just couldn’t break the Middlezoy resolve though and in the words of “incredibly frustrated” manager Matt Hayden, “That seems to be our story at the minute.”

He continued: “It was just wave after wave after wave of attack from us, the amount of chances we created, it could have been four or five in the first half.”

Attacking duo Jesse Howe and Tom Burt went the closest, whilst, at the other end, young Harry Meaden came out quickly to shut down a Rovers opportunity from close range.

Following a dominant half hour, Spurs then became a bit looser in possession and this invited their guests onto them but the sides couldn’t be separated going into the break.

A pair of corners extended the set-piece onslaught but Spurs heads and feet alike, couldn’t steer it on target.

Saul Vanes tends to receive plenty of the ball and a sizzling shot of his deflected within inches of the top corner.

As Spurs continued to turn the screw, an inspired double change from Hayden made the difference. Jacob Osborne and Dev Webb entered the fray, replacing Harry Page and Jordan Hogan.

Osborne brought an added impetus in the middle of the park and Webb a varying threat up front alongside Howe.

Burt’s initial cross was thwarted but he was first to the second ball and he sent it into the path of Webb who stole in to poke home the opener.

Hayden labelled the goalscorer as a “nuisance”, adding: “It was a typical Dev goal, the ball comes in and it’s someone getting across his man and getting anything on it.

“I’m absolutely delighted for him, stepping up from the 2nd team and coming off the bench to score. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Spurs then had something to hold onto and perhaps this could have even kickstarted their campaign.

It wasn’t to be though as Middlezoy hit back in the final moments of normal time. Meaden repelled the first ball in, the second was blocked by a flying defender but it was third time lucky as Harrison Price picked out the side netting.

Spurs went in search of another go-ahead goal but to no avail and it felt like two points dropped after taking the lead late on.

They just weren’t clinical enough and that has been a familiar story in Hayden’s tenure to date- he said as much himself.

“On paper, the quality that we have is right up there but the chances, we’re just not capitalising on them and in football, if you’re on top in games, you need to make these chances count. They need to be going in.”

Regarding the Zoy’s equaliser, Hayden commented: “To concede in the manner we did at the end was so poor. It’s basics.”

In hindsight, it really could have been a different afternoon had Spurs burst the net in the first half.

“The boys need to look at themselves. I’ll back them to my last dying breath and I always will but ultimately, we’re drawing and losing games from not taking our chances when they come and they need to take responsibility for that.”

Spurs are now delighted to be without a midweek fixture, allowing them an opportunity to address their shortcomings in the final third.

They return to action on Saturday, October 3, with a trip to Honiton Town, before then hosting high-flyers Elburton Villa on Tuesday 6.