10-men Newton Abbot Spurs suffer shootout heartbreak

NEWTON Abbot Spurs fell at the first hurdle of the St Luke’s Challenge Cup when they were beaten in a penalty shootout by Holsworthy AFC on Tuesday evening (Sept 22).

Manager Matt Hayden was glad to see “a much better performance” though, he said: “I asked the boys for a response from the weekend and I saw that.”

They were certainly a level above the display from a few days prior in their league defeat to Cullompton Rangers.

Talking of Cully and the big team news for Spurs was that goalkeeper Jimmy Weeks had made the switch to Adopstar Park since Saturday’s game, young Harry Meaden stepping in to fill the void last night.

On this, Hayden commented: “He’s given Sam and I incredible loyalty and he’s got that opportunity now so all the best to him.

“I look to move on straightaway as I have done, Harry isn’t really tested at this level but I thought he did brilliantly.”

The first chance saw a Holsworthy effort flashed across his goal but Meaden calmly watched it fly wide.

Spurs enjoyed a bright start and had their attacking cohort linking up well from the off.

Tom Burt, Saul Vanes and Jesse Howe all got shots off and were working cohesively, Howe in particular staying resolute and evading two defenders but the effort on goal didn’t match his build-up play.

It was at the opposite end of the field that the opener came though and it was gifted to Holsworthy in truth.

Skipper Will Hancox’s back pass to Meaden was short and allowed Chris Wildern to steal in, knock it to the byline and convert into the empty net after just over 30 minutes.

Rather than crumbling, Spurs rallied together and hit back pretty quickly.

Burt’s effort from the edge of the area deflected behind and from the subsequent corner, Jordan Hogan hooked the ball over the line to make it one apiece.

Holsworthy were complaining that the initial corner had gone out, receiving a second yellow card in as many minutes for their troubles.

Spurs completely flipped the script when Hancox fired beyond visiting ‘keeper Ryan Chadwick but it didn’t count, the ref having blown his whistle seconds earlier.

Jaden Bond went on a driving run from fullback and a loose touch saw a Holsworthy defender hammer it into him, falling kindly for Hancox to convert. Spurs said it “cannoned off of his head” but the ref adjudged it as a handball, although “he said he thinks he got it wrong” at half-time to Hayden.

They didn’t let this affect them moving into the second half, the forwards continuing to combine well.

There were chances in the match for Holsworthy too, one into the side netting and another forcing Meaden into a good save.

Two quick-fire cards went the way of Tyler Yendle and Jesse Howe and after a push at a throw-in, Holsworthy were calling for the latter to be sent off.

A snapshot from Vanes nearly caught Chadwick off guard whilst, in the next passage, he had Howe in acres of space screaming for the ball but went alone and dragged it wide.

The red mist did descend but it was Yendle who was given his marching orders and not Howe. He was clearly second to the challenge but it looked as if the ref delayed and delayed before producing a yellow card and then the red.

Loud appeals for a handball from the resulting free-kick were ignored.

By this point, Hayden had sent on Rob Heaps and Jack Goodall for Harry Page and Sam Hancox respectively, Heaps making a few vital interceptions.

Now with a man advantage, Holsworthy smelt blood and were desperately searching for a late winner.

It looked inevitable that they’d strike, getting closer and closer with every attempt, but Meaden continued to stand strong and he was helped out by a rock-solid defensive unit in front of him.

Spurs hung on and forced a penalty shootout but Meaden was unable to continue his heroics, Holsworthy finding the net with all five of their attempts.

Will Hancox and goalscorer Hogan were successful for the hosts, Vanes seeing his spot-kick batted away before Burt and Howe also scored.

“It was just that one error for the goal that’s killed us and then the red card put us under a lot of pressure for the last 15 minutes or so,” said Hayden, after the final whistle.

He continued: “We’ve created a huge amount of chances and we should be doing better with them.

“We should be making better decisions when we get into the final third, a few times, if we looked up and squared it, we had players open for a tap-in.”

The Spurs boss had no complaints about Yendle’s dismissal: “He’s experienced enough to know that he shouldn’t have done that” but felt aggrieved over Hancox’s disallowed goal.

“He’s [the ref] held his hands up and apologised which we appreciate but it’s completely changed the dynamic of the game.

“It’s not just because of that, but it has played a massive part in us crashing out on penalties.”

Moving forward and Hayden has reiterated that “It’s easier to accept defeat when you play well” so “There’s a bit more positivity now going into Saturday’s game”, which sees 12th-placed Spurs welcome seventh-placed Middlezoy Rovers to The Rec for their final game of September.

Will Hancox scores, 1-0 Spurs

Holsworthy score, 1-1

Jordan Hogan scores, 2-1

Holsworthy score, 2-2

Saul Vanes misses, still 2-2

Holsworthy score, 2-3

Tom Burt scores, 3-3

Holsworthy score, 3-4

Jesse Howe scores, 4-4

Jay Thomas scores and wins it for Holsworthy, 4-5.