Teign Finish the Year on a High
Teign men’s 1st XI ended
2014 unbeaten and top of the table following a hard-fought 2-1 win away against
Caradon.
In what was anticipated to be a
much less challenging fixture a well organised Caradon team delivered a first
half performance that was in stark contrast to their league position, stunning
Teign with the early goal from a short corner. Teign struggled to get any
shape, possession or meaningful chances on goal, and but for a lengthy debate
between the two umpires would have closed the half two goals down; Caradon’s
second eventually disallowed for a high stick, although the decision was
borderline and the home side rightly felt aggrieved.
Teign regrouped at the interval
and came out fighting, pressing Caradon high up the pitch and chasing down
every loose ball. The tactical switch that moved eventual man of the match Nick
Holliday from full back to centre midfield gave Teign much greater balance and presence
in the midfield area, and it released George Burningham further forward,
resulting in Teign’s equaliser ten minutes in to the second half. With the wind
in their sails Teign dominated the final twenty minutes of the match and their
energy and determination was personified by the winning goal scored by Ben
Ayres; controlling a sixteen yard hit out from close range and slotting it
under the advancing keeper. Further chances to seal the game were missed but
Caradon had little opportunity to create any chances of their own, even when
Teign played five minutes with a man less due to a yellow card for Ayres.
The game finished 2-1 to the
visitors who enter the Christmas break a point clear of Tavistock. The second
half of the season kicks off on January 18th with a trip to
Cambourne SoM.