A late Helston goal looked to have done for Shepton to mirror last season’s outcome in the corresponding fixture, but player manager Aaron Seviour had other ideas after coming from the bench to strike a wonderful equaliser and take a hard earned point back to West Shepton.
Both sides defied the heavy going initially as they traded blows, Josh Jenkins with a 2nd minute shot into the side netting after a strong run down the right side.Tyler Elliott struck Helston’s first chance wide, and after Callum Gould also shot wide, Gould then fired an optimistic long range free kick straight at home keeper Cory Harvey who easily saved. Elliott then hit a fine cross field pass to his unmarked full back colleague Teigon Rosenquest, who fizzed a shot inches wide, with still only 8 minutes played. Things then quietened down, Shepton’s Nathan Legge creating the next opening for himself after 15 minutes with a finely anticipated interception of an attempted Helston pass out of defence, only for Legge to then hesitate instead of taking a first time shot from a decent shooting position.
Danny Constable fed Legge in Shepton’s next attack, who saw his near post cross smothered by Harvey at his near post, but in truth the visitors did not mount another first half attacking threat. The hosts were similarly short of cannon fire at the other end, though striker Rubin Wilson at least brought a 33rd minute save from keeper Tom Easterbrook, and Shepton were fortunate just before half-time when a Helston free kick into a crowded 12 yard box deflected from a defender’s head and shaved a post before going out of play.
Helston picked up a sin bin just before the break, and the first 10 minutes of the second period served as a classic demonstration in the art of time wasting, as players succumbed to goodness knows what in their cynical attempts to disrupt any momentum- strike a medal For the home physio. The ploy succeeded, as the third quarter of the contest became quickly forgotten, not helped in Shepton’s case by their losing Jenkins after an hour to what looked like a sore one. Rosenquest did then force a good save from Easterbrook, before his side took a 74th minute lead. Two Shepton challenges were easily shrugged off in a Helston attack down their left, and when the ball was eventually crossed into the middle, the unmarked Wilson had an easy headed conversion from six yards. Cue the introduction of Seviour from the bench, and a Harvey save from Constable from the restart as Shepton tried to mount an immediate response. Wilson went close again for his side after 77 minutes with a shot from a tight angle, but with 10 minutes to go Shepton scored a marvellous goal few watching saw coming. A long clearance upfield was controlled by Constable, who quickly played a square ball to Seviour 15 yards from goal at the far post, and who squeezed an excellent first time volley just inside Harvey’s post. Fellow substitute Jake Sloggett nearly made it two with five minutes to go, shooting just over, but the hosts dominated play from then on as Shepton were pegged back in their own defensive third. Easterbrook made two vital saves, the first a pile driver from Rikki Shepherd, and Shepton also blocked two more goal bound efforts and stoutly defended three late corners to hang on for a hard earned share of the points , MoM going to Easterbrook ahead of Sisson and Harry Rutty.
Team
1.T. Easterbrook
2.J.Sisson
3.F.Wilkinson
4.M.Wood
5.H.Rutty
6.B.Symes
7.F.Haines….cautioned
8.C.Gould
9.D.Constable
10.J.Jenkins
11.N.Legge
Subs used
J.Sloggett
C.Ball
A.Seviour….scored one goal
Attendance 156