Without a win for three months, Shepton finally gained maximum points for the first time in 2023 with a 2-0 win against a useful Falmouth Town side, ahead of a busy run of five consecutive away games in the first two weeks of April.
Early on the signs looked ominous for the hosts as Falmouth came out of the blocks quickly. They almost scored in the 2nd minute when a Luke Barner cross was headed onto the outside of a post by Louis Jagger-Cane, and again a minute later with a shot from Andreas Calleja-Stayne that went just wide. After keeper Tom Easterbrook blunted their next attack, clutching the ball from the air at full stretch, good defensive work from Andy Martin, Fin Haines and Callum Ball in particular, helped Shepton settle into the game, and they had a good 13th minute penalty appeal turned down for a trip on Josh Jenkins. Shepton took the lead after 20 minutes with their first shot on target, Braeden Symes starting a move that involved Nathan Legge and Haines, who squared a pass on the edge of the box for Danny Constable to drill a low shot past visiting keeper Ryan Barnes. Soon after, a sweeping move from deep inside their own half saw full back Joel Sisson and Constable carve through the opposition as they interchanged passes several times before Sisson hit a powerful shot from around 20 yards, matched by an excellent save by Barnes. Unfortunately for the Falmouth keeper, on the half hour mark he fouled Jenkins inside his area , as Jenkins tried to round him and fire into an empty net. This time a penalty was given, confidently despatched by Constable for his and his side’s 2nd goal. Falmouth had another good spell either side of half time, keeping Easterbrook busy as he saved twice from Tim Nixon, before somehow blocking a point blank shot from Barner, and then saving two more shots from Luke Brabyn and Scott Kellow soon after the restart.
Shepton almost made it three 10 minutes into the half after Legge went on a weaving run before passing to Jenkins 25 yards out, who from out of nowhere conjured up a fine shot that came back from the Falmouth crossbar. Midway though the half, just after Barnes had kept out a shot from Legge, Haines put Constable in for the chance of his hat trick, but who shot inches the wrong side of a post.
The visitors came on strongly yet again in the latter stages, as Barner and Jagger-Cane forced good saves from Easterbrook, and crucial defensive work by Callum Gould, Ball and then Martin in the last minute, ensured that a clean sheet was kept on the day. The last play saw Sisson break clear from half way, only for his shot to beat the advancing Barnes but come back off a post.
Although the whole defence impressed on the day, sponsor Brian Wood selected Danny Constable for MoM, who was just edged out of a double to go with his goals as the press pick went to Fin Haines for his tireless midfield work.
Team
1.T.Easterbrook
2.J.Sisson …cautioned
3.C.Ball
4.M.Wood
5.A.Martin
6.C.Gould…cautioned
7.F.Haines
8.B.Symes
9.D.Constable…scored two goals
10.J.Jenkins…cautioned
11.N.Legge
Subs used
J.Sloggett…cautioned
J.Jones
Attendance 353