SDFL division two

Beesands Rovers 0,

Hookhills United 1

In their four previous games Beesands had scored 20 goals and thus should have come into this game with some confidence against opponents 13 points worse off.

However, against a side that has proven to be a bogey side, their purple patch of goals came to an end in an ill-tempered match.

Hookhills opened up the action with a shot that went wide before Lee Morgan and Gus Hayward broke up an attack and forced a throw.

A portent of the ill-temper that was to follow saw Paddy Wellens felled by a very heavy tackle, requiring him to have lengthy treatment.

The resultant free kick, taken by Alex Browne, went just over the bar as Wellens left the pitch to receive further treatment.

Morgan and Hayward then combined sweetly again, with the latter shooting wide.

Bees' pressure was telling as Browne shot from distance and the 'keeper palmed it wide for a corner, from which the Bees were penalised for an offence in the area. Meanwhile, Tim Bromfield was tackling confidently at the heart of the home side's defence.

The play was end to end with Hookhills gaining a corner before Morgan pressurised the 'keeper at the other end and, as usual, the 'keeper was given the benefit of the doubt and a free kick.

A further heavy tackle on Tim Bromfield was penalised before Morgan took an early shot which bounced off the 'keeper and was cleared.

The Bees kept up their attacking with Hayward controlling a pass and volleying a shot which was palmed for a corner which came to nothing.

A ball through to Dave Lang saw him one-on-one with the 'keeper, who saved his shot with his legs. Wellens was on hand to put the ball in the opposition net but was given offside.

Hookhills retaliated with an attack forcing a corner. The cross into the box was defended sloppily before the visitors knocked it in to take the lead, 0-1.

The injured Wellens was replaced by Ben Bromfield, and again a couple of Bees corners came to nothing.

Morgan's goal scoring reputation made him a marked man, with close attention paid to him, usually illegal but without being penalised.

On a rare event when he did gain a free kick, Browne's free kick was met by a TJ Lang header which was just over the bar.

Ben Bromfield next tried his luck from distance but shot over before Nick Bromfield made a lovely run forward, dummying and evading tackles before getting a cross in which none of his team mates could profit from. The half ended with a TJ Lang shot which was high and wide.

The second half started with three successive corners for the visitors. Hayward won a free kick for a nudge in his back but Ben Bromfield's free kick went through to the'keeper.

Another Bees attack was cut short by the opposition 'keeper handling outside his area, for which he was penalised and, after a lengthy discussion with the referee, he was justly booked. The free kick worked between Nick and Ben Bromfield went over.

Sean Raymont replaced Browne before lovely work by Boehm on the right required adept footwork to evade a lunging tackle, before neatly passing to Morgan who shot wide.

Ben Bromfield followed up with another pass to Morgan, who swung but struck wide.

The play was still end to end but it was a niggling final quarter with heavy tackles on TJ Lang, Nick and Ben Bromfield. Mikey Dennis replaced Gus Hayward.

A nice pass by Boehm to Dave Lang saw the 'keeper clash with the forward and the ball cleared.

After more end to end action Dave Lang produced a good recovery tackle.

At the other end of the field a late tackle by the 'keeper on TJ Lang went unpunished.

The man-of-the-match award went to George Boehm and the match day sponsor was Helen Greet, landlady of the Loddiswell Inn.

Beesands' next match is away tomorrow against Stoke Gabriel thirds.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm and all are welcome to come along and lend their support to the Bees.