Herald Cup

Beesands Rovers 4,

Bishopsteignton United 3

The first cup activity of the season had the Bees facing opposition from the division beneath them in Bishop­steignton United. Again the Bees were unable to field an unchanged side.

The Bees attacked from the off with a good ball in from Finley Bullen that pinged around the area, but no one was able to get on the end of it. End-to-end play ensued, with United gaining a ­corner that was cleared for a Bees breakaway that came to nothing.

Bullen put in another cross, met by Miles Hurt, but his shot lacked power and the keeper saved easily. Kurt Thiele’s throw found Jed Tucker, who turned the defender inside out, his cross eluding everyone but the keeper.

Successive United corners were defended confidently by the Bees. At the other end the home side had successive corners, with the ball pinballing around the area before being cleared.

Surprisingly, the visitors took the lead when, from a breakaway, a United striker got behind the Bees’ defence and lofted it over the keeper, the ball bouncing down from the bar and into the back of the net for 0-1.

Good individual work from J Tucker, trying to make room for himself, forced a corner. D Tucker’s corner was played out to the edge of the area, where James Hurt’s toe-poked shot almost paid off, with the keeper clawing the ball back from the line. J Tucker’s subsequent spin and shot was saved.

At the other end Toby Harvey saved well and released the ball high upfield. J Tucker took the ball around the ­keeper, but was tackled and the ball fell for Bullen, whose shot was wide. M Hurt was fouled and D Tucker took the free kick, with the ball rebounding back to him. His ball back in saw Kurt Thiele and Bullen go for it, and Bullen’s touch produced the equaliser, 1-1.

D Tucker intercepted the ball delightfully and played an intuitive pass through to Bullen, who had ­successive shots blocked. Thiele received a neat ball from D Tucker and showed great determination to try to get successive crosses in, which were blocked. A neat overhead kick from Bullen to J Tucker saw him advance, but he was halted with a tackle.

Timely interventions by Tom Harvey and Dave Lang broke up United’s attacks. D Tucker held the ball up well and then released it to Thiele, who advanced and held off pressure to gain a throw-in. His throw to J Tucker saw him turn well and cross for D Tucker, whose shot was blocked as far as M Hurt, whose shot hit the woodwork.

United had pumped in a number of high crosses throughout, with T Harvey claiming all of them confidently. His quick clearance found D Tucker, whose shot was blocked. A great effort from Bullen was blocked and cleared. Just before half time Lee Hammett played a ball out wide to J Tucker, who displayed great control and perseverance to get past the defender and into the area, taking a one-two with M Hurt before curling his shot beyond the ­keeper for 2-1.

The second half saw the Bees attack, with Thiele’s ball down the wing for J Tucker. He took it to the byline and got a great cross in that M Hurt just failed to make contact with; it was deflected for a corner that came to nothing.

J Tucker took the ball past the ­keeper, who managed to retrieve the situation. J Hurt’s shot from distance was saved easily. Hurt followed this up with a great intercepting tackle on an opponent advancing at speed. Great Bees teamwork and a pass to J Tucker produced a great cross – D Tucker steamed in and bundled it home for 3-1.

Bullen hit a ferocious shot from ­distance that the keeper just managed to get down to and palm away. Thiele’s determination to win the ball allowed him to pass to Bullen, who played it to J Tucker wide, and his return to Thiele was shot high.

A Bees effort was cleared off the line. D Tucker made a double clearance and exchanged passes with Thiele, getting the ball against the odds and passing out wide to J Tucker. M Hurt was replaced by Jason Wilkes and Lang was replaced by Will Garner. An exchange of passes between the Tuckers and a ball to Bullen saw his shot come back off the woodwork. D Tucker’s precision pass shot was saved.

Toby Harvey tackled well outside his area to thwart an attack. The Bees

were knocking the ball around with ­confidence. A Bees attack was halted with a foul, resulting in a free kick on the edge of the D. Bullen stepped up and walloped the ball home for 4-1.

In the last 1 minutes, with a downpour in progress, the Bees conceded two quick goals to make it squeaky bum time. The first was a very dubious penalty and the second a breakaway, producing a fine save from Harvey – but he couldn’t prevent the follow up being knocked in for 4-3.

J Tucker produced another mazy run before he was upended. D Tucker’s penalty was good, but was palmed clear with an equally good save.

Man of the match was Harry Dawson.

Beesands play tomorrow at home against Paignton Villa. Kick-off is at 2.30pm. All are welcome to come and support the Bees. The match ball was sponsored by Ron Campion Furnishers, Brixham.