SDFL Division One

Beesands Rovers 3,

Chudleigh Athletic 0

Beesands Rovers played out the first match of the season on a windy summer’s day. The Bees welcomed back Jed Tucker, who missed most of last season. Newcomers Troy Carruthers, Lee Hammett and Matt Smith started, with fellow newbie Miles Hurt on the bench.

An early Bees attack saw Carruthers play a ball in for Jed Tucker, who was just beaten to it by the keeper. Chudleigh countered with an attack that James Hurt broke up at the expense of a corner. The corner was blocked and cleared by Shaw, resulting in a quick Bees counter-attack, with J Tucker forcing a corner that was cleared.

A hopeful Chudleigh punt wide took on momentum as the wind carried it towards goal, but Toby Harvey stayed calm and watched it drop over his bar.

A Chudleigh attack was ­intercepted by Sean Raymont’s imperious tackle. The resultant corner was put out for another corner by Hurt, which came to nothing.

Carruthers took the free kick awarded for a foul on him, launching the ball high into the area. J Tucker reached it and laid it back to Shaw, who could not keep it in play.

A ball into the Bees’ area resulted in a scramble before being cleared as far as Hammett, who held it up and then laid it off for Shaw, who in turn found Danny Tucker, whose effort was cleared. Chudleigh’s left back stormed down the flank and produced a cross-cum-shot that Toby Harvey palmed beyond his post for a corner. That was cleared by Raymont as far as Dave Harvey, who conceded a further corner. This effort was cleared by a strong header from Tom Harvey that reached J Tucker and ended with a throw-in.

A Chudleigh corner had a vicious curl in that Harvey grabbed before releasing it

to Carruthers, who played a ­cracking ball down the line for J Tucker. He held it up well, turned inside and passed square to Shaw, who in turn passed it wide to Hammett, who cut inside and saw his shot diverted for a corner. Carruthers’ long corner was controlled by D Tucker, but was intercepted for a throw-in, taken by Shaw long into the area and headed by D Harvey, before Carruthers’ fierce shot went wide.

A Chudleigh free kick was blocked by the defensive wall and diverted for a corner that T Harvey, under some considerable pressure, could not get to; it was put out for another corner, which was headed well clear by Tom Harvey.

Determined play by Shaw on the wing saw him receive the ball from a throw-in and retain it under close attention before losing control for a throw-in.

On the half-hour mark, J Tucker exchanged neat passes with Hammett before being taken out just inside the area. Danny Tucker calmly despatched the penalty for a 1-0 lead.

Hammett received the ball and stumbled; from a prone position he managed to get a foot to the ball and pass it ­forwards to D Tucker, who advanced past one player and played the ball through to J Tucker, who was just beaten to it by the keeper.

From the second-half kick-off Tom Harvey played a long ball through to J Tucker, who pressurised the defender to concede a throw-in. It came into the Chudleigh area and was cleared.

Ten minutes into the second half, lovely interplay between Carruthers and D Tucker ­culminated in the latter playing an intuitive ball forward to J Tucker, who advanced, evaded the keeper and stroked the ball home for 2-0.

Neat footwork by Carruthers on the wing found Shaw, whose shot was saved. Jason Wilkes replaced debutant Matt Shaw.

A Bees free kick, just inside the opponents’ half, was blocked; it reached Will Garner, who passed down the wing to Hammett, who in turn found J Tucker. His neat back-heel returned the ball to Hammett, who shot wide.

The Bees were playing ­confidently, with little threat from Chudleigh. Neat footwork between the Tuckers and Carruthers was eventually blocked. Garner’s header reached Carruthers, whose pass to Hammett ended in his shot going wide.

Dave Harvey’s long clearance found J Tucker, who drove ­forward and sped past a defender, evading the keeper and slotting home to double his tally and increase the score to 3-0. Lee Hammett was replaced by Kurt Thiele.

Raymont made another ­commanding interception on the edge of his area, once again snuffing out any danger. Miles Hurt replaced his brother James.

Exquisite control from D Tucker kept the ball in on the byeline and his cross was equally well controlled by Thiele, whose header back across goal had no one on the end of it. Successive battling tackles from Wilkes kept the ball in the Bees’ possession, but nothing came of it.

The man of the match was Jed Tucker.

Beesands play tomorrow, at home, against Buckland Athletic thirds. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

All are welcome to come and ­support the Bees.

The match ball was sponsored by Howard Garner, Greyhomes Apartments, Torcross.