Devon Premier Cup

Windmill FC 0

Cup fever struck on Saturday with Plymouth Premier side Windmill FC travelling to Loddiswell for the preliminary round of the Devon Premier Cup.

After some very positive opening league games, albeit without a win, Loddiswell were high in confidence and eager for the first whistle.

The game began like any cup game, at an incredibly high pace, with Loddiswell executing their passing game superbly and managing to keep hold of the ball well. But it was also the case for the opposing team, as Windmill also liked to get the ball down and play it around.

It was Loddiswell who were to have the first chance. Rob Tapper took on the opposing full back and beat his man to the touchline, managing to cross the ball to Edd Roberts, whose outstretched leg just couldn’t quite make contact.

This was a sign of things to come for Rob, as the majority of the play was down his side of the pitch. With his excellent pace and skill he managed to repeatedly get the better of the full back.

The next chance fell to the visitors, as some neat footwork from the Windmill winger managed to feed their number 10 who was through on goal; he

slotted home, only for the ­linesman’s flag to come to Loddiswell’s rescue.

Half-time arrived and both teams went in feeling ambivalent about not leading, or indeed being behind.

The second half started at the same pace as the first half. With much of the football being played in the middle of the park, it showed how strong the Loddiswell defence was and how well they coped with anything Windmill could throw at them.

Both teams had a few half chances and pressure was starting to mount on each goal. Simon Tapper in the Loddiswell goal once again proved to be a rock-solid wall that nothing could penetrate. At the other end of the pitch Loddiswell were piling on the pressure as well.

Utilising both flanks, Lee Hammett and Rob Tapper were now finding a lot of space to feed Edd Roberts and Jose Pitarch. Even after some more clear chances for Loddiswell, the match ended and sent the tie into extra time, leaving the spectators astonished that the game remained goalless.

As extra time started Loddiswell knew they had to go out straight on the front foot to try to get themselves an advantage.

It finally came six ­minutes into extra time as Kieron Trent fed a lovely through-ball to Rob Tapper, who slotted it past the ’keeper, only to find his initial shot come back off the post. He didn’t make the same mistake twice, though, and struck the rebound into the net.

With the scoreline now in Loddiswell’s favour, Windmill had to throw everything forward for the chance of an equaliser.

Although this created immense pressure on the Loddiswell defence, it also created a lot of space ­further forward.

Loddiswell managed to break with nearly every opportunity and a slick passing move found Loddiswell in the opposition’s area: a neat pass from Edd Roberts found Kieron Trent, whose rifled shot crashed off the bar.

Once again Windmill were caught out pushing on to find their goal, as Loddiswell broke again with Salva, who spread it wide to Jose Pitarch, who found Edd Roberts on the penalty spot; Edd managed to turn his marker and release a shot that was saved expertly by the ­goalkeeper. On another day Edd would surely have bagged a hat-trick.

The referee finally blew his whistle to send Loddiswell through to the next round. This also gave the Greens their first win of the season, and also their first win under the management of Edd Roberts and Mark Stockwell-Weeks.

Loddiswell are home again this Saturday, when they host Watcombe at 2pm at Loddiswell playing fields.