George Belli Cup

Loddiswell Athletic 2,

Brixham AFC 0

The Premier Division's form team Loddiswell Athletic struck early and late blows to lift the George Belli Cup and leave Brixham's season in tatters, writes Neil Hocking.

It was no more than Hoops deserved after an organised and brave performance that saw their opponents struggling to get a foothold in the game.

What Brixham did produce came mainly from the interplay between Darren Vicary and Jay Morgan down the left-hand side, and the latter's low cross just four minutes in alerted Lodds' rearguard to the danger.

Two minutes later, Danny Tucker signalled his intent with a swerving shot that tested Ryan Walton's gloves in the Brixham goal.

With just eight minutes on the clock, it was Tucker who struck the first blow, collecting the ball on the right-hand side of the box and firing it across Walton and into the net.

Three minutes later, and the ball was in the opposite net, but a flag had been raised very early.

After a bit of a lull, Loddiswell started to make inroads, with Brixham clearing an effort off the line, Jamie Batchelor's powerful drive blocked by a defender and Walton racing out to beat Robert Tapper to the ball.

Rob Tapper was one of the key figures in the match for Loddiswell, breaking up Brixham's attacks down the flank and powering down the line to assist in the attack.

On 26 minutes, just when it looked as if Vicary and Morgan had penetrated the box, the well-drilled Greens defence pushed them back and sent substitute Jon Burt away, Burt almost releasinging Myles Chalcroft. Chalcroft was now beginning to cause problems for the Brixham defence with dangerous balls into the box.

The last ten minutes saw Brixham enjoy a promising spell: Matt Constable's run was obstructed by Phillip Hatfield, earning the Loddiswell skipper a yellow card, but Vicary's free-kick was charged down, once again by Rob Tapper.

It was another Tapper, Simon, who ensured Hoops had the half-time advantage, tearing Neil Burnell's cross out of the sky in a confident display.

Brixham came out fired up in the second half, and Jimmy Holland's hefty challenge earned him their first caution of the night.

After 56 minutes, Simon Tapper had to be on his game again as Brixham produced a vicious cross; after collecting the ball he instigated a rapid counter-attack which saw Burt unleashing a curling drive that Walton had to parry out for a corner.

Brixham brought on their number 18, and for a while it looked as if they might start making headway as the substitute fired in some useful balls;.

However, after a couple of promising moves came to naught it was Loddiswell who began to look capable of scoring a second.

On 71 minutes, Danny Tucker played Chris Smallridge through, the tall striker clanging the far upright with his effort.

Seven minutes later, James Spence was adjudged to have tripped Smallridge, leaving Steve Bygrave reaching for his pocket.

James Ivatts then blasted two shots against Brixham defenders before Smallridge skied his shot.

With Brixham getting increasingly frustrated, their number 18 was fortunate to stay on the field after deliberately hurling the ball at Burt in a dispute over a decision.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, Vicary's chance to equalise was thwarted as his free-kick was caught by Simon Tapper.

Two minutes later and the game was up: substitute Matthew Price sent over a corner which was met by a textbook header by Chalcroft.

In the final stages, Brixham piled on the pressure but came away only with another yellow card, for Burnell, and had to settle for being the bridesmaids in a season which had held so much promise at the start of the year.

The man-of-the-match was Lodds' Robert Tapper.

Loddiswell Athletic – S Tapper, R Gomm, J Batchelor, P Hatfield, L Broad, J Ivatts, R Tapper, M Chalcroft, D Tucker, C Smallridge, G Burman (subs: M Edmonds, C Willcox, A Tapper, M Price, J Burt, R Teague)