Devon

Intermediate Cup

Dittisham United 8,

Paignton Villa

reserves 0

On Saturday the Mighty Plums welcomed Paignton Villa to the Meadow in their opening game of this season's Devon Inter­mediate Cup.

The Plums were without key players Marcus Copeman, Dave Vicary, and Red­ford Hogben, but were buoyed by the return of Sam Bruckner after a two-week absence. 

As is the way with the Plums this season, they came flying out of the traps looking to take the game to their opponents.

Yet again Lee Pres­tige was in fine form up top, harrying defenders and looking to take advantage of any mistake.

It didn't take long for Prestige to get his first of the afternoon after he latched on to a through ball from Chris Fisher.

He then beat his man and hit his effort across the front of the 'keeper and into the bottom left corner.

Shortly afterwards Prestige doubled his tally for the afternoon when Fisher yet again found Simon Copeman, whose first-time shot was parried by the 'keeper and finished smartly on the rebound by Prestige. 

The Plums continued to dominate the first half of the match, putting the Villa defence under consistent pressure and went close with efforts from Pres­tige, Copeman, Fisher, and Blamey.

The defensive line of Ross Williams, Blamey, Bastin, Martyn, and Passmore, shepherded by Joe Blamey and man-of-the-match Joe Kirby in the heart of the midfield, were yet again impregnable as they saw off every single Villa attack and maintained their excellent defensive record so far this season.

The Plums started the second half in very much the same way as the first as they set about their task of finishing the game as a contest as soon as possible.

It didn't take long for this task to be realised after a crazy three-minute spell 10 minutes into the second half, where the Plums scored three goals that ultimately finished the game.

The first goal was an excellent solo effort from Jake Blamey, who ran through the middle of the Villa defence, rounded the 'keeper and finished from an acute angle for the first of his impressive brace.

Before the restart Bruckner was brought on up top as a replacement for the hard-working Simon Copeman.

From the Villa kick-off Bruckner intercepted a pass with his first touch, beat the last defender with his second, and finished coolly into the bottom left corner with his third.

Seconds later and from the very next Villa kick-off, Prestige this time robbed the ball from the Villa midfielder and his through pass found the onrushing Bruckner, who finished into the bottom right corner, completing his brace within a minute of taking to the pitch.

Dittisham's second goal came after some good interplay by Kirby and Joe Blamey, the latter then found Bruckner, who this time turned provider and threaded his through ball to Prestige.

He finished excellently, sealing his hat-trick and continuing his excellent start to life at Ditti­sham.

Next it was Jake Blamey, who perhaps scored the goal of the game.

He picked the ball up within his own half, beat the challenges of four Villa defenders and hit his excellent shot passed the helpless 'keeper into the far corner, completing his brace and capping an excellent second-half performance.

It was Prestige who completed the rout with his fourth goal of the game as Fisher broke free yet again down the right-hand-side, he pulled the ball back for Prestige, who finished neatly.

The match ball for this fixture was kindly sponsored by Nigel Long.

Dittisham United are away tomorrow to Torbay Police, 2.30pm kick-off.