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Axminster Town Res. 1-3 Up & Under |
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The Celebration Champaign Devon Intermediate Cup East second round saw easily UAU's best team effort of the season so far, and carved out a tremendous result against higher league opposition, despite having the notable absences of Paul Hutchings and Steve Cole to contend with and also not being the better footballing side. The main plan of action was to go out and give a good account of themselves and enjoy the match on an unusually good playing surface. Axminster were very gracious in defeat, their first of the season, and the most hospitable club encountered this season. Axminster started the strongest by far and wasted five good openings by failing to hit the target. This must have rubbed off on Stuart Cook as he found himself presented with the best chance of the half, only for him to also shot wide of the mark. Despite an eventful first forty-five minutes, the score remained goalless at the break.
Axminster must have wondered if they had actually come out of the changing room at half-time as within five minutes of the restart UAU found themselves 2-0 up. After winning possession in the midfield stand in sweeper Rob Southgate fired in a 25 yarder which the 'keeper failed to hold underneath his crossbar. The second was a well worked piece of play between Dan Depledge and Stuart Cook down the right hand side in which the resultant cross was knocked in by new signing John Ball. This seemed to shake Axminster into life and they got back into the game half way through the second half with a long range effort that caught Ian Miller in the UAU goal out of position. They, however, failed to make their continuous pressure count and the excellent performace from the UAU defence and midfield contrived to seel the game with ten minutes remaining. Stuart Cook managed to win a rare corner, as the corner was cleared to the edge of the box, an unmarked Rob Southgate again let fly from 25 yards, this time into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
This result obviously meant a lot to the players who duly celebrated at the final whistle.
STAR MAN: John Ball.
