SDFL premier division

Loddiswell 3,

Watcombe Wanderers 6

Loddiswell welcomed table-topping Watcombe Wanderers to the Butts on saturday.

After the previous week’s cup win, Lod­dis­well were in high spirits and raring to go.

It was the Greens that came out of the blocks quicker than Usain Bolt. Immense early pressure on the visiting defence led the left-back to make a sloppy pass, allowing Joe Atwill to pounce and strike the ball first time from 25 yards, lobbing the goalkeeper.

This spurred Lodds on even more and straight from the kick-off they were right back at Watcombe. Again this pressure paid off as the home side forced a corner.

Kieron Trent swung the ball in, which missed everyone apart from Edd Roberts at the back post, who knocked it back in and Jose Pitarch was first to react to rifle home from six yards.

Watcombe didn’t know what had hit them; Loddiswell were playing them off the park, Kieron Trent and Dave Poyser pulling the strings in midfield and winning every ball.

Then with 12 minutes gone the game changed. A strong challenge from centre-back Salva, though winning the ball, went through the opposing player as well.

The Watcombe player stayed down and it was apparent he was in some discomfort. With the player still receiving treatment it was decided an ambulance should be called.

As this was happening the referee had taken Salva and skipper to one side and Salva was shown the red card.

It turned into a 25-minute delay as the players waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Finally the game re­sumed, with Loddis­well now down to 10 men.

The Greens knew that now Watcombe were going to throw everything at them.

From the off Wat­combe made use of the extra man and were now finding space. But Loddiswell’s never-say-die attitude was once again on show. Using the flanks and the pace of Rob Tapper and Jose Pitarch, they were still posing an attacking threat to Watcombe.

The away side kept the pressure on, though, and when Lod­diswell failed to clear a cross, this time it was a Watcombe midfielder first to get to ball and slot it home.

This gave Watcombe the momentum and within five minutes the score was level as a neat chip to back post found a Watcombe player who placed the ball past Simon Tapper in the Loddiswell goal.

The half ended 2-2 and Loddiswell went in to regroup.

The second half started and it wasn’t long until the next goal was scored.

As Watcombe broke into the Loddiswell area Edd Roberts attempted to tackle the player, but unfortunately ended pulling him down and conceding the penalty. The resulting penalty kick was scored and the league leaders took the lead.

This seemed to help Loddiswell as suddenly the game turned again and it was the Greens that now seemed to have the upper hand.

The Greens kept hold of the ball and started to spread the play from right to left, letting Watcombe do all the running. The possession and pressure finally paid dividends as another Kieron Trent corner found his midfield partner at the near post to head the ball into the net.

With half an hour remaining, the Greens knew they were still in the match.

The next goal came from Watcombe as their player picked up the ball and managed to squeeze himself past three Loddiswell players to release a stunning strike from 25 yards, leaving Simon Tapper no chance.

With 15 minutes left Loddiswell threw everything forward but this left gaps and on the 90th minute Watcombe scored their fifth.

From the kick off, Loddiswell again went on the attack, unfortunately the same was to happen again. In the 91st minute another counter-attack resulted in Watcombe’s sixth and final goal.

Upon the final whistle, Loddiswell had once again done themselves proud. There is no game for Loddiswell this weekend.