Avon Plate F.C.

"play up Plate"

Match reports for Season 2000/2001

Match 3

03/09/00 (league)
Avon Plate 3 : 6 Fellowship

Half Time 0: 4
Scorer: Tony Bowles 46mins, Damien Butt 63mins, Yos David 79mins

Plate go down with honour
by Comrade Hemmingway, Official Football or Death Reporter

Avon Plate gave a fine account of themselves in their first Bristol & District league game despite a disappointing 6 : 3 defeat by title favourites Fellowship. The Plate let themselves down in the opening quarter, conceding 4 goals that effectively killed the game, but they rallied, coming back to win the second half 3 : 2 and restore some pride.

Yet again injuries and absentees made for an unsettled team. In addition to the list of long-term injured Neil Boulton, Mike Marsh and Jerry White were all unavailable. Caretaker manager Julian Fowgies was forced to revert to a 4-4-2 formation, drafting in loan signing Paul MacKendrick into the centre of midfield and giving a debut in goal to new signing BB Bill (formally of Dovercourt FC).

Fellowship started well, enhancing their reputation as the team to beat in the Fourth Division, with some lovely possesion football. As pressure grew chances were created and well taken. Fair enough, but the Plate's inability to clear the ball to safety or keep possesion was drawing anxious glances from the Bush faithful.

Half-Time 0 : 4

Those on the terraces who had witnessed Plates humiliation at the hands of KKB would have been forgiven for thinking 'here we go again' but The Plate refused to be rolled over for a second time. A half time re-shuffle brought Damien Butt onto the right-wing, Spears replacing an injured Ivan at left back, and the change produced immediate results.

In the first minute of the second 45, good inter-play between Jacko and Damien sent Yos to the by-line. His pull back found Bowlsey coming in from the left who duly smashed the ball past a helpless keeper with a first time, right footed shot. The Plate could have been back in it, but minutes later disaster stuck as Fellowship exploited the spaces left by the pressing Plate midfield to score.

However Avon Plate would not lie down and die and amazingly could have got a draw. With half an hour left Damien "he even runs like a footballer" Butt showed his true class, cutting in from the right and beating three defenders before unleashing and unstoppable left foot drive from 25 yards. Within minutes he was at it again, driving into the opposition box, but this time the youngster was thwarted by the keeper. Then Jacko was at it, crossing low from the right, but Tony's shot at the backpost found the wrong side of the side netting.

For the last quarter Plate threw on prodigal son Matt Proctor for Danny Boy. Matt soon showed his silky skills hadn't deserted him but it was all to no avail, Fellowship getting their last goal as the boys in blue and white chucked everyone forward. With minutes left Yos David got a tap in, his first goal for Avon Plate on his league debut. It gave a semblence of respectability to the scoreline, which was the least the team deserved.

Avon Plate 3 : 6 Fellowship

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