Perry Street & District League
Premier Division
Tuesday 10th September 2024
Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.17
South Petherton 2 Barrington 2, attendance 40
18’ 1-0
28’ 1-1
63’ 2-1
72’ 2-2 (pen)
@ South Petherton Recreation Ground
Lightgate Lane
South Petherton
TA13 5AU
No Admission or Programme.
It looks like we’re into the final midweek action for the non floodlit grounds, until late March, sadly. We had a handful of options in this league, opting for a Premier Division game, where 2nd hosted 5th in the league table. The clubs are only five miles apart (even less as the crow flies) and despite everyone being there well before kick off, we got underway a couple of minutes late, due to the visitors heading back to the changing rooms, just as it looked like we would get started slightly early. A combination of the late start and an evening spent mostly in drizzle and light rain, meant the Referee sensibly opted for 2 x 40 minute halves and a very short halftime, with everyone staying out on the pitch. We even got some stoppage time at the end of the match, but a full ninety minutes might have been pushing it a bit.
South Petherton opened the scoring midway through the first half, scoring at the second time of asking, following a scuffed shot that had been blocked. Barrington levelled ten minutes later, with a long range effort, shortly followed by a South Petherton sin bin just before halftime. They’d hardly got back to full strength when another player was sin binned, but having survived both periods of being a man short, they regained the lead, scoring after an initial shot was blocked, before the rebound was sent towards the far post for an easy tap in. Barrington had a shot tipped round the post and from the resulting corner had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed following a discussion between the Referee and home club Linesman. Minutes later they did make it 2-2 though, scoring from the penalty spot and South Petherton thought they’d grabbed a late winner, but it was disallowed for offside. It was pretty obvious to the neutrals present, but not the locals, that the Referee wouldn’t overturn the decision, having gone with the home club Linesman’s opinion at the other end.
South Petherton play on a typical village recreation ground, shared with cricket, the pitch being furthest from the changing rooms/clubhouse(open for drinks/sweets/crisps etc) running widthways. It was tree lined on two sides and has a children’s play area behind one goal. A travelling fair was set up on the cricket outfield, but not actually open yet.
