Devon & Exeter League

Division 1

Friday 25th August 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.32

Bow Amateur Athletic Club 1 Hatherleigh Town 3, attendance 43

18’ 0-1

31’ 1-1

59’ 1-2

66’ 1-3

@ Burston Meadows

Burston Lane

Bow

EX17 6LA

No Admission or Programme.

After suffering a gruelling six hour slog in pre-Bank Holiday traffic down to Devon (90 minutes just to reach the M3, which is only 25 minutes normally) it was time to do the opening game in Division 1 (the second tier) of the Devon & Exeter League. It was a bit of a worry to see the heavens open just minutes after pulling into the car park at the ground and it absolutely hammered it down. Luckily, the pitch was in good condition, as it should be at this time of year and being up on a hill, was a good drainer too. By kick off it had stopped and the remainder of the evening was dry, but wasn’t very warm.

Hatherleigh had a goal disallowed for offside after fifteen minutes, but it only took them another three minutes to break the deadlock, shooting into the far corner from the angle of the 18 yard box following a quickly taken corner. A through ball was finished at the near post to see Bow draw level just after the half hour mark and just before halftime it was their turn to have a goal ruled out for offside, so we went in level 1-1 at the break. Hatherleigh had a man sin binned nine minutes into the second half, but still managed to regain the lead and added a third goal soon after his return to make it 1-3 and it was game over. Bow did have a chance to reduce the arrears in the last minute, but they had a penalty saved by the ‘keeper.

The ground is good for this level. It is railed along the far side, which is full of advert boards and roped on half of the near side, where there’s also a couple of dugouts. Both ends are bordered with high mesh fencing. There was even a cup of tea available, served from a hatch in the changing room building.