SWPL EAST Ivybridge Town 5 Elmore AFC 0

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Created on Sunday, 20 November 2022 12:03

Last Updated on Monday, 21 November 2022 12:21

Published on Sunday, 20 November 2022 12:03

Written by GRAHAM HAMBLY at Erme Valley

IVYBRIDGE Town returned to winning ways in the South West Peninsula League with a comfortable 5-0 home victory over Elmore on Saturday.

It was a pleasing performance by Ivybridge, who eased into a 2-0 interval lead with goals from Jordan Ewing (30^th min) and Fletcher Williams (35).

There was more of the same in the second half with young winger Lewis Dickson showing his scoring potential with two goals in the space of a minute on the hour mark.

He had the ball in the net twice more in the closing stages but was denied a hat-trick by a couple of offside decisions.

Substitute Harvey Tomlinson wrapped up the scoring with a shot from close range in the 82^nd minute.

Ewing, who now has 16 goals this season, made way for substitute Ryan Smith in the closing stages with manager Darren Stewart looking to protect his leading scorer from a possible suspension under the yellow cards totting-up procedure.

Stewart explained: “We have four players on four yellow cards and if they all picked up a yellow we would have been really struggling for next week. So we had to monitor that situation. Fletcher did get a yellow so he will miss next week but three of the four can go into next week’s game.”

Left back Jake Lane is currently serving a three-match suspension after being sent off in the Devon St Luke’s Cup game at Brixham on November 8 and was replaced by Matt Squires, who was promoted from the second team.

Another change saw Jason Peters from Torpoint in goal covering for the injured Kane Gregory.

Stewart said: “We have a lot of enforced changes at the moment. We have got a great second team set up which gives us a back-up of players if need be. Matty came in at left back today and did really well.

“Thanks to Torpoint for allowing us to use Jason in goal. He made one really good save to preserve the clean sheet.”

Commenting on the overall performance Stewart said: “I am delighted to get three points, back to winning ways and score five goals. It has been a bit of a struggle over the last five or six weeks. We have not quite hit the level of performance that we did at the start of the season.

“We are not going overboard about today’s performance but we were a lot more confident and a lot more fluid.”

Stewart was pleased to see Dickson among the scorers, adding: “Lewis is a young lad and I think long term I can see him playing down the middle or as a second striker.

“Because of his pace and his directness at the moment he is playing wide but he has got an eye for goal. His first he took really well and if he could have kept himself onside in the last 10 mins he could have finished off with a hat-trick. He scored two great goals which will be great for his confidence.”

Ivybridge now have a clear week before another home game against Sidmouth next Saturday (Nov 26), which will have a 2.15pm kick-off with clubs trying to save costs by avoiding the need for floodlights.

Stewart welcomes the benefit of not facing the hectic programme of midweek games. He explained: “Having a clear week makes such a difference. With the league cramming in so many games at the start of the season it has been tough. We have got a young side and mentally it has been difficult for us.

“It was lovely to have a training session on Monday and have a chat with the lads to reset and refocus. It is good to get a bit of quality time with the boys rather than it being a match day and I think it showed today with a really good spirit and a good result.”

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