SWPL EAST Ivybridge Town 4 Newton Abbot Spurs 1
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 13 August 2023 11:41
- Last Updated on Monday, 14 August 2023 17:36
- Published on Sunday, 13 August 2023 11:41
- Written by GRAHAM HAMBLY at Erme Valley
After an even opening period Ivybridge took command when Jacob Smelt fired them into the lead with a cracking volley in the 36th minute.
Striker Stan Lane added a second with his third goal in the last two matches as he connected with a powerful header on the stroke of half-time.
Then, within a couple of minutes of the start of the second half, winger Luke Forward scored his third goal in three games with a delightful chip over visiting goalkeeper Joel Patchett.
Spurs reduced the arrears in the 54th minute when Harry Ford pounced on a mistimed attempted back pass by Curtis Legrice.
But Ivybridge regained control of the game with Jake Lane converting a confidently struck penalty following a foul on Jack Alexander in the 66th minute.
Overall, it was a convincing performance by Ivybridge as they continue to settle under the new joint management team of Lance Bailey and Wayne Gamble.
Bailey said: “The boys are doing everything we are asking of them. They are taking all the information on board, and we are going forward in the right direction.
“We are still getting used to each other as new players and new management and just getting used to the way we play.”
Bailey admitted Spurs caused a few problems in the early stages of the game, adding: “They started quicker than us but once we scored our goal, we steadied ourselves and went on to bigger and better things.”
He praised the performance of new signing Jordan Powell, playing alongside skipper Scott Pocock at central defence.
“Jordan was man of the match today,” said Bailey.
“His experience and his presence being there physically and vocally brings something different to Ivybridge. At the minute it is like having 11 captains on the field.
“Newton Abbot are a physical side but I think we matched them. We were also able to play our football and we overtook them and scored our goals from there.”
Ivybridge have a blank Saturday (August 19) then home matches against Bovey Tracey on Wednesday August 23 and Stoke Gabriel on Saturday August 26.
Bailey says: “We have got nine or 10 days off now so we will hit the boys hard this week in training and give them a bit of a rest to freshen up the legs for when we have our midweek game against Bovey Tracey.”
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