This week’s match saw Yeovil & Sherborne 1^st XI travel to Plymouth to play Old Plymothian and Mannamedian (OPM) in high spirits after such an accomplished performance against Isca in the last match.  In the new colours of white shirts, black shorts and red socks, due to a colour clash, Y&S took to the field with two strange faces in defence.  Adam ‘Bruce’ Foresyth stepped into centre back to replace Simon Williams and Alex Hardick dropped to right back.  Pete Ireland kept the bench warm on a freezing day that saw his other sport cancelled to the benefit of the travellers.

The match had its good points and its low points.  The first moment of note was particularly disappointing.  After a good tackle called a foul against, Will Ireland reacted well and made an effort and back-tracked a fair distance.  The OPM forward moved the ball forward several yards before sliding it onto Ireland’s foot.  Ireland turned around to see the umpire at the opposite end of the pitch produce a yellow card for his first sin bin of the season.  An OPM substitute made sure everybody knew that he agreed with the decision and questioned Y&S’s knowledge of the rules in an attempt to add ‘insult to injury’.  The travelling side’s apparent lack of rules knowledge did not prevent them taking the lead when Jackson Bowes broke through the OPM defence, beating several players before lashing a reverse stick shot into the top far corner.  Ireland returned to the fray but, despite being back to full strength, OPM struck back with a clever individual goal.

Bowes broke through again in a similar fashion but this time the ball was lashed against the post then rebounded out and down to George Wayman for a simple tap in.  OPM cancelled out the lead for the second time in the match with a tap in after a sharp save from Martyn Thomas in goal.  Y&S’s clear superiority in the match was dented again when George Ellwood fouled badly and saw yellow.  However, Y&S still kept the majority of the ball and, with time running out in the first half, Wayman went in search of his second goal of the match with a darting run into the OPM ‘D’ and pulled the proverbial ‘trigger’ only to be halted by the half-time whistle.  Every player in white erupted in fury and disbelief and Wayman was unfortunate to receive a yellow card.

Y&S all agreed that it was a difficult situation but could be doing more to win the game.  With nine players on the pitch, the plan was to defend until Ellwood returned to the action.  Early in the second half, Matt Ringrow unleashed an aerial pass for Ireland who had sprinted from centre back unmarked straight into the OPM half and found himself bearing down on the keeper.  Ireland went around him, took a touch and, from a tight angle, lashed the ball towards the far post.  Sam Holloway gambled and attacked but the ball took a bobble over his stick and evaded the far post by millimetres.  OPM rarely troubled the Y&S defence and hoped to catch them on the break.  However, Y&S took the lead again.  Bowes broke and was ushered onto his reverse stick to fire home under the OPM keeper to score what would turn out to be the winning goal.  OPM only managed one more shot in the game that forced a match winning save from Thomas and even forced some applause from the crowd.

With three wins on the bounce, Y&S appear to have found their form and now top South Division 1.  With Bodmin failing at home, and Ashmoor and Isca both dropping points, Y&S lead by a point.  However, Ashmoor find themselves five points behind, Isca six, making it a ‘two horse’ race for the title.  Man-of-the-Match went to Thomas for being the voice at the back, some good saves and one sublime save.  Other notable performances included Hardick, who slotted in well at right back.  Bowes took his goals in majestic style and was unfortunate not to claim a hat-trick.  However, Bowes was fortunate enough to claim the notorious ‘Dork-of-the-day’ award.