SDFL division four

Watcombe Wanderers 4

Kingsbridge and Kellaton opened their division four campaign with a home defeat against title favourites Watcombe Wanderers in a physical encounter.

On the back of a bruising 7-1 cup defeat at the hands of Riviera United last week, Kingsbridge wanted to put that humbling loss behind them but were always up against it, with Wanderers proving to be their typically troublesome selves.

The game started in a cautious fashion as both sides felt their way in to the game.

How­ever, there was an early blow for Kellaton as Alex Thomas limped off the pitch in the 10th minute due to injury.

Watcombe started to grow in to the game, but a typically robust midfield performance from Chris Thomas, Ben Smith and Chris Lynn was at least stemming the flow of their opponents’ early play.

The away side opened their scoring 15 minutes in to the action as a well-worked move ended with the striker striding in on goal and slamming the ball in to the corner of the net.

Wanderers doubled their advantage minutes later as the ball was cut back to an onrushing midfielder, who planted the ball in to the back of the net.

Despite the home side finding themselves two goals down, this was far from one-way traffic and Lynn was at the centre of much of Kellaton’s good forward play.

The midfielder’s metronomic right foot was dictating the play and the central midfielder also flashed some long-range shots wide of the post as the Ks grew in to the game.

Most of the hosts’ opportunities were from set-pieces but – unfortunately for Andy Thomas’ side – the de­livery was often found wanting when Kella­ton’s attacking players were primed and ready inside the penalty area.

Watcombe added their third before the half-time whistle but Kingsbridge went in to the break feeling like they were still in the game and that chances would come.

The second half saw play open up as both teams tired and felt the effects of a physical first half. Tackles were flying in and no one was more at the heart of that battle than centre-back pairing James Blackler and Paul Dixon. The latter’s composed defending in the heat of combat helped provide a platform for Kellaton to start to create chances from open play.

Elliot Bradbury started to get some joy thanks to his tireless work in attack, but skewed an early second-half effort wide of the post from 25 yards.

Stand-in goalkeeper for Kellaton Jon Blewitt made some great saves to keep the deficit to three goals; the best effort being a point-blank block as the Wanderers’ striker tried to poke in the ball next to the post.

The away side wasted one glorious chance as a cross from their left flank left a Watcombe player unmarked at the back post, but the striker’s header hit the top of the bar from four yards out.

Chris Thomas and Paul Dixon both had headed chances on the away goal, but Thomas’ effort fell wide of the post and Dixon’s header was straight at the goalkeeper.

Kellaton were given a glimmer of hope in the match as Bradbury snatched a goal with 15 minutes left on the clock.

The move was some of Kellaton’s best play as Lynn orchestrated the move from the middle. He laid the ball out wide to Stephen Dixon, who cut back inside his marker and whipped in a pinpoint cross on to the head of Bradbury, who duly nodded the ball home.

Unfortunately, that goal proved to be a false dawn for the Kings and Watcombe restored their three-goal advantage late on in the game with a well-worked move down the left flank.