With
@paulsconvey being away I’ve sent this in for the “Around the grounds” from the game between
@Mallet_AFC vs
@BrislingtonFC for the papers, hopefully it’ll be shared in his absence but failing this here’s what been written for the paper this weekend… as always that you Paul for the opportunity 🙌🏼⚽️
#FW #AroundTheGrounds #NonLeaguePaper
BRIS HIT FOR SIX AS NEW-LOOK SHEPTON TAKE THE POINTS
Shepton Mallet and Brislington served up a Western League classic as ten goals, two penalties and a red card lit up a breathless encounter between these two, with the BA4 side ending up 6–4 winners in a match that had everything.
On what was
#FW 93rd game of the season, this was a contest that fully lived up to its billing and more. A real spectacle for the neutral, it also marked a special occasion for me as I was kindly gifted the match sponsorship for the day, it was a warm welcome by Shepton Mallet as it always is, but today that little bit different and a big thanks extended to Dan Hynds and the club’s committee for their excellent hospitality.
The game exploded into life early on. Shepton took the lead after just five minutes with Brad Pfupa finishing from close range, but Brislington responded in style on 11 minutes when Shea Mannings curled home a superb free-kick into the top corner to level the scores. The momentum swung again almost immediately as Shepton regained the advantage three minutes later when Wilkinson found the net from a Shepton corner, this was short lived as Brislington to hit back once more to make it 2–2 with a goal from Jordan Scadding, what a frantic opening 20 minutes.
After such a chaotic start, both sides finally paused for breath, with no further goals before half-time and a well-earned interval for players and spectators alike and time for me to grab a cuppa.
Brislington nearly struck first after the restart but were denied by an excellent save from new keeper Radovanavic’ and that moment proved pivotal. Shepton seized the initiative, launching a sustained onslaught that saw them score a third through Tom Ovinge for his first goal for the club and then he stepped up and added a fourth from the spot to grab his 2nd of the game and open up a two-goal cushion. Matters worsened for the visitors when Mannings was shown a red card, reducing Brislington to ten men.
The home side made their numerical advantage count. A slickly worked move produced Shepton’s fifth, before a sixth effectively put the contest beyond doubt and capped a dominant spell.
Brislington showed late spirit, pulling one back on 88 minutes through former player Ben Snell before Lewis Saunders converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, However, it was too little, too late, as Shepton comfortably saw out the closing moments.
It was a memorable day for Shepton Mallet and new manager Craig Loxten who’s already looking like he’s building a good team following his recent return in the dug out, but it was Shepton day after if they claimed a vital win, A great day for me seeing friends from both clubs and even a third appearance of the season for my new mascot Syd the Bear, today was another reminder of why non-league football continues to deliver, a fantastic match for Shepton and for
#FW
FULL TIME:
Shepton Mallet 6–4 Brislington