Match report ©Tom Besford. Photo ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR

As Autumn is officially upon us, the wet and horrible weather decided to set in this weekend but for the small crowd that braved the weather at Ipplepen Athletic’s Moor Road ground they were treated to a goal fest in a very entertaining match.

The hosts, who have only one league win to their name so far this season, started the brightest and they found themselves in front after less than two minutes as skilful winger Tom Kelly received the ball, beat his man and fired into the far corner of the goal.

Elmore didn’t let this early set back deter them and they pushed for an instant response and it took just under ten minutes for the Eagles to find the equaliser. Harvey Hogan delivered the ball to the far post where Lewis White made no mistake heading home from close range.

Ipplepen reacted to this set back and they soon found themselves back in front just three minutes after being pegged back. The ball into the Ipplepen box was cleared only as far as Olly Critchlow who was on the edge of the box and hit a wonderful first time effort past the visiting keeper.

The thrilling start to the game continued and it wasn’t long until the fourth goal was scored within the opening twenty minutes of the match, this time Elmore once again levelling. Brandon Parsons dinked the ball past Billy Courtier as the keeper came out to retrieve the ball.

It had been a thrilling start to the game and a great advert for local non-league football but unfortunately there would be no more goals in the first half even though Elmore came close on a few occasions. Lewis White heading just wide of the target from a Fin Crocker cross and just before the half time interval Mason King had time to turn and shoot in the box but could only fire narrowly off target.

A thrilling first half and if the second half matched the quality of the first, all in attendance would’ve been in for a treat. Thankfully, the second half was equally as entertaining.

The home side found themselves going down to ten men for a period in the second half as Olly Critchlow was sent to the sin bin and the visitors made sure to make the extra man count as they took the lead for the first time in the match. Parsons scored his second of the game with a massive helping hand as his free kick took a wicked deflection to leave Courtier with no chance in between the posts.

Elmore continued to put pressure on the Ipplepen back line as they looked to add more gloss to the score and could’ve scored twenty minutes into the half but an outstanding fingertip save by Courtier tipped the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.

It wouldn’t be long before the visitors managed to extend their lead and it was Parsons once again as he completed his hat-trick as he was released through on goal before cleverly lobbing the outrushing goalkeeper.

As the match entered into injury time there was still plenty of drama to come and it begun with Elmore adding another goal to their tally. Harvey Hogan fired a shot from the edge of the box through the legs of Drew Gove and into the back of the net, however, celebrations were cut short as Billy Courtier in goal for the hosts appealed for offside claiming that an Elmore attacker was impeding his view. A short chat between the referee and the linesman later and the goal was disallowed.

A couple of minutes later and Ipplepen managed to cut the deficit to one as a cross from the right found Critchlow who headed home into an empty net. Was there still chance for Ipplepen or was it too little too late as time was running out?

There would still be time for another goal though as in the sixth minute of time added on Elmore managed to score a fifth, Freddie Ansley completing the scoring for the Eagles. A long range shot past Courtier hit the post and Ansley had the easiest job of tapping the rebound into an empty net.

A brilliant match in awful conditions and one that will last long in the memory. Elmore showed why they have started the season so strongly whilst Ipplepen could count themselves unlucky, a performance like that could quite easily have been three points on another day.

Ipplepen Athletic team: Billy Courtier-Train, Josh Pagett, Josh Hurren, Derek Bridgman, Lee Fenner, Joe Wilden, Oliver Critchlow, Tom Kelly, Mason Joint, Charlie Cuss, Nick Edmunds

Subs: Drew Gove, Zak Carnell, Kieron Collings, Billy Robbins

Elmore team: Luke Philips, Kamil Wojtowicz, Harvey Hogan, Luke Broomfield, Connor Pearce, Dan Cole, Lewis White, Matt Pengelly, Fin Crocker, Mason King, Brandon Parsons

Subs: Cody Stansfield, Freddie Ansley, Joe Barry, Luke Andrews