A real game of two half on a wet and horrible August afternoon as Ottery St Mary came from three goals down at the break to rescue a valuable point against last season’s runners up.
A small crowd braved the elements on a wet and miserable day to witness an entertaining six goal thriller and they didn’t have to wait for long after kick off for the first real chance of the game. Ryan Moody was clear through on goal for the visitors but a great save by Ottery shot stopper Owen Vosper prevented him with the ball finding team mate Jack Carpenter who fired over the bar.
Alphington looked like the team most likely to break the deadlock and they managed to find the back of the net on the quarter of an hour as a corner was whipped into the box and after some poor defending the ball fell to Dylan Isaac who managed to head home at the far post as Vosper flapped a hand at it but was unable to keep it out. The lead was soon doubled shortly after as the Alphas started to get into the game more and Tre Davey managed to finish into the far corner from inside the box.
Ottery couldn’t really test the visiting keeper in the opening half and it looked like the game was over before half time as the Alphas added a third before the break. Jake Haggerty impressively put a free kick from the half way line over the head of the home keeper and into the back of the net. Haggerty made the goal look effortless as he put his side into a commanding lead.
Ottery had shouts for a penalty waived away at the end of the first half but they had their work cut out if they wanted something from the match in the second half.
The hosts had the perfect start to the second half and it was less than five minutes before they found a way back into the match as Sam Pyne had time to take a touch in the box and finish past Leon Woodhead in the visiting goal.
It was a story of missed chances for Alphington as they wasted a hatful of chances with Owen Vosper pulling off some great saves but no chances came bigger than what they got gifted midway through the half. Vosper went to clear the ball down the pitch but ended up kicking the ball against Ryan Moody but both players could only watch as the ball went goal bound, hitting the post and staying out of the net. Vosper managed to recover to retrieve the ball and breathe a sigh of relief.
Substitute Evan Murry added some quality to his teams attack as he came off the bench and he went close from the edge of the box firing just over the bar. The visitors would come to regret these missed chances though as the hosts found another gear late on to rescue a point.
With five minutes remaining substitute Jamie Pitter curled a shot into the back of the net from the edge of the box to give the Otters some belief before being involved in the equaliser just minutes later. With two minutes remaining of normal time Pitter sent a corner into the box which Moody headed into his own net to level the scores.
A real game of two halves with the sides sharing the points as the referee blew the final whistle and the crowd dispersed. A real non-league classic with the hardy set of supporters treated to six goals.
Ottery St Mary team: Owen Vosper, Charles Norris, Aidan Shires, Jake Blackmore, Kai Champion, Jack Carpenter, Ethan Matthews, Connor Swingler, Sam Pyne, Harrison Bowyer, Mario Pislaru
Subs: Harry Carr, Henry Favre, Lewis Wilson, Luke Matthias, Jamie Pitter
Alphington team: Leon Woodhead, Jeff Angila, Jake Haggerty, Jordan Ford, Dylan Isaac, Alex Bond, George Bosworth, Joel Greenslade, Henry Woodward, Tre Davey, Ryan Moody
Subs: Evan Murry, Ben Annunziata, Charlie Gillard, Dre Johnson, Harry Wellaway