Match report & photo by Tom Besford

Beer Albion came from behind to win the Scott Richards Solicitors League Cup final against a Mount Gould side who had remained unbeaten after winning every match they have played this season. The final was ninety minutes full of drama with six goals, two red cards and a match which will live long in the memory of the supporters in attendance.

Having raced into a two goal lead against ten men, Mount Gould looked favourites to win the cup but a spirited comeback, following a Chris Wright red card to level the numbers, saw Beer Albion secure the double in front of their large travelling support to cap off a successful first season at step seven.

Champions of the South & West Division, Mount Gould, were looking to add to their so far perfect season but North and East Division champions, Beer Albion, knew the challenge they had ahead. Barnstaple Town proved to be the perfect hosts as an enjoyable day was had by the large attendance and the match was a true advert for non-league football.

The game started lively and both sides had early chances as the match swung from end to end. After just two minutes on the clock Chris Wright headed wide from a corner and just a few minutes later Beer had their opening chance of the match as Taylor Rooke was played through on goal only to see his effort well saved by the feet of Mount Gould stopper Jensen Manning. The opening twenty minutes of the match saw both sides create several chances but they all lacked that final bit of quality as neither keeper was really called upon.

It took twenty minutes until the game sprung to life as Beer Albion were reduced to ten men following a defender being sent to the sin bin. This left the East Devon outfit with a set piece to defend from the edge of the box with a man light and they were duly punished as Chris Wright curled his effort into the top corner and out of the reach of Beer keeper Elliot Driver.

Things soon went from bad to worse for the Albion as straight from kick off they had a strong penalty shout waved away and as the ball was cleared Tony Pinder came flying in and mistimed a tackle in the middle of the park resulting in a red card. Suddenly Beer were down to nine men and they were instantly punished as a ball played out to the left wing was crossed back into the middle and Danny Brook finished into the far bottom corner for 2-0. Two goals down and two men light, Beer had an uphill battle ahead of them and it looked like the game was over already.

Although it looked unlikely that a comeback would be on the cards Beer Albion continued to press and when they had ten men on the pitch they created several chances as Ashley Driver headed just wide from a free kick and shortly after Josh French shot wide from distance. As the club pushed forward looking for a way back into the match they were leaving gaps at the back and this was almost punished as Bailey Mabin curled an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box.

The match continued to be played at a high tempo and from end to end and the number of players on the pitch was levelled just before the break as Chris Wright was sent off for Mount Gould. After a bit of handbags on the pitch, Wright grabbed one of the Beer Albion midfielders by the hair and this was spotted by the fourth official who reported the sighting to the referee leaving him with no choice but to give Wright his marching orders.

Going into the second half with Mount Gould leading by two goals and both sides down to ten men, everyone knew that the next goal would be crucial and it looked like it would be the Plymouth based side who would add to their already commanding lead. Within the first five minutes of the half Mabin and Owen Pritchard both saw their efforts blocked and just a few minutes later Matthew David saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Will House in the Beer defence. The club launched attack after attack as they looked for a third but it wouldn’t come as Jamie Grinrod saw a headed effort tipped over the bar by Driver before the Albion stopper pulled off another great save from the resulting corner.

The third goal of the match eventually came on the hour mark and it was Beer Albion who scored it as they looked to launch a surprising comeback against a side who hadn’t experienced anything but victory for the last twelve months. Brooklyn Wilkins broke free on the right hand side and as he broke into the box his shot across goal was converted into the back of the net, with the help of the crossbar, by Finley Rooke who slid in at the far post as the original shot was heading wide.

Could this be game on or was it going to be too little too late?

Only seven minutes had passed and Beer Albion shocked everyone in the ground by grabbing an equaliser as Taylor Rooke, who had caused the Mount Gould defence problems all day, beat the last defender before taking the ball around Manning in goal and finishing into an empty net to the delight of the Beer faithful.

With fifteen minutes left on the clock the turnaround was complete as Beer took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to substitute Giles Basson who managed to beat the Mount Gould keeper and the East Devon side added the icing to the cake by scoring a fourth with just a few minutes remaining. With Mount Gould desperately looking for an equaliser, Beer Albion managed to make the most of the gaps at the back and Taylor Rooke finished from close range following a squared pass from the right hand side.

A league and cup double for Beer Albion in their first ever season at step seven and a first defeat inflicted on Mount Gould in twelve months. As for Mount Gould, they can still claim the double when they face Newtown in the Devon Premier Cup final next month. A thrilling match full of drama and entertainment and played out in front of a brilliant attendance, it was a final that will live long in the memory of those who saw it!