Devon FA in Newton Abbot was the venue for this season’s first Devon Premier Cup Semi-Final as a small crowd turned out on a Thursday night to watch Appledore take on the students from University of Exeter.
The match was very cagey, typical for a cup semi-final, as both teams cancelled each other out for the majority of the game. With chances few and far between there wasn’t much to write home about.
University came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half as a long ball was flicked narrowly wide of the target by Ben Harris.
The game desperately needed a goal to bring it to life, and this came just before the half an hour mark as the North Devon side opened the scoring with a goal of top quality. Jamie Bowden was 20 yards out when he produced a half volley sending the ball over the Students goalkeeper Ben Roberts and into the top corner.
The lead didn’t last long as the University found an equaliser as a ball into the box from the left found Ben Harris who sent a looping header over the keeper and into the back of the net. Just like buses, you wait so long for a goal and then two come at once!
In the second half the game was still very cagey but the Students lifted their performance and had more chances of note as they looked for a way to win the game. With the half just under ten minutes old, Matt Steer had a shot from the edge of the box which was deflected and gathered by Aston Keen.
University of Exeter weren’t afraid to shoot from distance as they were struggling to break down the Appledore back line and Sami Ahmadi came close as he fired a 25 yard effort off the crossbar. This was followed moments later by an effort from Matt Steer who was slightly further out and this time his effort flew into the bottom corner to put the Students in front for the first time.
Appledore knew they had to go for it if they wanted to progress to the final and this left gaps for University to exploit as Steer fired an effort towards goal from the edge of the box but Keen was down well to save.
University of Exeter managed to hang on for a place in the final with a semi-final win which won’t last long in the memory. Alphington and Plymouth Marjon go head to head on Tuesday evening in the second semi-final.
Appledore team: Aston Keen, Joseph Stevens, David Mason, Aaron Souster, Joseph Blanch, Kai Dymond, Joe Kelly, Jason M’Ginley, Jamie Bowden, James Harley, Morgan Taylor
Subs: Logan Warren, Adrian Ashton, Rafe Barnes, Kieran Jewell
University of Exeter team: Ben Roberts, Tim Barber, Joe Zamir, Ben Harris, Ollie Kavanagh, Adam Jones, Sami Ahmadi, Matt Steer, Sam Shearer, Michael Massey, Luke McIver
Subs: Alex Makris, Bertie Whymark, Harry Dunlop, Cohen Lee, Charlie Hewlett