SFC 7 – 2 Bideford AFC

 

Shaftesbury picked their first points of the season with a seven goal haul against a Bideford AFC side that picked up their first point on Tuesday night against Exmouth Town at the Sports Ground.  

 

It was Harry Baker and Alefe Santos DAbadia with braces and some great individual skill from Ollie Hughes along with Dawid Regula chipping in his second league of the season along with a Sonny Pike special that got us our first three points of the season in the absence of key players Charlie Rayfield and Brandon Mundy.  Ryan King stepping in and Ben Ruzika getting a second substitute appearance in the Pitching In Southern League.  

 

The ‘Robins ‘ took the lead when Javan Wright found Ryan Turner with the ball turned past Rhomey Ashby Hammond after 3 minutes. Bideford looked lively and some timely interventions prevented the Devon side adding to that tally. Wright credited with the goal. 

 

Sonny Pike picked out Harry Baker to level in the 14th minute. Ten minutes later Alefe Santos put the ‘Rockies ‘ anead and Sonny Pike headed in Louis Sweeten’s corner with 38 minutes played. Ryan Turner very nearly got a goal back when Ashby Hammond saw the ball squirm onto the line, yet retrieved it in the nick of time and the young keeper also tipped another Turner effort over the bar. 

 

The ‘Robins ‘ naturally would come out on a front foot in the second half and piled on some pressure with a free kick from Fin Newell saved by Ashby Hammond. Josh Staunton had obviously told the lad when they stick it in the mixer punch it away. 

 

Ashby Hammond did take out a Wright cross beautifully and I believe we potentially have a very decent young keeper here. You can imagine when the manager as a defender has had the likes of FC Halifax Town and Oldham Athletic piling it on him that is sage advice to the young man between the sticks. 

 

Dawid Regula furthered the lead on the hour with Turner heading Bideford back into the contest four minutes later. Substitute Ollie Hughes then set up Baker for the fifth, before scoring himself in the 73rd minute. Hughes produced the moment of the match to dance round the visitors defence and slot the ball past Luke Gwilliam to make it 6-2. 

 

Alefe Santos ran in the seventh goal with nine minutes left to complete the scoring. Dawid had another great chance which landed in a Tesco trolley but he will chip away and is already two league goals into his 23 tally scored for Larkhall Athletic last season. He is already a fan favourite. 

 

Tom Hewlett returned to the squad and once he eases back into the swing of things with whippet like pace could prove the jewel in the crown with talent in abundance. The hearting thing being the loyalty of some of players in staying here valuing the opportunity to work under Josh Staunton and Steve Rutter when no doubt relegated powerhouses would have been looking at them after last season. 

 

The work ethic of Jack Hoey once again proved key along with Harry Baker back to his best and Alefe Santos taking the bull by the horns. To be fair Bideford did have chances and we simply had our shooting boots on which will be key going into a tricky Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at Andover New Street next Saturday.  

 

Shaftesbury- Ashby Hammond, Ward (Hughes 65), Pike, King, Watts, Murray (Morgan 63), Sweeten, Baker, Santos DAbadia (Rukiza 79), Hoey (Hewlett 72), Regula 

 

Bideford AFC- Gwilliam, Magarotto, Forward (Field 77), Sneap, Byrne (C), Wright, Simons (Newell 53), Reay, Turner (Downing 72), Hearsey, Wright (Clifton 84)

 

Attendance- 153

Match Officials- J.McRitchie, J.White, C.Benin

 

🌟 Star Man- Harry Baker 

Match Rating-  4/5

 

Super Santos is congratulated by his team mates after scoring his second goal vs Bideford AFC. 

📸 Photo- Simon Eckley.