The Devon County Football Association staged their first competitive trial of the season at Coach Road on Wednesday 1st September against a useful looking Plymstock side and won 5 - 1.
After a goal-less first half Devon made six changes and this eventually was too strong for a tiring Plymstock side and Devon netted five times in the last 23 minutes.
On ten minutes Devon's Lewis Peckett (Tiverton Town Youth) had a shot from the edge of the penalty area go just wide. Seven minutes later Trevor Gorman (Efford Youth) had a shot saved by the Plymstock goalkeeper. On 28 minutes Ryan Turner (Tiverton Town Youth) with an outstretched foot just failed to connect with a Joe Byrne (Exeter Civil Service) cross. A minute later Gorman had a goal bound shot shot cleared off the line by Plymstock's Andrew Hunter and Byrne had a shot tipped away for a corner.
In the 24th minute Plymstock's Ronald Sekamanzi brought the best out of Devon keeper Will Dolman (Stoke Gabriel) with a powerful drive and Ryan Hodgkinson combined with Sam Alexander and Tom Oliver whose effort went close.
On 56 minutes Plymstock's Levi Thomas had a useful header diverted for a corner and five minutes later Bradley Roberts shot went narrowly wide.
On 67 minutes Devon took the lead when Seatin Town's Rob Fellingham sent Mark Tobin (Stoke Gabriel) away on the left to cut in and shoot past the substituted Plymstock keeper.
One minute later and Plymstock's Sekamanzi had a 30 yard shot go just over
In the 70th and 75th minutes Devon's Dale O'donoghue (Topsham Town) netted a brace to give Devon a 3 - 0 lead, his first was a shot from 10 yards and his second was from close range following good work by Tobin and Ben Burak (Clyst Valley)
On 78 minutes Devon's substitute keeper Curtis Parkin (Tiverton Town Youth) was bought into action to dive low to his left to save a fierce free kick from Plymstock's Oliver but 4 minutes later Oliver did score from the penalty spot.
Devon went 4 - 1 ahead in the 85th minute when Lewis Grimes (Elburton Villa) was on hand to tap in and O'Donoghue cross and in time added on Alex Henniker (Elburton Villa) burst through the Plymstock defence to score with a cracking 20 yard drive and make it 5 - 1 to Devon
Jim Pearcy
Life Member
Devon FA