Men's 2nd XI Vs Torbay A [League]

Early Goals Seal Win for Duchy

Duchy negotiated a tricky away fixture against Torbay with a workmanlike performance to seal three points. 

The initial stages of the match saw a highly defensive set-up from Torbay A, with the hosts sitting deep and inviting pressure from Duchy whilst looking to spring a counter attack. Duchy were, for the most part, alert to the dangers and in a five minute spell mid-way through the first half scored a quickfire pair to put the home side on the back foot, with Justin Churchill and Neil Bradford claiming the goals. 

Having fallen behind, Torbay bagan to threaten and for the first time the Duchy defence began to look stretched, with Warren Pearce forced into two excellent saves in the visitors goal. Duchy reached the interval with their 2-0 lead intact, but the second half continued in the same vane as the first had ended. Five minute after the break it was Duchy who caught their oponents on the counter, earning a penalty corner which - despite a miscued shot - resulted in Rick Searle passing to Bradford, who slid the ball home from a remarkably acute angle for 3-0. 

The remaining half-hour quickly became an exercise in game management from Duchy, who sucessfully slowed the pace of the game in order to preserve their lead. With a quarter of the match to play, Torbay deservedly struck back through Chris Reeves, who smashed a penalty corner home for 3-1, however the visitors held firm and ensured Torbay comeback ran out of time. 

Man of the match was awarded to Neil Bradford

After the match, Duchy captain Stu Richardson noted "Credit to Torbay, they were really magnanimous about the result and worked us really hard in the second half. If it hadn't have been for those opening fifteen minutes where they let us attack, it could have been a different story. Great finishing from our lads - we only had five shots on goal, and put three of them away."

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Torbay A | 1 | Chris Reeves 53pc

Duchy A | 3 | Justin Churchill 11f; Neil Bradford 15f, 40pc