ODD DOWN (BATH) FOOTBALL CLUB
THE season HAS YET TO START AND ALREADY ONE TEAM HAS JUMPED SHIP
After initially being given an away trip to Roman Glass St George on Saturday 9th August, it transpires that the Bristol side's pitch will not be ready for that date, so we have reversed our fixtures with them, and so will be playing them at home on that date. Two days later, we will then host Wells City at our place.
It should be noted that management has decided that all home evening fixtures will take place on Monday evenings for this season.
BUT BEFORE THEN:-
LATEST LOCAL PRESS NOTE - 15TH MAY
Odd Down Jeff Evans is aiming to restore Odd Down's Toolstation Premier Division status at the first attempt in 2008-09 after the club's fate was finally sealed by the league's board at a meeting last Thursday.The Downers finished bottom of the table after a torrid season in which Tommy Saunders, Kevin Evans and Tim Cotter all occupied the hot seat before Evans took charge in late November.
The former Chippenham boss could not turn the tide and the Downers were the only team to be relegated from the Premier Division, with second-from- bottom Chard Town handed a stay of execution.
Evans said: "The league table doesn't lie and Odd Down must have got through 50-60 players last season as well as having four managers, two of whom walked away from the club.
"My name's on the ticket as far as taking the club down is concerned, but I won't be moving on and I would like to be the one who takes Odd Down back up again.
"We'll see if we can do it next year. I'm not saying it will be easy - far from it - but I'll be doing my best."
Evans could not resist delivering a parting shot to the league for handing newly-crowned Division 1 champions Wellington a place in the Premier Division despite ongoing work to bring their North Street ground up to the required standard.
He said: "I've stopped by at Wellington's ground a few times on my way back from my business commitments in North Devon recently and the place bears more likeness to Billy Smart's Circus than a football stadium.
"By 2010 all clubs at our level are supposed to have toilets inside their ground and I'd love to know where they are going to put them.
"Grounds are also supposed to be fenced off from their surroundings, but Wellington play in a park where people can walk their dogs - but I'm sure the league knows best."
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At the latest Board Meeting it was decided that the membership of the two divisions should remain at 21 per division. Truro City have been promoted to the Southern League and Backwell United have been relegated to the Somerset Senior League.
Therefore, in accordance with League rules, the bottom club in the Premier Division (ODD DOWN) will be relegated and the two top clubs in the First Division (WELLINGTON and SHERBORNE TOWN) will be promoted.
There will be a club promoted from the Somerset Senior League - name of club will be confirmed when grading issues are settled.
A meeting held by the League last Thursday confirmed our relegation to Western League Division one.We must now all work towards returning to the top division as quickly as possible.Updates will be posted here as and when known.
ODD DOWN GOALSCORERS 07/08
Games Played/ goals scored
Cornick L 9 3
Sherwood H 17 3
Rendell K 28 2
Scott R 33 2
Woodcott T 18 2
Burns L 6 1
Curtis B 7 1
Dennahy S 16 1
Franklin D 3 1
Gull J 7 1
Howe N 5 1
Keen A 11 1
Machin S 10 1
Molesworth R 5 1
Necco G 7 1
Pearse D 7 1
Simpson L 4 1
Stewart C 34 1
Tetteh W 5 1
Vicary M 10 1
Weisberg R 2 1
Williams A 4 1
OwnGoal - 1
LAST 3 GAMES
Odd Down 0 Barnstaple 0
The curtain fell on a miserable season with a respectable goalless draw against the North Devon team. A game where we had greater posession and the better of the chances, but where we suffered from poor final ball selection and inability to convert the chances presented. Our best spell came late on when sub Steve Machin came on and presented the Barnstaple defence with different problems with his trickery. Indeed he came closest to scoring with a shot from six yards that their keeper palmed on to the post. And if that wasn't bad enough the referee chose to send off Harry Sherwood near the end for a second yellow card after a 'handbags at dawn' spat with one of Barnstaple players, without even ticking off the Barnstaple man!
Odd Down 1 Truro City 8
So at last, it couldn’t come quickly enough. The end of a disastrous season for Odd Down football club. Perhaps it was fitting that the League champions came to push the final nail in our coffin, and how!!
It began promisingly enough on Saturday, Karim ‘s sweetly struck shot giving us a second minute lead, but like a hurt animal, Truro retaliated with a series of fierce, flowing football moves that stretched our defence to breaking point. For a while thanks to some last ditch tackling, particularly from Harry Sherwood and some top drawer saves from Luke Purnell, we resisted. Once they broke our resistance however, they just kept scoring and scoring! 1-3 at half time, ended up 1-8 at the end.
REPORT – ODD Down 1 Ilfracombe Town 3
THE WINLESS RUN GOES ON
Ilfracombe continue to be a thorn in our side. Beaten at their place earlier in the season and beaten twice by Street over the past couple of weeks – results which effectively ensured that we were lodged firmly in the bottom two – they inflicted another home defeat on us.
Our cause was not helped by several players either suspended or unavailable.
The writing was on the wall as early as the 6th minute, when one of their forwards shot narrowly wide. Two minutes later, a quickly taken free kick by Harry Sherwood caught their keeper off the line but drifted narrowly wide. A disastrous three minute spell between the 16th and 19th minute saw Ilfracombe take a two goal lead which effectively won them the match. The first was indicative of some of our sloppy defending this season. A corner was not properly dealt with, and Beavis palmed the ball in the path of one of the Ilfracombe players, who played it into the path of another, who thrashed the ball home.
The second goal followed a ball over the top, which caught our defence out. The Ilfracombe forward being left clear to lob the ball over Beavis. 0-2.
To our credit we enjoyed quite a sustained period of possession for much of the rest of the half. Tom Woodcutt clipped a shot narrowly over. Craig Stewart had a weaving run and shot that was well saved by the Ilfracombe keeper. The danger was still there at the other end, and just before the break they struck our post with Andy beaten.
H/T 0-2.
The second half saw Ilfracombe control the match for the most part, with us unable to get adequately amongst them. However we did get a lifeline when Harry Sherwood headed in from a corner.
Unfortunately it didn’t seem to faze Ilfracombe, who clinched the match with a further goal.
F/T 1-3
Oh well, only
Reserves
seserves clinch second spo
GRATULATIONS TO THE RESERVES
ON THEIR PROMOTION.
Promotion was confirmed ahead of Saturday's match, when Peasedown were beaten 1-0 at Churchill. All that remains is in which position in the top 3 that we finish? A goalless draw with Watchet on Saturday helped to increase the gap between us by a further point. In a match of few chances between two evenly matched sides. After a subdued first half, it was Odd Down who had the best couple of chances to take the points in the first 20 minutes of second half. Firstly when Danny Williamson latched on to a Josh Gordon pass and skipped round the Watchet keeper, only to fire wide. And ten minutes later, Josh was himself played in and brought a spectacular save from their keeper.
RESERVES PROMOTION PUSH LOOKS HEALTHY
Two Wins in a week ahead of Crunch Game
Last Saturday, saw the Reserves entertain Dundry, who gave us a tough game. We found ourselves one down at the break, but turned it around in the second half with two goals from Johnny Dolman and one from Danny Williamson for a 3-1 win.
On Tuesday, it was a trip to Backwell Reserves, who strengthened their side with a few first teamers. Our lads responded though with two goals in each half, and could even afford to miss a penalty in a four -nil victory.
The ideal tonic before this Saturday's vital home match with promotion rivals, Watchet.
League table top 4 (as at 1st May)
p w d l goal diff pts
Bishops Lydeard 32 21 4 7 +42 66
Odd Down Res 31 19 6 6 +34 63
Watchet Town 32 18 7 7 +34 61
Keynsham Res 33 17 9 7 +6 60
Clive Kelson Website Editor