By Richard Honnor

Beer Albion 2nds 4, Tedburn St Mary 1

Beer Albion Reserves kept their four-point lead at the top of Devon and Exeter Division Two with a 4-1 victory at home to Tedburn St Mary.

The Fishermen's performance was a big improvement on the previous week when they were held to a 3-3 draw in the corresponding fixture at Tedburn.

A fierce, bitterly cold gale blowing straight down the pitch made playing conditions difficult. The home side adapted better particularly in the second half when playing into the wind but credit goes to both sides for serving up an entertaining spectacle for the 60 spectators who braved the elements.

With the advantage of the following wind wind in the first half, Beer dominated possession but final balls were often overhit.

The Fishermen did, however, have success with short passes down the channels and this was where both of their first half goals came from.

Max Richardson was looking particularly sharp through the inside left channel and he signalled his attacking intentions on 12 minutes when his 25-yarder rocketed against the crossbar.

Four minutes later Richardson timed his run perfectly to receive a pass threaded through by midfielder Alex Paget. The Tedburn keeper made a bold attempt to block Richardson's cleanly struck effort but the momentum took the ball over the goal line.

In a rare breakaway, Tedburn were unlucky not equalise on 20 minutes after Beer's defence gave the ball away. Their striker cut in from the right and placed the ball towards the top corner. Beer keeper Martin Hill could only look on as the 20-yarder missed the target by inches.

Beer went 2-0 up on 31 minutes again through Richardson. The Beer forward rasped the back of the net from eight yards after neat link-up play between Simon Smith and Reece Best around the edge of the box.

Despite the wind advantage, Beer did not test the Tedburn keeper from distance frequently enough and Tedburn were given a lifeline before the break when midfielder Callum Sisley was too easily allowed to get goal-side and slot the ball past the advancing Hill from eight yards.

One wondered at half time whether the Fishermen would be able to hold on to their narrow lead playing into the gale, but to their credit they handled the conditions perfectly.

The experienced midfield trio of Paget, Smith and Reece Hales controlled proceedings, breaking up moves, winning challenges and finding their colleagues with passes to feet and shrewd diagonal balls down the flanks.

After Tedburn missed a good chance to equalise on 62 minutes with another effort narrowly wide of the target, Beer piled on the pressure.

Their third goal came from substitute Harry Lawrence on 74 minutes. Keeper Hill's clearance was headed on by Paget to Best. The Beer front man's shot was saved by Tedburn's keeper but Lawrence picked up the rebound and fired home from 12 yards.

Two minutes later Beer rounded off the 4-1 victory after a fine move down the left involving Paget and Richardson. Richardson's shot was blocked on the goal line but the alert Best was able to turn and force the rebound home from close range.

Match sponsor Beer Fisheries Ltd picked out midfielder Dom Cochran as Tedburn's outstanding player. For Beer, this was another solid performance across the park and the man-of-the-match award went to 2-goal Richardson.

Next Saturday, Beer 2nds travel to Otterton in a league encounter whilst Beer 1sts have an intriguing home Devon Premier fourth round cup tie against table-topping South Devon League side Buckfastleigh Rangers.

Kick-off is at the earlier time of 2 pm and the match sponsor is Practical Car and Van Rental at Musbury Garage.