The Season So Far:

This is my second attempt at visiting Nursteed Road after braving rain of Biblical proportions in November, only for the game against Wells City to be postponed. This week’s visitors to Nursteed Road, Bristol Telephones, are struggling in the Western League again after only surviving last season due to the dissolution of Chippenham Park. With just one win to their name and having played 3 games more than Bishop Sutton above them, the Phones will need to start finding more wins from somewhere and soon. Devizes find themselves in 17th but have at least one game in hand over many of the teams around them in the table. However, 4 losses on the trot – including a Cup loss to Wiltshire County League side Trowbridge Town – will not fill them with confidence.

The Visit:

With the weather considerably drier than it was last time I tried to get to a game at Nursteed Road, I hopped on the bus to Devizes. Due to an issue with the floodlights, this game was scheduled for a 2pm kick off in order to beat the darkness of December evenings. From the town centre, it is a level 25 minute walk to the ground. On the near side stands the clubhouse with adjoining derelict building. Opposite this is the main stand – complete with wooden benches – which also houses the dressing rooms. There is little behind either goal to stop wayward shots from being lost in the undergrowth, meaning frequent trips into the vegetation for the goalkeepers.

The game kicked off with one name in the line ups standing out to me: Chris Allen – the former Bath City midfielder presumably on loan from Wiltshire neighbours Melksham Town – would add passing quality and higher league experience to the Devizes team. The first real action of the game turned out to be the opening goal on 6 minutes – Town’s Ali Bradley firing a low shot into the bottom corner after the away defence hesitated expecting a free kick. 8 minutes later the ball was in the back of the Phones’ net again, but the linesman had his flag raised and the lack of complaints from the home side suggested it was the correct decision. Not long after and the assistant was at it again but this time a lot more contentiously. A Chris Allen free kick found Matt Russell whose header seemed to double Town’s lead. However the flag was raised. From where I was stood it looked close at best, but my instinct told me Russell was onside. And he was not happy. At the other end the Bristol side mustered their first couple of chances. The first a snapshot on the turn from Dawid Regula which bounced harmlessly wide; the second a more accurate 25 yard shot from the number 8 which forced a comfortable save from Devizes keeper Martin Mitchell. The first man to go into the book was from the Phones coaching staff – not reacting well to a decision that went against his team. This would be a sign of things to come. On the half hour a shot from Ben Griffiths was charged down well by a home defender.

The team from south Bristol would get their equaliser but it was probably one of the more controversial goals I’ve witnessed this season. A header from forward Dhani Golding looped onto the top of the crossbar, a defender attempted to clear and in the ensuing melee the linesman flagged for a goal. The home players were convinced that it had not crossed the line and indeed seemed at first to think that the whistle had gone for a foul on Mitchell. One of Devizes’ two caretaker managers took exception to the goal being given and, after making his feelings well known to the referee, was shown the red card and was told to take a seat in the stand. With half time approaching, the league’s bottom side were pushing for the goal to give them the lead at half time. Golding weaved his way through the home defence but couldn’t find the power to beat Mitchell. An off-the-ball incident saw Regula carded – some mutterings of an elbow being used could be heard. The last action of the half saw Phones keeper Aaron Greatbanks do well to punch the ball clear after a tricky diagonal ball into the box. 1-1 at half time and at this point I would’ve been surprised to see the full complement of players see out the 90 minutes.

The Phones started the 2nd half strongly – seemingly thinking that the 2nd goal was forthcoming. A brilliant cross-field ball was expertly controlled by Jamie Sheppard but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper. 5 minutes into the half and the other Golding, Keiron, was thwarted by a great defensive challenge. The follow up shot failed to really test Mitchell. Soon after and more controversy. A Town striker found himself through on goal, his ankle was tapped but he managed to get a shot away which was saved by Greatbanks. The referee blew up for a penalty, which incensed the travelling players and staff. It did seem harsh. Allen took the penalty which went in via a post. 6 minutes later and it was 3-1: a fine team goal saw a pair of through-balls dissect the visiting defence and midfielder Matt Swan finished well. With barely time for me to note down the details of Town’s third goal, it was 4-1! Ali Bradley forced his way into the box then, just when it seemed like he had bitten off more than he could chew, he managed to stretch out and smack the ball into the net when it looked like it had got away from him.

Halfway through the 2nd 45 minutes the Phones found a lifeline. Good wing play from right back Will Osborne ended with a dangerous cross which Regula could hardly miss… 4-2. With 15 minutes remaining Mitchell made a decent save from a long range Phones shot, and a couple of minutes later he was relieved to see an attempted clearance drop into his arms when it could easily have dropped into his net. Home sub Robbie Mitchell was carded seconds later, with Phones players claiming a stamp on their man. On 82 minutes the home side put the game to bed, though it was all the away team’s doing. A loose back pass was far too close to Anning who made no mistake it sweeping it past the stranded keeper. And Anning almost had his hat-trick but Greatbanks saved well with his legs after the forward was played in by Allen. With full time approaching Dhani Golding almost pulled one back for the visitors but his scuffed volley was headed off the line. The last chance of the match went to the Phones, but a spectacular bicycle kick attempt fell nicely for home goalie Mitchell.

It finished 5-2 – a valuable 3 points for Devizes and potentially another nail in Bristol Telephones’ coffin. Both sides did well to reign in their emotions and finish with 11 players apiece. This was a very entertaining game and I found the locals very welcoming. It is never nice to see a team struggle but you can’t help but feel that Phones’ time in the Western League may be up come the end of the season despite the passionate captaincy of Martin Blacker. Good luck to both clubs for the rest of the season.

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