Ashes to Ashes.

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Intro

Saltash United were promoted from the South West Peninsula League after performing well during the pandemic-affected 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. They finished as runners-up in their 2nd season in their new surroundings, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Southern League after losing to Bristol Manor Farm in the inter-step play-off. They’ve struggled to replicate that form in the subsequent season-and-a-half, finishing 13th last season, and currently finding themselves in 16th position. This season started slowly for the Ashes and they didn’t secure 3 points until early September when they beat fellow bottom half teams Oldland Abbotonians and Ilfracombe Town in consecutive matches. Form has been patchy since then, although last Saturday they pushed league-leaders Portishead Town all the way – only losing out to a late goal which condemned United to a 4-3 defeat.

This is Torpoint’s 3rd Western League campaign since their promotion from the South West Peninsula League. So far they have managed 12th and 10th placed finishes, but this season find themselves only kept off bottom spot by the winless Welton Rovers. After kicking off the season with a 2-0 win over Oldland Abbotonians, Athletic then lost the next 10 league games, as well as crashing out of the FA Cup away at Falmouth Town. They did manage a win in the FA Vase, over Honiton Town, only to lose in the next round at home to Thornbury Town. Last Saturday they secured an invaluable 3 points away at Wellington; their victory in the league since early October.

Today sees the meeting of two teams struggling for form and looking to move away from the danger of relegation back to the South West Peninsula League. This, coupled with today’s encounter being a local derby, should make for interesting viewing.

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The Ground

Saltash and Torpoint are towns separated by the Lynher River: a tributary of the Tamar, yet due to a lack of crossings there is no quick way to get between the two. You would need to either take the Torpoint Ferry back to Plymouth and then cross back over into Saltash using the Tamar Bridge, or take a time-consuming detour west thus avoiding any major waterway. Fortunately I was starting off just over the Tamar in Plymouth so it was just a short drive over the aforementioned Bridge for me. Kimberley Stadium has a central location in the town; sharing a site with the local leisure centre, and being overlooked along one side by a row of terraced housing. Entry is through one corner of the ground. Once through the turnstile you are faced with the immediate temptation of the refreshment hatch. This joins on to the clubhouse and then leads to the characterful main stand, with the latter housing the players’ and officials’ changing facilities. Beyond this is a new-looking covered standing area which has been dedicated to everyone who has contributed to the club over the years. The remaining perimeter of the pitch is accessible to spectators but is just pitch-level uncovered standing. However it does feel very spacious over there, particularly compared to the tight area by the clubhouse!

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The Match

With the persistent fog failing to clear, I have to admit I had a cursory look at potential alternatives to this game as I sat in the car park. The game did kick off, however, much to my relief as the mist slowly began to lift. And it wasn’t long before it sprang to life, although not in the way the visitors would have liked. Less than 4 minutes had gone when the referee stopped play seemingly unexpectedly, however it soon came clear that something had happened off the ball – home captain Tom Badcott was face down on the turf in the middle of the pitch. Referee Will Annear came over to discuss matters with his assistant who advised that Torpoint’s number 9 Kevin McCallion had struck Badcott in the face, and so it was that the striker was sent off giving his team mates a mountain to climb. I can’t have been alone in thinking that Saltash would soon start to dominate things, but it was the visitors who had the first meaningful shot on goal – Mason Elliott letting fly from 20 yards, but Ashes keeper Tyler Coombes held it comfortably. Soon after, Coombes found himself rushing out to meet a ball forward. He seemed to me to get there before Gary Hird but a foul was given against the keeper. The resulting free kick caused chaos in the Saltash area; the ball dropped to defender Elliott Crawford who shot wide when he really should have at least hit the target. On 26 minutes a shot from a United player was charged down by the away defence, looped up and fell nicely for Kieran O’Melia. He only had keeper Ryan Rickard to beat by the glovesman was well out to block O’Melia’s effort. 10 minutes later, Hayden Greening hit a shot first time from 20 yards but it flew narrowly over the Torpoint crossbar. With 3 minutes of the half remaining, home captain Tom Payne was challenged as he was bearing down on goal and wound up on the floor. The home players were convinced it was worthy of a penalty but the referee would not be moved. Ashes striker Rikki Shepherd was sin binned for dissent – the red mist descending as the fog started to clear.

Into the second half and O’Melia had another chance. This time his volleyed effort took a deflection and was redirected off target. The deadlock was finally broken 3 minutes later. It was harsh on Rickard – a shot from distance was blocked by a Torpoint defender, but the keeper had already dived and he could only look on helplessly as the loose ball fell to Payne who finished into an empty net. Athletic nearly equalised against the run of play with just over 15 minutes remaining. Hird broke forward and took it past Coombes; unfortunately for the visitors Ben Goulty was back to clear Hird’s effort off the line. 10 minutes later the game was more or less killed off by the hosts. A long ball forward towards substitute Joe Preece. Ryan Rickards had started to come for the ball and found himself out of position. Despite this Preece was still a fair distance from goal and did well to find the net with his shot, making it 2-0 to the home side. Rickard did much better 5 minutes later as he spectacularly turned over a long range shot with a diving save. The final big chance of the game came deep into stoppage time. Torpoint sub Liam Manchip cut inside, and let loose with a shot that Tyler Coombes tipped over well with a diving save of his own.

This game did not disappoint – providing spectators with its fair share of talking points. I found Saltash United to be a great club to visit with friendly locals and brilliant facilities.

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The Photos

The full gallery of match photos is also available HERE