Ivybridge Town out-classed by “ruthless” Clevedon

THE gap between the top teams and the lower placed sides in the Jewson Western League was all too clear as Ivybridge Town lost 5-0 at home to Clevedon Town at Erme Valley on Saturday (Oct 3), writes Graham Hambly.

Clevedon are second in the table with nine wins from 11 league matches while Ivybridge are third from the bottom after suffering their fifth successive league defeat.

They have conceded 19 goals in those five games and strengthened their defence with the return of Joe Cook, who was a regular at centre half for them last season.

He has rejoined Ivybridge after a spell with St Blazey, but it was not the happiest of returns against a Clevedon side, who are the league’s second highest scorers with 36 goals from their 11 matches.

That figure is bettered only by Portishead Town with 37 goals from nine league matches, including their 3-0 win at Ivybridge the previous Saturday.

Clevedon opened the scoring with a header from Lucas Vowles in the ninth minute and added a second in the 27th minute when Jacob Sloggett made a great run rounded off with an equally impressive shot from distance.

Ben Griffith made it 3-0 for Clevedon in the fourth minute of the second half with a shot after good work by Nathan Byrne, who was again the provider seven minutes later when Vowles fired home his second goal of the game. Substitute Charlie Saunders completed the scoring with a header in the 77th minute.

Ivybridge joint manager Brad Gargett spoke of the difference between the two clubs and added: “Our boys are searching for their form while Clevedon are ruthless and powerful. We could not handle their physicality and experience.”

Regarding the signing of Cook, who played alongside Dan Vile at central defence, Gargett commented: “We are delighted to have him back.”

Ivybridge return to action on Tuesday evening (Oct 6) with a trip to Tavistock AFC, who suffered an 8-2 defeat at Portishead on Saturday.

Looking ahead to that match, Ivybridge coach Mitch Laughton admitted: “The fact that Tavistock had a hammering at Portishead does not necessarily do us too many favours. “They will have their backs to the wall, and we are searching to get back to winning ways so that will make for a good game of football for the neutral.

“But it is important for us pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get back to winning games.”

Gargett, who will be returning to one of his old clubs, added: “We have got to take care of our business on Tuesday.”

Following Tuesday’s fixture, Ivybridge return to Erme Valley on Saturday (Oct 10) for an attractive local derby at home to Torpoint Athletic, who recently achieved a 1-1 draw away to Portishead.

Elsewhere in the Jewson Western League this weekend, St Blazey struck seven away at rock-bottom Wellington AFC, only being outscored by the aforementioned Portishead. Former Ivies man Kai Burrell notched a hat-trick.

Nathan Cooper was on target twice as Sidmouth Town beat Brislington FC, Bovey Tracey AFC enjoyed a 4-0 win over Street FC plus Brixham AFC and Bridgwater United also picked up three points.

Isaac McCue’s last-gasp free-kick rescued Buckland Athletic a point against Liskeard Athletic at Homers Heath and Saltash United left it late to secure a draw too, Sam Joce making it 2-2 in added time away at Shepton Mallet.