Report by Neil Hocking of Clubnets

An eventful game at South Devon Sports Centre saw Plympton Athletic end Paignton Villa’s unbeaten start to the campaign while extending their own.

In a half of few chances, Plympton drew first blood on ten minutes, Grant Craven bursting through on the left and rifling home. Seven minutes from half time, Plympton ‘keeper Percy Daniel was unable to hold on to a Villa free-kick, enabling Jake Price to fire home the rebound. The sides were level for just two minutes though, Craven putting the visitors back in front when he took the ball past a stranded Jo Moroney and guided it into the empty net.

Plympton just about deserved their half time advantage, but Villa responded positively, piling on the pressure from the restart and earning a 52nd minute equaliser, Sam Woodcock heading home a corner. After good chances at both ends, Plympton’s Callum Thomas was sin binned. With a man advantage, Villa struck again just after the hour mark, Tom Mayer scoring from close range. Plympton responded instantly, Moroney parrying a Jack Clarke cross into the path of Carlo Marino who made no mistake. Seven minutes later, Jay Jones latched on to a hopeful long ball from Tyler Pickering before scoring a wonderful solo goal for 4-3. The game was interrupted by a couple of minutes of ill discipline, which saw Haydn Cook sent off for Villa and several yellow cards dished out. Following the restart, Villa were denied a late equaliser when Daniel superbly saved a free-kick. Plympton then put the game to bed in stoppage time with two goals from their young substitutes, giving them a slightly flattering 6-3 victory.