Dobwalls 3 Foxhole 0

[Darin Morse]

Dobwalls 3 Foxhole 0

Saturday 31st March 2012

Never having to slip out of second gear Dobwalls easily beat an outclassed Foxes outfit who never recovered from Lawrence's gifted opener on seventeen minutes, Ryan Holland appearing to get his legs in a tangle when stooping to gather a loose ball. By then Dan Tapper had already headed Rheed's fine cross narrowly wide and only a great tackle by Adam Holland prevented Steve Tapper from netting from close range as the home team quickly gained control, without stunning the small crowd with a feast of flowing football. However the lacklustre visitors had no real answer to the long ball approach they encountered, but were able to deal more comfortably with a succession of drives from distance, only one of which caused alarm when Hawes' effort was deflected wide.

It was no surprise when the unchallenged Thackeray doubled the lead on the half hour with a firm header from Dan Tapper's corner, the same player almost netting again shortly afterwards only to side foot over the bar. It already appeared a case of how many, the Foxes offering little other than Gotthardt's long throws, although Turton again showed his strange reluctance to shoot when running on to a defence-splitting pass by the willing Spaul.

Although Rundle was to force Beman to a couple of flying saves soon after the restart, it was to prove a false dawn as the second period broadly mirrored the first with far too many Foxes simply off the pace. They managed to avoid further damage until the sixty-ninth minute when Steve Tapper scored with a fortuitous lob, Hawes' terrible tackle on Spaul six minutes later which resulted in instant dismissal being totally needless given the undoubted destination of the points.

When Lawrence was upended in the box by Ryan Holland seven minutes from time, the big keeper may too have seen red but the referee deemed a caution sufficient. Holland brilliantly saved Notman's spot-kick before denying the dangerous striker with his legs from ten yards and was then equal to Steve Tapper's low drive as the Lantoom Park outfit sought to boost their goal difference, substitute Camps providing a rare highlight at the other end with some clever control followed by an effort which trickled just wide, while fellow replacement Warren was booked for dissent in the final noteworthy incident of a forgettable match.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Holland, Ryan Stephen, Joe Stone; Jaydon Gotthardt, Richard Faircloth, Ben Spaul, Aydan Rundle, Jamie Coates (sub. Gary Camps); Sam Kenny, Ross Turton.

Dobwalls (4-4-2): Tom Beman; James Rheed, Andy Frost (sub. Tom Jevons), Matt Thackeray, Phil Bromhead; Dan Lawrence, Dan Tapper, Steve Tapper, Matt Hawes; Josh Notman, Martyn Hake (sub. Dan Warren).

Referee: Mr Marc Oldaker (Launceston).