"A" 3-3 King Alfred

2pm 11th August 2007

STOP PRESS: A Yatton team don't lose, score more than one goal and encounter a referee who knows what he's doing!

Yatton and King Alfred played out an entertaining and good natured match, in scorching heat in Burnham-on-Sea.

It could have been all too different if Yatton had taken exception to an over-committed start by King Alfred, with two players receiving a heavy kick, and then a forearm to the face causing blood to be spilled. The latter, Dave Trevaskus, having to leave the field for a long period until the bleeding stopped. Neither challenge could be considered dirty, just clumsy and both certainly would have been rewarded with yellow cards in a competitive match. Yatton and King Alfred agreed to play three 30 minute periods, in order to have an extra break due to the weather.

Athletic took advantage of a lacklustre start by their opponents from a higher league by taking an early two goal lead. Martyn Coast setting free Matt Clothier to finish neatly over the onrushing 'keeper, soon followed by Martyn Coast-ing in to nod home a perfect in-swinging delivery from a free kick. Yatton couldn't keep up their energetic start in the heat, and were eventually pegged back to 2-2 before the end of the second period, with Alfred's second goal coming from an emphatically finished penalty.

As King Alfred looked to press their advantage, a dubiously looking offside Yatton player found himself with the freedom of Burnham to put Athletic back into the lead, only for King Alfred to equalise yet again late on.

A special mention must go to the referee, who's good nature and constant communication on the pitch kept the game clean and enjoyable for both sides. I have a feeling this will be a rare comment on these pages!