Devon South West

Bere ALSTON UNITED 2

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE ACADEMY 1

WITH a tough but beneficial pre-season campaign out of the way for Bere Alston FC it was over to the first league game of the season in the newly formed DFL league, on a sunny day and in front of a sizeable crowd.

Bere Alston took on the youthful, fit and energetic Plymouth Argyle Academy. The home side themselves have a new look about them with majority of the ‘old guard’ retiring and the injection of youth in the way of four 16 year-olds and two 17 year-olds sees the start of a new era for the club.

Bere Alston stared brightly and took the game to Argyle creating several good opportunities; the pressure eventually took its toll on the visitors and some good passing from midfield culminated with the ball played into Harry Hardy who calmly laid the ball into the path of Aaron Rocky to slot the ball calmly past the rooted Argyle keeper.

The home side did not ease off and really went at their opponents and this soon paid off – as the ball was bouncing around inside the area Harry Hardy reacted quickest to slot it into the open goal and Bere went in at half time with a deserved 2-0 lead.

Argyle came out for the second half with more confidence and started to take the game to Bere Alston but the home defence stood solid and so did their goalkeeper Hobbs. With Bere Alston starting to tire and Argyle showing no sign of letting up the visitors managed to get a goal back 10 minutes before the end – Bere skipper Dan Follett making a mistake by not playing to the whistle which allowed the Argyle striker to pinch the ball from his feet and slot the ball home.

Bere hung in for the last 10 minutes of the game to start the season off with the all-important and deserved three points.

Bere Alston manager Will Westlake said: ‘It was great to start off with a win and it’s exciting times at the club with the emphasis on the younger lads coming in. I think we’ve got a great balance of youth and experience that I’m going to have to manage correctly but today I’m very pleased.’