Saturday saw the visit of Stoke Gabriel, who after a few years of struggles are having a bit of a resurgence after their amalgamation with Torbay Police.
Again this Saturday, the players were faced with a thawing pitch after overnight frost. It turned out to be the only game played in East division.
Cullompton welcomed back Lloyd White who would become the match winner.
The first half was full of attacking football, especially from Cully, who once again created and spurned several chances. Stoke Gabriel showed a more physical approach, and dare I say it, a team who spent too much time arguing with the referee. Never the less the half ended goal less.
Stoke Gabriel regrouped at the interval and began well, creating a succession of attacks, and winning a number of corners, which the Cully defence – well marshalled by Captain Sam Bryant – easily dealing with the early pressure.
Cullompton now started to get back on track, but, as has been the case this season, creating and not scoring these opportunities. As is in the case in football, you pay for these misses. A rare Stoke attack, saw them awarded a free kick, from which they scored with a free header. A real sucker punch.
Enforced changes from the bench, saw Cully equalise, when a cross from debutant Kamil Wojtowicz, found Lloyd White to score an equaliser.
Cully were well on top now, and Lloyd latched onto a through ball down the right, to round the keeper and score the eventual winner, The full back had made a valiant effort to clear the ball off the line, but the referee was on hand to award the goal.
What happened next was not what you wanted to see in football: the Stoke goalkeeper rushed 40 yards to confront the linesman, with the rest of the team surrounding the referee, disputing the decision. Eventually the referee regained control, resulting in the goalkeeper being sent off.
The game restarted in near darkness, before the referee blew the final whistle, with Cullompton running out deserved winners. Two – one.
Rev the roving reporter
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