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Bere Alston United 4

Stoke Climsland 1

BERE Alston United finished off a good pre-season by entertaining Stoke Climsland at the recreation field.

In wet and blustery conditions it was going to be a tough afternoon of football but Bere soon got to grips with the conditions and got the ball down to start playing fast, slick passing which opened up Stoke Climsland. After 20 minutes Bere’s moving proved too tricky for the Stoke Climsland defence resulting in them giving away a penalty which Chris Bray calmly slotted into the top corner.

The visitors grew into the game and their physical presence put the home side’s back line under pressure resulting in Bere’s defence dropping too deep and allowing Stoke Climsland to equalise with a neat touch and finish against Bere’s on-rushing keeper Michael Moore. The game was in the balance for the rest of the first half and it ended 1-1 at the break.

Bere Alston made changes in the second half taking advantage of having six substitutes; this took its toll on the ever tiring Stoke Climsland as Jordan Williams and Darren Phillips for Bere Alston really started to open them up. It was Phillips powerful shot which proved too much for the Climsland keeper to handle and Chris Bray was on hand to tap home the loose ball and his second.

With the pressure building on the visitors Bere were hungry for more goals and with a great delivery from a corner, Dan Follett powerfully headed the ball in to make it 3-1. Bere were now in total control by this stage and moving the ball with ease between the midfield of Aaron Rocky and Ryan Moorhead.

Ten minutes from time the away keeper slipped to make a error and Bray was first to pounce and complete his hat-trick and Bere’s fourth. The referee blew his whistle for full time to put a fitting end to Bere’s pre-season.

Bere Alston FC thanked Stoke Climsland for taking the fixture at short notice.

This season sees Bere Alston United playing for the first time ever in South West Peninsula league — the highest level in the club’s long history. The club thanked their sponsors Jewson Ltd of Tavistock and manager of the branch Chris Hicks for their new kit.