he records will show that the hosts won 2-0 to go top of the Jewson‘s western league Premier division. Unfortunately it was a controversial refereeing decision in the 20th minute that decided the destiny of a game that up until that point had been competitive and even.

Brixham played a long ball over the top of the Swags defence, keeper Jacob Glover came outside of his area, controlled the ball with his chest and cleared his lines back into the midfield.

Brixhan did appeal for handball, the incident was right in front of the Referee, who could not have been any clearer to the players and 179 people in attendance that it wasn’t handball and allowed play to continue.

A challenge was made and a Brixham player went down injured then received treatment from their physio. 4 minutes had now elapsed and then the linesman called the referee over and the official then controversially changed his decision, awarded a free kick for handball outside the box to Brixham and showed a red card to a very distraught Jacob Glover. Bear in mind the linesman never actually flagged for a foul at the time and play was allowed to continue.

Swag’s centre forward Luke Osgood went in goal and was immediately brought into action to make a fine save from the resulting direct free kick.

Five minutes later Brixham took the lead following a shot from Johansson that was blocked but fell kindly to Tom Mortimer, who made no mistake from 15 yards out.

Eight minutes later, the same man was on the score sheet again, as he dribbled along the right hand touchline and from a very narrow angle, fired into the roof of the net to give Osgood no chance and double the lead.

But Nailsea were up for a fight, 3 minutes later the hosts goalkeeper was forced into a good save from a strong Luca Vowles shot and Shots from both Saunders brothers, with the keeper beaten, drifted agonisingly just wide. H/t 2-0

The 10 men of Nailsea worked extremely hard, did the club proud and more than contained anything Brixham had to offer in the whole of the 2nd half. In fact, the only save of note that Osgood had to make was from a miscued clearance from his own right back, Charlie Oates.
With 5 minutes remaining Charlie Saunders thought he’d got a goal back for the visitors but so his effort was just cleared off the line.

With 11 V 11 we could have been in for an entertaining and competitive game, due to 1 decision, the paying crowd never got to find out.

N& T return to Home action this Tuesday, October 15 V Radstock in the Somerset county cup. Saturday, October 19 they are on the travels again down to Saltash. N & T reserves are  home,October 19th,3 pm kickoff V  Burnham United.