Hartpury FC made it six wins in a row with a battling 1-0 win against Brixham AFC at the MoreSeaFood Ground on Saturday.
Vanylson Silva’s second half strike made it eight games unbeaten and closed the gap to the Southern League Div One South play-offs to four points.
It was a half that saw very little action in front of goal with Brixham troubling the Acorns on a couple of occassions.
Some well worked play during the half saw the Fishermen inside the area on three occasions, but all saw brilliant blocks from Sol Kent, Jesse Aldridge and Josh Roney.
The Acorns went closest on 18 minutes when Noah Coates saw a side footed effort from six-yards, skip just wide of the mark.
Away from that, Louis Manning tried an effort from distance but flew over the bar on 26 minutes.
Seth Locke was called into action on 46 minutes, getting down low to deny a well-placed Brixham header, sending the game into the break goalless.
HALF TIME – BRIXHAM AFC 0-0 HARTPURY FC
The Acorns went close on 48 minutes when Manning’s cross turned shot cannoned back off the crossbar.
The Early pressure paid off on 54 minutes when Silva struck a low effort, from 20-yards, past the goalkeeper, after it seemingly took a deflection on the way.
Five minutes later, Roney was called into action to produce a sensational goal line clearance, denying a Brixham equaliser.
Silva hunted down a second for the afternoon on 65 minutes, but his driven effort was well held.
It was almost two on 70 minutes when, after some brilliant play, Keon Sanniola’s low cross was almost turned home by a Brixham defender.
Brixham’s comeback fight took a hit on 89 minutes when Callum Rose was shown a second yellow, then a red following a heavy challenge.
The game was to then end 10 v 10 when Sanniola saw a second yellow for seemingly kicking the ball away deep into the stoppage time.
Despite the card happy ending, the Acorns saw out another vital three points and secured a fifth clean sheet in their last six games.
A big test awaits the Acorns next Saturday when we welcome the league leaders, Frome Town, to the 4ED Hartpury Stadium.
FULL TIME – BRIXHAM AFC 0-1 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent, Machisa, Callow (Symons 90+5’), Roney, Aldridge (Sims 90’), Prifti (Robinson 46’), Coates, Silva, Manning (Sanniola 60’), Osborn © (Shyamapant 78’)
