Torpoint on the up after Barker’s early strike earns victory

TORPOINT Athletic moved up into mid-table after a Dave Barker goal stretched their unbeaten run to three games at The Playing Fields on Saturday.

The decisive strike came in the seventh minute when Gary Hird, who caused all sorts of trouble with his pace all match, crossed from the left to the onrushing Barker, who fired home past Mallet goalkeeper Harry Charlesworth.

This was Torpoint’s third successive away match and to have taken five points from games at Shepton, Portishead and St Blazey illustrates a sharp upturn in form after a disappointing start to the season.

In Saturday’s game, after Barker’s early strike, Shepton’s Connor Williams had an effort saved by Ty Rowe, and moments later a Cian Jelly cross found Joel Smith, whose header went wide.

Just past the half-hour Torpoint midfield man Tom Payne’s free kick on the edge of the penalty area was tipped around the post by Charlesworth.

The opening quarter of an hour of the second period was a midfield affair with both sides trying to break each other down, then Tom Ovigne cut into the area, but hid effort looped over the bar.

Halfway through the half Shepton’s Ethan Cannings had an acute angle shot which was saved by Rowe.

With 15 minutes remaining, Elliot Crawford sent a corner into the penalty area, Freddie Chapman was just beaten to the ball by Charlesworth.

Moments later Darren Hicks found James Rowe in the area, but his effort was headed over the bar.

In the 87th minute Torpoint could have doubled their lead. Sam Pearson laid the ball through to Curtis Damerell, who had been on the field for only two minutes.

Damerell, returning to action after a month out injured, broke clear and then lobbed the keeper but his effort rattled the left post.

And in the fourth minute of stoppage time Damerell played in Josh Scargill, whose shot from distance hit the bottom of the left post.

Shepton Mallet: H. Charlesworth, S. Hodges (E. Athanasiou 73), C. Jelly, J. Sutherland, M. Burgess, H. Barter, J. Smith, E. Cannings, C. Willimas, A. Sen, T. Ovigne.

Subs not used: S. Padmore, M. Lee, B. Jackson, R. Padfield.

Yellow card: J. Sutherland.

Torpoint: T, Rowe, D Barker, S. Hepworth, S. Morgan, F. Chapman, E. Crawford (C. Damerell 85), T, Payne (J. Rowe 59), S. Pearson, L. Flowers (J. Scargill 59), G. Hird (D. Hicks 78), S. Morgan.

Sub not used: J. Jansen.

Goal: D Barker (7 minutes).

Yellow cards: none.

Referee: Jack Clark.

Attendance: 162.

Man of the Match: Sam Pearson.