A hat-trick of set-piece goals from striker Finley Rooke enabled Beer Albion to achieve an excellent 3-2 Devon Premier Cup quarter-final victory against University of Exeter, writes Richard Honnor.

The pattern of play became clear from the outset. Uni completely dominated possession with their passing football whilst Beer stayed compact often with 10 men behind the ball.

Beer ‘keeper Elliot Driver made two good saves in the first 15 minutes from 15 yards out. Then, on 18 minutes, the Fishermen took the lead after right winger Liam Cox, whose pace was always a threat was brought dow just outside the penalty box. From 20 yards out, Rooke struck the perfect free kick, eluding the defensive wall and the keeper’s despairing dive.

Driver produced another superb save before the students equalised on the stroke of half-time. The Fishermen absorbed more pressure after the break, with George Richards outstanding at centre-bac, and grabbed the lead with a Rooke penalty. Four minutes later, another Rooke spot-kick made it 3-1.

Uni weren’t finished and quickly reduced the arrears, when they carved through the Beer defence and executed a finish from close range. But despite tiring legs, the Fishermen held on until the final whistle to book their semi-final place.

Beer Albion 2nds made the short trip to local rivals Seaton looking to make amends for the 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

The Fisherman took the lead when a Harry Lawrence corner was headed home by Ashley Driver but Seaton grabbed the equaliser after an excellent through ball was slotted home. Beer won it early in the second period, James Melville converting for a 2-1 final score.

In the South-West Peninsula League, Axminster Town dropped a place to fifth in the East Division after a 2-2 draw at Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police, Jake Quick and Jamie Price scoring the goals for the Tigers.

The next generation of Axminster talent were give a taste of Tiger Way in a recent fixture when the Under 11s were mascots for the reserves.

Before the match, they were presented with new tracksuit tops by their sponsor, Xylem. They are pictured with Paul Winnett, sales and operations director of Xylem, and their coaches Andy Gage and Ashley Wheeler.