Early double strike as Lillywhites hold off Bodmin

FA Vase

First qualifying round

AFC St Austell 2 Bodmin Town 1

In the end St Austell were grateful for the excellent start they made to a thrilling tie as Bodmin threw everything at them in a rampant second half show at Poltair.

The Lillywhites looked to be on their way to a big victory after Martyn Duff, with an excellent strike in the sixth minute, and Olly Brokenshire (12 minutes) put them 2-0 ahead.

But Bodmin, being managed on a temporary basis by Shaun Vincent following Dane Bunney’s shock resignation, got themselves back into the tie with a Ben Waters goal in the 32^nd minute and were then the better side as they searched for an equaliser.

They could argue with some justification that they should have been awarded two second half penalties when Waters and Charlie Hardcastle were both brought down but the referee was not in a giving mood.

Vincent described the performance as one of the best Bodmin have produced in recent times and although disappointed by their exit from the Vase, he couldn’t fault the effort after their poor start and said it augured well for the rest of the season.

That poor start included some rank bad defending as they were given and failed to carry out several chances to clear their penalty area from a sixth minute corner.

The ball then fell to Duff on the far side of the area; he still had a lot to do but once he transferred the ball onto his left foot he seized the opportunity to drill the ball into the far corner.

The home lead was doubled six minutes later when a precision corner from skipper Neil Slateford was flicked on at the near post to Brokenshire, who volleyed into the net from 10 yards.

St Austell almost made it 3-0 on the half-hour when the evergreen Liam Eddy strode away from a covering defender but pulled his shot just wide with Bodmin keeper Jordan Stidson rooted to his line.

It was a let off for the visitors, who responded by reducing the arrears two minutes later as they opened up the St Austell defence through the middle and Waters finished superbly with keeper Harry Ashton standing in his way.

Bodmin came close to equalising a minute before half-time when Hardcastle, out wide on the left, produced a superb cross which found Ross Hamilton, who volleyed inches over the bar.

The visitors should have had a 52^nd minute penalty when Waters went down under the challenge of two players but the referee thought otherwise and to compound what looked a poor decision, sent Sam Clifton to the sin bin for arguing.

By the letter of the law he was right – referees do not deserve verbal abuse; there just seems no room whatsoever for the emotion of the moment in football any more, and that’s a great shame.

St Austell, on the back foot for long spells, suddenly broke clear after 76 minutes and only a top drawer save from Stidson kept out a close range Eddy shot.

Bodmin’s second strong penalty shout came five minutes later when Hardcastle was clearly clipped by a defender but the referee and the nearest linesman said no.

The visitors, with substitute Kevin Kendall running the show from midfield for the last 15 minutes, which included 10 minutes of time added on, pressed hard for an equaliser which would have led to a penalty shootout. But they couldn’t find a way through.

St Austell: H Ashton, J Shaw, T Whipp, M Watts (B Thomas 21), O Brokenshire, A Carter, N Slateford, M Duff (N Teagle 71), L Eddy, T Guest (G Marris 46), J Miller.

Subs not used: M Searle, C Wharton, O Rosevear, C Hill (gk).

Goals: M Duff (6), O Brokenshire (12).

Yellow cards: T Guest (25), T Whipp (87), B Thomas (90+10).

Bodmin: J Stidson, S Hill, R Hamilton, L Pacey, A Wall, C Holder, L Taylor (K Foster), S Clifton, B Waters, J Hamson (K Kendall 85), C Hardcastle.

Sub not used: J Robertson.

Goal: B Waters (32).

Yellow cards: L Taylor (40), B Waters (77), A Wall (90).

Sin Bin: S Clifton (54).

Referee: A Bassett.

Attendance: 150.

Olly Brokenshire celebrates scoring St Austell’s second goal.

The joy of six as revitalised Lillywhites lead the way

South West Peninsula League

Premier Division West

Camelford 0 AFC St Austell 2

They may not have been at their best on Tuesday night, but St Austell were good enough to record their sixth straight victory to maintain their excellent start to the season.

Martyn Duff’s 17th minute strike broke the deadlock but it took until the 88th minute for the visitors to secure the points, with an own goal as substitute Liam Eddy put defenders under pressure in the six yard box.

In between time, prolific scorer Adam Carter (8 goals so far) missed a second half penalty – or it’s probably better to say Camelford’s impressive young keeper, Howell Evans, saved it.

Going into this game on a beautiful evening at Trefrew Park, the Lillywhites had averaged five goals a game while conceding only three, so it was odds-on that they would overcome a youthful but committed Camels side.

The visitors dominated the first half but had only Duff’s goal to show for it, leaving the door open for Camelford to stay in the game and they created a couple of half chances towards the break.

Maybe Mark Gusterson would have taken one of them. Sadly, the long-serving striker was forced to watch from the sidelines after being injured in their previous game against Truro City Reserves.

Camelford saw more of the ball in the second half but didn’t really trouble St Austell keeper Harry Ashton and the visitors finished the game strongly, underlining that with their late second goal.

After a few seasons of struggle on and off the field, St Austell seem to be back at the top table. The summer additions of the vastly experienced Olly Brokenshire, Eddy and Carter has given the squad a much stronger look.

It’s early days but when you win your first six games of a new season, confidence and belief builds. Maybe the local derbies against St Blazey will be back on the fixture list much sooner than expected.

Camelford have made an uncharacteristically slow start to the campaign, disrupted by injuries and unavailabilities, but with Reg Hambly continuing to cajole from the sidelines they will improve.

Camelford: H Evans, S Watts, D Metherell, C Hambly, S Wade, T Crowe, O Taylor, R Beare, E Evans, S Cardiff, J Chafer.

Subs: F Ellacott, D Sprake, J Biddick, T Ellacott, T Harvey.

St Austell: H Ashton, J Shaw, B Thomas, T Whipp, O Brokenshire, O Rosevear, N Slateford, M Searle, G Marris (T Guest 75), M Duff (C Wharton 62), A Carter (L Eddy 80).

Subs not used: M Watts, J Hooper.

Man of the Match: Howell Evans – brilliant in the Camels goal.

Mousehole make extra quality count

FA Cup preliminary round

St Blazey 1 Mousehole 5

Mousehole turned on the style in the second half to end the hopes of a hard-working St Blazey side in an entertaining tie at Blaise Park.

Jake Ash’s Southern League first division outfit took time to adjust to the pressures of the game, with Western League newcomers Blazey giving as good as they got in the opening half-hour.

But two goals in six minutes just before the break, from Jack Bray-Evans (41) and Jack Symons (45+2) sent the Seasiders in at half-time in a comfortable position.

Blazey needed to score the next goal to keep the tie alive but instead it was Mousehole who got it eight minutes into the second half with a delightfully chipped finish by the excellent Bray-Evans.

Skipper Max Hill, with a similar chipped goal, made it 4-0 as the game went into nine minutes of time added on and Josh Bissett (90+3) completed the visitors’ scoring.

There was still enough time for young striker Kieron Bishop to grab a well created and taken consolation, a goal he deserved for another all action performance.

Bishop, signed from neighbours St Austell during the summer, hasn’t had much luck in front of goal yet but he always seems to get into the right positions.

Despite the margin of victory, there was plenty for St Blazey to take from this display and they look well equipped to have a good first season in the Western League.

Teenager Rio Ward is an exciting prospect. He seems to be able to play anywhere; on Saturday he was a striker operating wide on the right, and with a better final ball he would have set up good chances for his team-mates. That vision will come with the right advice and coaching.

Mousehole are a team I would happily pay to watch every week. They appear to have made the formidable jump from Western League to Southern League with some comfort and that’s because the team is packed with players who can play. Their success is no fluke.

It said something about the strength in depth they possessed on Saturday when players as good as Andy Elcock, Josh Otto, Jack Calver, Callam Mconie and Tim Nixon were only on the bench.

Jake Ash has his moments on the sidelines during matches, like any passionate manager does, but in general he comes across as a calming influence and a top non-league coach.

Afterwards he said: “Happy with the result because there was nothing to choose between the sides in the opening 30 minutes and indeed they had a good chance to go 1-0 up.

“It was pleasing to go in 2-0 up at half-time but I told our players the tie could still go one of two ways. Either they got a goal back which would make it a hard second half, or we pushed for the third goal and would then probably go on to get four and five.

“Thankfully the boys stepped up the quality in the second half and we got the goals, so a very satisfactory afternoon’s work from us.”

St Blazey: S Semmens, W Tinsley, M Edwards, A Dilley (I McCue 11), L Russell, J Pearce, Jed Smale, L Vooght (Jacob Smale 46), L Cloke, R Ward (CJ Pritchard 46), K Bishop.

Subs not used: M Lloyd, S Rutter.

Goal: K Bishop (90+6).

Yellow card: L Vooght (4).

Mousehole: L Moyle, R Barrett, K Fraser, M Lewis, P Sousa, M Hill, H Turner, J Symons (A Elcock 59), J Bray-Evans (J Calver 76), T Mitchell, J Bissett.

Goals: J Bray-Evans (41 & 53), J Symons (45+2), M Hill (90+1), J Bissett (90+3).

Referee: Ryan Dennis.

Attendance: 303.

Rikki’s moment of quality lifts Helston to top in Blaise Park thriller

Toolstation Western League

Premier Division

St Blazey 0 Helston Athletic 1

Is there ever a dull game at Blaise Park? The 90 minutes plus 10 of action served up by St Blazey and Helston on Wednesday night was enthralling for the crowd of 175.

Ultimately, the visitors walked away with all three points courtesy of Rikki Shepherd’s 74^th minute strike, a result which lifted them to the top of the table after four games unbeaten.

But the Green & Blacks, who endured the entire second half with 10 men after centre half Martin Giles was red carded on the stroke of half-time, played their full part in a cracking encounter.

Giles’ dismissal for a challenge which left Helston skipper Aaron Bentley requiring hospital treatment and 16 stitches to a gaping head wound, was a big talking point but remarkably it didn’t lead to bad feeling between the sides, for which they should be commended.

Helston boss Matt Cusack said: “We squandered opportunities early and were then lucky not to be behind by half time because of our keeper’s saves.

“In the second half a moment of quality from Rikki helped secure the points.

“We knew a win would send us top of the table at this early stage, something we didn’t achieve at any stage last season, so credit to our team for finding a way to win.

“I was impressed with St Blazey, it will be a tough place to go.”

Blazey, in their first season at this level and still searching for the first league win, will be wondering how they failed to score, especially after a strong start where Rio Ward’s third minute effort was blocked by the legs of Helston keeper Kyle Moore.

Helston striker Rubin Wilson then had two good opportunities in seven minutes – with the first his shot was deflected into the side netting and with the second he shot wide.

But Blazey should have broken the deadlock in the 17^th minute. Luke Cloke played Ward in along the right, he was one-on-one with the keeper but chose to square the ball across the face of goal to the unmarked Kieron Bishop, who somehow screwed his shot wide.

A similar golden opportunity came on the half hour as Will Tinsley found Ward along the right touchline. Again he dragged the ball across the penalty and this time Bishop smashed his close range shot straight at Moore.

Steve Colwell mistimed a volleyed chance in the 37^th minute as the action switched from one end to the other.

The turning point came on the stroke of half-time. Jed Smale appeared to have a shot blocked on the line by Moore but the ball went loose and was lifted back into the danger zone where Aaron Bentley went down under a challenge from Giles.

It was clear immediately that Bentley had suffered a serious cut to his head and he received lengthy treatment on the pitch before, thankfully, being able to walk off to the dugout.

Giles was shown the red card and there was further trouble for the home side when Jordan Pearce was sent to the sin bin, apparently for disputing the sending off decision.

So Blazey started the second half with nine men, while Helston introduced Harry Jewell for Callum O’Brien, who may have been withdrawn to prevent a potential red card after he was booked in the 37th minute for what was his third bad challenge in 10 minutes.

The home side survived eight minutes with nine players and then sacrificed Aaron Dilley in midfield for another central defender, Lewis Russell, to shore up the defence.

Ward had his third opportunity to score in the 56^th minute but sent his shot over the bar and that was as close at Blazey came to finding a goal in the second half.

Helston brought on three substitutes to freshen things up as they attempted to make their man advantage count and they finally broke through in the 74^th minute.

Dave Barker’s pass along the right was aimed for the pacy Shepherd. Blazey keeper Shaun Semmens raced out to the edge of his area and initially appeared to win the ball but he made a mess of his attempted clearance, leaving Shepherd to fire the ball into the net from an acute angle.

Helston were awarded a penalty four minutes later when Shepherd went down under a challenge from Semmens but the spot kick was wiped out after the referee consulted a linesman, who said there had been no contact on Shepherd.

St Blazey brought on three substitutes in the 81^st minute in a bid to freshen things up for a late push but it was Helston who came closest to another goal in the last minute of normal time.

After a scramble in the penalty area the ball broke to substitute Tom Payne who smashed a shot towards goal only to see Semmens make a magnificent reflex save.

In spite of 10 minutes of time added on, Helston managed it well and their slender lead wasn’t threatened.

St Blazey: S Semmens, W Tinsley, M Edwards, L Vooght, M Giles, J Pearce, J Smale, A Dilley (L Russell 55), L Cloke (CJ Pritchard 81), K Bishop (M Lloyd 81), R Ward (J Smale).

Sub not used: S Rutter.

Sin bin: J Pearce (44).

Red card: M Giles (44).

Helston: K Moore, T Elliott, T Moxham (T Payne 64), D Barker, C O’Brien (H Jewell 46), J Bentley, S Colwell, A Bentley (J Smith 44), R Wilson (C Damerell 58), R Shepherd, S Carter (J Copp 58).

Goal: R Shepherd (74).

Yellow card: C O’Brien (37).

Referee: Andrew Hobbs.

Attendance: 175.

Same old, same old for new Ashes

Toolstation Western League

Premier Division

Saltash United 1 Falmouth Town 3

For the third successive game, Saltash United went into time added on 2-1 down and chasing an equaliser at the Waterways Stadium on Tuesday night.

And for the third match, they conceded a third goal to end their hopes of salvaging a point to reward an encouraging performance.

All of which left Ashes manager Macca Brown frustrated at his young side’s fourth successive league defeat to start this transitional season at the club.

He said: “It’s a similar story, but the feeling is becoming a bit boring to be honest as you can probably imagine.

“We can be really pleased with elements of our performance but the challenge is now to have a 90 minute showing, because we are losing the game in the moments that we aren’t quite on it, and in all honesty Falmouth probably edged us in that respect last night and probably deserved the win.

“I thought we were excellent in the first half, and caused them quite a few issues. They were quite direct and aggressive in their play with lots of forward passes in behind our back line which caused us a few issues, but after going 1-0 down from a corner we settled and played some really good football with Joe Preece at the heart of it. When we equalised before the break I was optimistic going into the break.

“But we were different in the second half, we had less control of the game because we were forcing play and in a rush to get the ball forwards and the quality was lacking in their half of the pitch, which was there in the first half.

“This was a disaster for us, because Falmouth are so dangerous on the counter attack, and we gave them many opportunities to hurt us with it and eventually it cost us.

“We had a couple of snapshots, but again it probably summed up our second half as in all of those occasions an extra pass was needed to create a proper chance and that’s where we need to improve.

“They killed the game in injury time, and it’s another game where fine margins have cost us but it’s still the same end result.

“I must say though, the support was fantastic, it was loud and they were behind the team throughout and I think they can recognise we aren’t far off.

“However, we have to start picking up points now, because performances aren’t enough. We understand we have a young team and we have to allow time for the fruit to ripen, but we are hungry now.”

Brad Leivers gave Falmouth an 11th minute lead with a stunning volley from 10 yards but Saltash responded strongly and it was no surprise when they equalised after 34 minutes with Jake Foster heading in a corner.

The Ashes were cheered off at the end of the first half by their delighted supporters and that should have set up the players for a rampaging second half performance.

But they found it difficult to get going again and it was Falmouth who stepped up the pressure which resulted in the excellent Luke Brabyn firing them back into the lead after 55 minutes.

Saltash had their moments, with the impressive Joe Preece sending a fierce 20 yard shot inches over the bar, but the more they pushed for an equaliser, the more gaps they left at the back.

Falmouth used the long, accurate ball out of defence to good effect and they were rewarded in the second minute of time added on when former Camelford favourite Cam Hutchison sidestepped a challenge from goalkeeper Jake Crebbin-Mead to roll the ball into an empty net.

Brown is right with his view that Saltash are not far away from opening their points account – but they are conceding an average of three goals a game and they must find a solution to that.

Saltash: J Crebbin-Mead, B Goulty (H Bunning 90), E Wright (W Larsen 84), J Wood, T Huyton (T Love-Holmes 64), L Murray, K O’Melia, J Preece, J Foster (S Cox 77), R Thomson, N Crump (J Johnson 64).

Goal: J Foster (34).

Yellow card: K O’Melia (65).

Falmouth: M Coxhead, J Swan (K Gordon-Dunn 72), B Leivers, A Coueja-Styme (J Grange 58), T Annear, J Ward, L Barner, J Webber, L Brabyn (J Gilbert 77), J Sims, C Hutchison.

Goals: B Leivers (11), L Brabyn (55), C Hutchison (90+2).

Referee: Lee Roberts.

Attendance: 170.

Ashes falling just the wrong side of a fine line between winning and losing

Toolstation Western League

Premier Division

Clevedon Town 3 Saltash United 1

Saltash are looking for a change of fortune sooner rather than later after suffering another frustrating defeat on Saturday.

The Ashes were well in this game and were pushing for an equaliser when Clevedon grabbed their third goal in the third minute of added time to give the scoreline a generous look for the home side.

It’s now three successive league defeats and 10 goals conceded for Saltash but manager Macca Brown feels there is little between losing and winning.

He said: “At the moment we are just falling the wrong side of a very fine line, which is how these games are being decided at the moment and Saturday was another example of that.

“We had a couple of enforced changes, we appealed Jordan Ewing’s red card from last week but that was rejected which I’m completely baffled by given the video evidence I’ve seen, and Reece (Thomson) was unavailable which was a blow, but it gave a great opportunity to some lads who’ve been waiting patiently. 

“The performance was solid again, if I take the Helston game out of the mix where we were horrendous, the other three games we’ve played really well, particularly in the first half and found ourselves in leading positions in all three games.

“Yet we’ve taken nothing in terms of points and that’s where we have to improve because in my experience in this league the team that goes ahead is notoriously hard to then beat, but that’s not the case at the minute.

“It was the same story on Saturday, we started so well and dominated the early stages and deservedly went ahead. Clevedon weren’t really at it but the momentum swung after about half and hour when we conceded two cheap free kicks within a minute and that put us on the back foot a bit as Clevedon stepped up their levels.

“But to concede from two corners is always disappointing, because I don’t think we really looked like conceding other than that and defended well.

“The first corner was unfortunate because Crebbs makes a good save and there’s a challenge on the second ball, but it just falls to their man in the six yard box which is maybe how it’s going for us at the moment.

“But the second one again we actually won the first contact but can only flick it to the back post and it is a free header which is unacceptable.

“I felt we could have gone for it a bit more in the last 15 minutes or so after going behind, maybe we lacked a bit of belief but we still creates some good chances.

“With five minutes to go Jake (Foster) had a great chance as he goes through one on one and lobs it just over the bar and then they break and kill the game off in injury time.”

So the Ashes are still searching for their first points of the season – but Brown said: “We won’t feel sorry for ourselves, we are looking at the results with perspective in mind and we have a brilliant game to look forward to on Tuesday at home to Falmouth.

“The lads have been brilliant; this past week the focus in training and effort has been superb so we are working hard to get that first win.

“It’s been a tough start, three long away trips and a home game against the title favourites, but all of the games are tough and we can’t sit back and wait for an easy one to come along because they aren’t out there.

“We can feel a little hard done by in some cases but are also not necessarily helping ourselves and have to make improvements in certain areas.

“But there’s a lot of positive signs that we can build from and it’ll fall into place, I’m sure of that, and when those first points come it’ll taste even sweeter.”

Clevedon: J Dunn, S Kent, S Iles (E Nicholson 46), C Kingdon, G Hayer, E Crossley, H Westlake (J Wakefield 75), A Camm, S Camper (O Punselie 67), J Teall (B Probert 75), S Beresford (T Kemble 90+3).

Saltash: J Crebbin-Mead, T Huyton, E Wright (R Hamilton 79), J Wood, H Greening, L Murray, K O’Melia (J Johnson 75), J Preece,  J Toulson (J Foster 63), E Goodman (H Bunning 75), N Crump.

Thomson stunner ensures Torpoint maintain 100 per cent start

Toolstation Western League

Premier Division

Torpoint Athletic 2 Wellington 1

When a team loses its top scorer – as Torpoint did in the summer with Curtis Damerell’s departure to Helston – you often find it will struggle at the start of the next season.

That is clearly not the case with Dean Cardew’s side, who sit proudly at the top of the table following their third successive league win to start the campaign.

And it was two of the players who have been brought in to plug the Damerell gap – James Rowe and Sean Thomson – who scored the goals which brought another three points at The Mill on Saturday.

Thomson’s 88^th minute left foot strike from 18 yards was worthy of winning any game, while Rowe’s goal – a rare headed effort which put them into a 30^th minute lead – set them on their way.

Wellington played second fiddle for an hour but the introduction of two subs brought them to life and it took a fine save from Jordan Duffey to deny Josh Lukins in the 71^st minute.

From the resulting corner the visitors should have equalised when central defender Ryan Hibbert had a free header from six yards but mistimed his jump and the ball flew wide.

Torpoint didn’t heed the warning and Wellington equalised through one of their subs, Ryan Poulson, to set up a tense last 10 minutes.

If anything, the visitors looked the more likely to snatch all three points but with time running out, Elliot Crawford swung in a superb ball from the left towards the penalty area, it was fed to Thomson and he turned inside before unleashing an unstoppable left foot shot into the far corner of the net.

Nobody at The Mill would suggest their team were at their best, but they found a way to win and that’s usually a sign of a good team.

The summer recruitment, to bolster last season’s squad, has been eye catching. Jason Richards, such a trusted and consistent performer with Millbrook in recent seasons, has been added to the back line and on Saturday won the sponsors’ man of the match award.

Thomson, also a capture from Millbrook, and former Liskeard favourite Rowe give Torpoint a strong look as an attacking force alongside the evergreen Ryan Richards.

The only setback for the home side on Saturday was seeing another summer recruit, striker James Lorenz, being unable to come out for the second half after aggravating a long-standing knee injury.

Hopefully the former Liskeard goal machine can find a long term solution to the issue.

Torpoint are back in action at The Mill on Tuesday when they face Brixham (7.30pm).

Torpoint: J Duffey, D Hicks, J Richards, J Rundle, S Hillson, E Crawford, J Rowe (J Forrest 90+2), J Lorenz (R Smith 46), S Thomson, R Richards, J Pope (L Rooney 72).

Subs not used: D Murray, C Holder.

Referee: Paul Redding.

Attendance: 155.

It all gets a bit Messi at Priory Park

South West Peninsula League

Premier Division West

Bodmin Town 4 Camelford 1

We all love Lionel Messi, right? Arguably the most gifted footballer to have graced the planet in the last 30 years.

He’s scored some of the best goals you’ll see, with mazy runs which leave defenders in his wake. You know the sort.

Well, the 86 people in attendance at Priory Park on Wednesday night were very fortunate to witness a similar type of finish by Bodmin midfield man Charlie Hardcastle. I kid you not.

With the home side 2-0 up thanks to early goals from Ben Waters and Naby Diallo, Hardcastle received the ball on the right edge of the penalty area at the clubhouse end, with three or four defenders blocking his way.

He chose to take them on, one by one, weaving his way through each challenge with his left foot before firing a low right foot shot past Camelford keeper Josh Colwill to the delight of the crowd.

I don’t know if you can nominate a goal of the season after two games – but I am going to, and if I see a better one on my travels I’ll be sure to let you know.

It was a thing of rare beauty at this level of football and served to give Bodmin the cushion they needed going into what turned out to be a dramatic last 20 minutes.

The home side’s perfect night started to turn sour in the 71^st minute when they were reduced to 10 men with sub Harvey Taylor being sin binned for dissent.

Four minutes later they were down to nine men when Sam Clifton spoke out of turn and he too was invited to spend the next 10 minutes in the bin.

Not long after that, Camelford striker Josh Insley was booked, for what looked like dissent, but there was no sin bin for him.

And the visitors made the most of their two-man advantage by reducing the arrears with Gusterson finishing from close range after a sweeping move along the right.

The time it was taklng for Taylor to be allowed back on after his sin binning started to annoy Bodmin manager Dane Bunney and the referee, over on the far side of the pitch, could be heard to shout that if he had to come over to Bunney he’d banish him from the dugout.

From this point it almost felt like the referee was keeping Taylor off the pitch longer than required, and Bunney’s continual questioning brought the official to the sidelines.

Bunney was shown the yellow card and after asking another question about the time it was taking to get his player back on, he was swiftly shown a second yellow.

Taylor was soon reintroduced to the action, as was Clifton, who put the icing on the cake with Bodmin’s fourth goal in the last minute of normal time.

Bodmin were well worth the victory; they have signed some very good players at this level during the summer and they are likely to be challenging the top six places rather than the bottom six this time around.

For Camelford, who were weakened in defence by injuries and unavailabilities, the result was a disappointment but there were some good aspects about their performance.

They created as many chances as Bodmin but on this occasion their final touch and their finishing was found wanting.

Bodmin: M Searle, K Dyer, K Foster (J Harrison 54), T Hanrahan, S Hill, A Wall, N Diallo (H Taylor 54), S Clifton, B Waters (C Spear 67), R Knight (J Stidson 89), C Hardcastle.

Yellow cards: H Taylor (71); S Clifton (75).

Sin bin: H Taylor (71); S Clifton (75).

Goals: B Waters (6 mins), N Diallo (12), C Hardcastle (67), S Clifton (90).

Camelford: J Colwill, S Watts, J Chaffer, C Hambly, S Wade, T Harvey, R Beare, C Sturdy (J Insley 76), L Best, M Gusterson, E Evans.

Subs: J Biddick (used 76 mins), O Taylor (used 69 mins). H Evans.

Yellow cards: L Best (57), J Insley (75).

Goal: M Gusterson (79).

Referee: Matt Arthur.

Attendance: 86.

Man of the Match: Charlie Hardcastle.

Defensive generosity produces rich entertainment at Bodieve

South West Peninsula League

Premier Division West

Wadebridge Town 3 Dobwalls 2

There was something a bit pre-season about Tuesday’s action at Bodieve Park with both sides looking like there is more work to be done defensively.

Don’t get me wrong, the wide open spaces and a lack of proper marking produced a game full of chances and five goals to cheer the crowd on another unseasonal August evening.

But you feel for the managers who have to watch from the sidelines. For the neutral, a good watch; for the managers, not quite so.

Wadebridge will be the happier because they bagged the points but Dobwalls provided some very good moments too and made sure the hosts were never comfortable.

Substitute Morgan Vallejo’s 71st minute glancing header at the near post from a corner proved to be the winner as the Bridgers clinched their second successive victory at the start of the league campaign.

Dobwalls, who had been held to a 2-2 draw at home to Holsworthy on the opening day, started this game on the front foot and came close to taking the lead in the fourth minute when Cam Patterson chipped the ball over Bridgers keeper Rob Rosevear on the edge of the penalty area.

But Patterson didn’t get enough on it and the ball went slowly enough towards the empty net for a home defender to prevent going in and Wadebridge survived.

Rosevear was at the centre of the action again in the 10th minute, stretching his left leg wide to divert a goal-bound shot from Kaycee Kene Ogwu wide of the post for a corner, an excellent save which left the pacy Dobwalls winger looking on in disbelief.

But he was back in the 21st minute, getting the better of Sam Wickins along the left and closing in on goal before Wickins made a late challenge from behind which sent Kene Ogwu crashing to the ground.

Patterson placed a superb penalty kick past Rosevear to give the visitors a deserved lead and for the opening 35 minutes they looked the better side by some distance.

But Wadebridge’s best move of the game, which arrived in the 37th minute, saw the ball pinged around from the right wing to left before presenting a chance for Wickins, who fired into the net from 10 yards.

Before Dobwalls had chance to settle, Wadebridge attacked again and this time Wickins curled a superb right wing shot from 18 yards around keeper James Morley into the net.

The visitors must have wondered what had hit them and it was almost worse for them a minute before the break with a hat-trick chance for Wickins. But this time Morley pulled off a fine save.

After having an effort disallowed for offside in the second minute of the second half, Dobwalls equalised in the 64th minute with a stunning long range shot from 30 yards by James Forest and it was game on again.

But it took only another seven minutes for the Bridgers to restore their lead with Vallejo’s header.

As Dobwalls pushed forward in the search of an equaliser, so Wadebridge found more space up front and Kyle Flew really should have put the game to bed in the 89th minute as he broke away in an one on one with Rosevear but pulled his shot inches wide of a gaping net.

Wadebridge: R Rosevear, T Harris, S Hepworth, J Rowe, R Hooper, L Webber, D Tate, G Eastman, S Gerken, S Wickins, T Shepherd.

Subs: S Simmonds, C Reski, K Flew, M Vallejo, C Bidgood.

Goals: S Wickins (37, 38), M Vallejo (71).

Dobwalls: J Morley, R Geach, T Davey, C Bleasdale, J Cook, H Baugh, G Garside, C Patterson, I Thomas, C Castlehouse, K Kene Ogwu.

Subs: C Collier, J Forest, B Walton, B Coton, J Ball.

Goals: C Patterson (21, pen), J Forest (64).

Tough start for Ashes – but it’s early days for Macca’s men

FA Cup extra preliminary round

Barnstaple Town 3 Saltash United 1

There’s no hiding from it – it’s not been a good first week of the season for the completely rebuilt Ashes, with three consecutive defeats.

Saturday’s exit from the FA Cup at a windy Mill Road followed defeats by Old Abbotonians (2-3) and Helston Athletic (0-4) in the Toolstation Western League premier division.

But there will be no knee-jerk reactions from new manager Macca Brown, who sees his squad as a work in progress, a new group who will improve.

Skipper Jack Wood gave Saltash the perfect start to Saturday’s tie with a fourth minute goal but a mad six minutes towards the end of the first half cost them dear.

Callum Laird equalised for Barum on the half-hour; Ashes striker Jordan Ewing was then shown a straight red for retaliation four minutes later; and before Saltash had time to settle, Harry Foster put Barnstaple ahead in the 36^th minute.

It stayed at 2-1 until three minutes from the end when sub Tommy Rogers made sure of Barum’s progress into the next round, where they will travel to Tavistock on August 19.

Brown said: “I was absolutely delighted with so much of what we did on Saturday, but again we came away having made things very difficult for ourselves after shooting ourselves in the foot in a number of different ways, and that’s been the story of the week.
“It was a brilliant start, the conditions were difficult but we played some incisive attacking football around their box and the first 20 minutes or so were superb.

“The conditions may have contributed as well, but we didn’t let Barnstaple anywhere near our box and after going 1-0 up early through Woody, we should have scored more.

“JT (Josh Toulson) did brilliantly to roll the defender inside the corner but shot straight at the keeper, Jordan (Ewing) had a shot with trickled across the line and hit the post and Kieran (O’Melia) had a good opportunity too.

“Everything was so positive and then we had a six minute period which changed the game completely.
“Barnstaple equalised with a snapshot from the edge of the box, a good finish, but then within minutes Jordan was sent off after allegedly retaliating to an arm in the face and the game is turned upside down.

“And a few minutes later we conceded a really sloppy goal to go behind. In all honesty out of a 94 minute game it was the only six minute period of the match that I was unhappy with, but in the six minutes we lost the game and those are the fine lines.
“In the second half I honestly thought we were fantastic. Naturally the game played out like 11 v 10 generally does, but we defended unbelievably at times, throwing ourselves in front of the ball and getting blocks in.

“it was superb and staying in the game gave us a chance when that one moment came along, and that looked like happening when Tylor (Love-Holmes) went through one on one, was pushed off balance and shot wide, but for me it was a penalty all day long.

“Referees just assume because the player gets his shot away and doesn’t go down it isn’t a foul, it’s one of the most frustrating parts of the game.
“Billy Tucker was perhaps harshly sent off with 15 minutes or so to go, to even things up, and we did turn the screw, Joe Preece was magnificent coming on causing problems and he set up Henry (Bunning) who drove narrowly wide.

“But then we shot ourselves in the foot again with five minutes to go, as goalkeeper Crebbs’ throw was intercepted and they broke to seal the game, another frustrating goal to concede.”
Brown added: “On the whole it’s not been a great week where we’ve contributed to our own downfall.

“We’ve conceded 10 goals, and I can only think of the snapshot on Saturday where you hold your hands up and say ‘fair enough’; the other nine goals are really poor moments for us whether it’s a goalkeeping error, a free header, a defender getting caught on the ball amongst others, and it’s cost us.

“Two of the performances have actually been really positive in so many ways where we’ve created a lot of chances, but we’ve come away with nothing for that reason.

“However, we won’t panic, I can see some really good signs and going out of the FA Cup isn’t a disaster, as much as we would have liked a little run in it.

“There is no doubt we have to improve in areas and we will. I believe Mousehole won just two of their opening seven games last season in all competitions and they ended up doing ok, so we know one week won’t define our season and it’s up to us to improve, but we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Barnstaple: L Kingston, C Laird, S Laird, B Montague, C Prentice (M Ham 88), J Grigg, M Perkins, M Andrew, H Foster (J Hearsay 84), S Bowker (T Rogers 80), B Tucker.

Goals: C Laird (30 mins), H Foster (36), T Rogers (87).

Red card: B Tucker (75).

Saltash: J Mead-Crebbin, B Goulty, E Wright, J Wood (S Cox 77), L Murray, J Toulson (J Preece 70), K O’Melia, T Love-Holmes, J Ewing, R Thomson, T Huyton (H Bunning 76).

Subs not used: J Johnson, N Crump.

Goal: J Wood (4 mins).

Red card: J Ewing (34).

Bridgers do Hoops as Rhys special seals late late victory

South West Peninsula League

Launceston 1 Wadebridge Town 2

Wadebridge got there in the end with an injury time goal from Rhys Hooper turning one point into three at a gusty Pennygillam on Saturday.

The visitors had dominated possession and created the better chances but they looked likely to have to settle for a draw against a hard-working Launceston side.

Then Hooper, a summer recruit from Newquay, cut in from the left side of midfield and unleashed a superb right foot shot which skimmed past Lewis Slade into the net.

It was harsh on the Clarets who deserved something from the opening league game of the season and their noisy supporters walked away disappointed.

But with the same sort of commitment and more fortune in front of goal they are likely to have a much improved season after the struggles of last season.

Wadebridge, who finished fourth last time out, are expected to be among the frontrunners again so a defeat against them is not the end of the world.

The Bridgers had a chance to open the scoring in the first minute when Tom Shepherd, having created space for himself near the penalty spot, lifted his shot over the bar.

The visitors maintained their impressive start but it was ended abruptly in the 15^th minute when a defensive error led to a penalty for Launceston, fired into the net by skipper Mike Steele.

Kyle Flew should have equalised soon afterwards as he burst through in a one on one with keeper Slade, but he ran the ball too far ahead of himself at the vital moment and Slade intervened.

As the half wore on, Launceston enjoyed more of the ball and created a few half chances but they were unable to get a crucial second goal.

The second half was even stevens for long periods, with opportunities at both ends, but Wadebridge eventually turned pressure into an equaliser in the 78^th minute with Sam Gerken finishing off after a fierce Chris Reski free kick had only been half cleared.

Launceston lost young striker Alfie Fothergill to a nasty looking cut above his left eye which later required hospital treatment.

Then came the late, late Hooper winner which sent the Bridgers home in buoyant mood and eagerly looking forward to the first home game of the season against Dobwalls on Tuesday.

Launceston were due to be at home to Liskeard on the same evening but issues with a couple of their floodlights means the game has been rearranged for September 26.

Launceston: L Slade, R Bath, C Aldridge, M Steele, S Jago, H Westlake, T Bullock, D Woodgate, A Fothergill, J Harris, T Madge.

Subs: B Harrison, G Beardsmore, M Elvidge, J Munday, T Wood.

Goal: M Steele pen (15).

Wadebridge: R Rosevear, T Harris. R Hooper, S Gerken, S Simmonds (S Hepworth 86), L Webber (G Eastman 81), C Reski, S Wickins, K Flew, M Vallejo (D Tate 65), T Shepherd.

Subs not used: B Rowe, Z O’Connor.

Goals: S Gerken (78), R Hooper (90+2).

Brown hits out at ‘scandalous’ Saltash defending in home opener

Western League premier division

Saltash Utd 0 Helston Athletic 4

Some familiar faces to south east Cornwall football followers returned to the area on Tuesday night to punish Saltash severely on their first league appearance of the season at the Waterways Stadium.

Callum O’Brien, who was playing for the Ashes last season, headed Helston into an 11th minute lead from a corner and former Millbrook striker Rikki Shepherd doubled the lead after 23 minutes.

Curtis Damerell, who joined Helston in the summer from Torpoint, made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute after Shepherd was barged over.

And Shepherd illustrated his poaching prowess by pouncing on a defensive mistake to complete the scoring 10 minutes from the end of normal time.

All of which left Ashes boss Macca Brown fuming with his team.

He said: “It’s an embarrassing one, simple as that. First home game of the season in front of 250 supporters, an opportunity to show them what we are capable of and we performed like that.

“The result looks bad but it’s the performance that was most concerning.

“I have to say I changed a few things from Saturday, personnel and shape, and it didn’t come off whatsoever so I hold my hands up there and say I got it wrong, but still I think the goals we conceded had nothing to do with tactics and shape and that’s where the players have to accept responsibility too.

“The game was a gift to Helston. A few said to me they may have been riled after they threw away a lead on Saturday, but to be honest they didn’t need to be because we presented them with four goals and three points.

“The goals themselves were scandalous, a free header from a corner, then a similar pattern just from open play, a penalty conceded 10 seconds after we had taken a free kick in their half, and then an individual error for the fourth, you have absolutely no chance conceding goals like that.

“We had actually defended three or four corners really well up to the first goal, given we know it’s a threat for Helston, but then we give them a freebie where someone has switched off and it’s 1-0.

“There was a lack of intensity and effort without the ball and composure and quality with it.

“You can’t always play well, but how many times do you hear about ‘earning the right’ in football before you even think about quality, the intensity and effort without the ball should be a given, and generally speaking with teams that I put on a pitch it is but only a couple of players showed it last night.

“Helston had it in abundance and credit to them, because in the years that I’ve faced them they’ve not always been like that, but in the last 12 months they’ve been better at the dirty side of the game each time we’ve played them and as a manager that’s exactly what you want to hear about your team, so Matt will be pleased.

“You can only let yourselves down by not doing it and that’s exactly what we did.

“I don’t think there was huge quality in the game but they did the basics very well, and we didn’t. There isn’t much else to say, it’s a shame but we have to move on.

“Two defeats from the opening two games isn’t great but we must forget about the sequence as they are two stand alone results that can happen and it’s magnified because they’re only four days apart.

“There’s no hiding places and we can’t feel sorry for ourselves because we have Barnstable in the FA Cup on Saturday and we have to be ready.

“It has to be better than that.”

Saltash: J Mead-Crebbin, T Love-Holmes, B Goulty, L Murray, R Hamilton (S Cox 74), K O’Melia (E Wright 63), E Goodman (T Huyton 69), J Wood, R Thomson, J Ewing (J Preece 69), J Foster.

Helston: K Moore, T Elliot, T Moxham (K Cornish 76), J Bentley, C O’Brien (F Walters 68), H Jewell, J Smith (S Colwill 77), A Bentley, C Damerell (R Wilson 61), R Shepherd, J Copp.