Western League
Premier Division
Saltash United 5 St Blazey 2
Saltash’s young team responded in the best possible way on Boxing Day to all the unpleasant noises off following last Friday’s shock 2-1 defeat at bottom club Millbrook.
The Ashes scored five times – including a wonder overhead scissors kick by Tylor Love-Holmes – to record their first win in 10 games in all competitions.
They were given a perfect start when Kieran O’Melia fired them ahead after nine minutes and doubled their advantage in the 21st minute through the impressive Jake Curtis.
Blazey reduced the arrears through the excellent Jed Smale after 32 minutes and deservedly equalised just after the hour with defender Freddie Walter on target.
But Saltash took only three minutes to regain the lead with Curtis getting his second and after Love-Holmes has smashed in his wonder goal, substitute Josh Johnson put the icing on the Christmas cake with the Ashes’ fifth in the last minute.
Manager Macca Brown revealed that it had been a tough few days following the defeat at his former club Millbrook, with lots of negative comments on social media.
He said: “It’s been a silly couple of days. I’ve seen an awful lot of comments online and I really feel for some people.
“To go out of your way to create fake accounts, whether it’s on Twitter or on Forums to have a pop at me personally, or the club, especially on Christmas Eve when you’ve probably got better things to be doing with your kids, I just hope those people are ok because it’s not normal behaviour.
“I understand there’s a few axes to grind for some people, but I found it all a bit over the top to be honest, albeit not surprising because you almost half expect it now, which is a sad state of affairs.
“Perspective is always needed and thankfully I picked up a few messages from people who have it.
“This isn’t the group of players from the last couple of seasons who were at the peak of their powers finishing second in the league.
“We had to start again from nothing. Now we have a team fresh out of the DJM, and with that comes results that the club aren’t used to in recent years.
“Seven of those involved against St Blazey were teenagers, including two just out of school.
“And it’s not like they’re looking around and have much older heads who guide them through it, which we would love to have but they’re difficult players to get in.
“Do people not think that in fact with that being the case we may actually be over-achieving right now in this league?
“The vast majority of our performances this season have been fantastic if not the results. We’ve lost by the odd goal to Falmouth, Bridgwater, Helston, Buckland in recent weeks and could have won them all but for fine margins.
“Of course we are going to get off days and yes we should have won the game on Friday at Millbrook, not because they’re bottom of the league, but because we did enough in the game to win the game, even if it wasn’t a great performance.
“But the character was there for all to see today with our response to Friday’s result.”
Of the Boxing Day game, Brown said: “It was a cagey start and we were fortunate not to go behind, but we settled and then hit our stride, going 2-0 ahead with two fantastic goals, moments of quality in our end product that we need to see more of moving forward.
“When Blazey pull it back to 2-2 you await the reaction, would we crumble with our recent form in mind, or would we step up.
“Perhaps we were fortunate with the third as a poor back pass let Jake Curtis in, but he showed real striker’s instinct.
“People keep telling me we need a striker, forgetting that in the last six months we actually signed Dylan Jones, Reece Thomson and Jordan Ewing, who all moved onto clubs in higher leagues, so it’s not as if we are ignoring a situation.
“However, Jake looks really promising and he’s hit the ground running with us in recent weeks with a few goals so hopefully he can continue that.”
He added: “The game took a similar twist to our cup game versus St Blazey several weeks ago, with a flurry of late goals to make the scoreline look more comprehensive than the game perhaps was.
“The highlight was Tylor’s outrageous bicycle kick, but I was equally as please for JJ who has had a frustrating season but got his goal in front of the home support.
“But now, like games before it, it’s been and gone and hopefully it kick starts a more positive run, but we’ve got tough away games up next at Street and Barnstaple so it won’t be easy.
“We now have to react to a positive result and back it up with another one.”
Saltash: J Duffey, T Love-Holmes, E Wright, B Goulty, H Greening, T Huyton, K O’Melia (J Johnson 65), T Badcott (S Cox 36), J Curtis (J Foster 71), A Goulty, J Preece (J Jefford 86).
Sub not used: J Mead-Crebbin.
Goals: K O’Melia (9 mins), J Curtis (21 & 65), T Love-Holmes (88), J Johnson (90).
Yellow card: T Love-Holmes (27).
St Blazey: S Semmens, W Tinsley, R Carroll, A Dilley, F Walter, J Pearce, I McCue (G Newton 46), J Smale, L Cloke, B Waters (J Cleverly 46), R Downing.
Subs: S Piper, R Ward, J Stidson.
Goals: J Smale (34), F Walter (62).
Attendance: 200.
Men of the Match. Saltash – Tylor Love-Holmes; St Blazey – Jed Smale.
Month: December 2023
Dobwalls see red as Blues march on at the top
South West Peninsula League
Premier Westlake
Dobwalls 0 Liskeard Athletic 4
Liskeard maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table with a convincing victory over arch rivals Dobwalls in front of a crowd of almost 200 at Lantoom Park on Boxing Day.
The turning point came midway through the first half when Dobwalls had Cam Patterson sent off for an alleged stamp on Liskeard goalkeeper Sam Borthwick’s back, an offence spotted by a linesman.
At that stage it was 1-0 to the visitors courtesy of a Mike Smith strike, although Dobwalls remained competitive and were denied an equaliser when skipper Gino Garside’s shot from 10 yards crashed against the bar.
Kaycee Ogwu also had a good chance with a near post flick which Borthwick reacted to superbly, claiming the ball at the second attempt.
Liskeard responded with Ruben Kane producing a thunderbolt shot from 25 yards which Dobwalls keeper James Morley did brilliantly to get his fingertips to, sending the ball crashing against the underside of the bar.
But on the stroke of half-time Max Gilbert doubled Liskeard’s lead direct from a trademark free kick which gave Morley no chance.
Dan Jennings made it 3-0 midway through the second half with a poacher’s goal after a mix-up in the home defence and Gilbert completed the scoring late on.
Dobwalls, who lost skipper Garside to a hamstring strain in the 55th minute, never gave up but the early red card eventually took its toll.
There was little festive cheer shown to the officials, who must have wondered why they gave up their Boxing Day to officiate.
Dobwalls: J Morley, A Davey, T Davey, O Larrieu, J Cook, T Strike, G Garside (H Baugh 57), C Patterson, R Geach, C Castlehouse (B Walton 69), K Ogwu.
Red card: Cam Patterson (26).
Liskeard: S Borthwick (C Harvey 80), B Collins, M Outtram, H Bell, J McCabe (D Peel 69), R Kane, M Gilbert, W Gilbert (W Larsen 74), M Smith, D Jennings (J Woods 67), F Bartlett (H Jeffery 67).
Goals: M Smith (16), M Gilbert (45+1 & 85), D Jennings (66).
Attendance: 192.
Men of the Match. Dobwalls – Joe Cook; Liskeard – Harry Bell.
Millbrook pull off their own Christmas miracle
Western League
Premier Division
Millbrook 2 Saltash United 1
Bottom of the table Millbrook pulled off their own Christmas miracle at Jenkins Park on Friday evening by recording their first league victory of the season.
After 14 straight defeats, the Brook’s young side finally found the way to win against the club’s hugely respected former manager, Macca Brown, and his Saltash team which was sprinkled with ex-Brook players.
Nobody really expected this result. Yes, Saltash were second from bottom but in recent weeks they have been playing football above their position.
But Millbrook were up for the challenge, they worked tirelessly on a difficult playing surface, and nobody could deny they deserved to come off as winners.
When Tylor Love-Holmes fired the Ashes into a 12th minute lead, you feared for Millbrook. And Saltash went on to dominate the rest of the half.
But crucially they failed to find a second goal which would have almost certainly led to more – and Millbrook were the better side in a battling second half.
Substitute Jay Boyle equalised from close range after a six yard box scramble following a corner and with 20 minutes left it was anyone’s game to win.
And it was Millbrook who took that opportunity 12 minutes from time. Increasingly they looked a threat along the right and when a ball was played back from the by-line, there was confusion in the penalty area.
Saltash had a couple of chances to clear the danger before the ball fell invitingly for another Millbrook substitute, Luke Moran, who forced a low shot past the despairing Ashes keeper Jordan Duffey.
Millbrook came close to making it 3-1 five minutes from time but Vincent Harper Innis couldn’t get enough power on his close range shot.
After that let-off, Saltash poured forward in an increasingly desperate search for an equaliser but they ran out of time, despite six minutes being added at the end.
Ashes manager Macca Brown said: “Congratulations to Millbrook and to Ricky (Washburn, Millbrook manager), they were a team inspired.
“I don’t know by what but it certainly worked, they were magnificent and I have no complaints, they deserved their win and first points of the season.
“I have seen a number of performances like that from Black and White shirts at JP over the years and last night I was on the receiving end of it and I can only applaud Ricky and his team.”
Brown went on: “We were nowhere near it. I can’t explain why. I felt the preparation was where it should have been and the right words were said but maybe that wasn’t the case.
“The lads tried to play, but the pitch didn’t allow that to happen, it was near on impossible to be honest, but we offered nothing else which is where we’ve let ourselves down.
“Millbrook outran us, outfought us and believed even after going 1-0 down and credit must go to them. They cleared several chances off the line in the first half and worked their socks off and we had no answer to it.
“I’m not going to say anything that will sound like I’m disrespecting Millbrook in any way; everyone knows their record up to this point and how their results have been going.
“But maybe people forget that they would have seen this game against us as an opportunity to stop the rot, as we are only one place above them and the league table doesn’t lie.
“People can say we are in a false position and we’ll climb the table, but to do that you actually have to win games of football, and we aren’t doing that, against anyone.”
He added: “We’ve performed very well in recent weeks against top sides in the division and have been unlucky not to get results, but there was none of that last night we got what we deserved.
“You do get inconsistency with young sides but it’s not an excuse, we demanded similar performances from recent weeks and we just didn’t get it.
“If the second goal came we would have been fine, but it didn’t and the boys struggled handling that and when they got the corner I think most people could sense what was happening.
“Obviously it’s a rough one for myself going back to the club, but sometimes no matter what you do the only thing unbeatable in football is the footballing gods, and it may have been a case of that a little bit last night.
“The lads will be hurting as so many of them are Saltash kids, and they’ve got to walk around town over Christmas with that result hanging over them but we’ll lick our wounds and get ready for Boxing Day.”
Millbrook: J Dudley, A Jones, T Newton, S Todd (W Sullivan 56), J Boyle, L Anastasiou, J Miller (L Moran 64), L Hewings, L Wilson (F Walker 53), M Washam, B Endean.
Subs: D Medlin, V Harper-Innes.
Goals; J Boyle (68), L Moran (79).
Saltash: J Duffey, B Goulty, E Wright, T Badcott, H Greening, L Murray, K O’Melia (J Johnson 66), T Huyton (J Toulson 81), J Curtis, A Goulty (J Foster 66), T Love-Holmes.
Subs: J Craven, J Jansen.
Goal: T Love-Holmes (12).
Referee: Neil Hunnisett.
Men of the Match. Millbrook – Louis Anastasiou; Saltash – Ethan Wright.
Oscar’s wonder goal deserves an award
Western League
Premier Division
Falmouth Town 2 Saltash United 1
Oscar Massey’s sensational finish on his Falmouth Town debut will live long in the memory for everybody who was at Bickland Park on Saturday to witness it.
Even Macca Brown, whose Saltash United side suffered defeat because of it, was waxing lyrical about the 77th minute winner after the match.
Brown said: “I think the goal deserves all the headlines to be honest. I believe Saltash won down at Bickland last season with a similar strike from Sam Leary, so from Falmouth’s perspective it was a special moment.
“To win a game like that on your debut in front of a packed stand, despite being on the receiving end of it, I can acknowledge it was special and fair play to him.
“I genuinely don’t think I’ve seen a better strike.”
And Falmouth boss Andrew Westgarth said: “It’s one of the best I’ve seen at Bickland in my time.
“It was at the Packet end, 25 yards out, and he smashed his shot into the top right hand corner. Jordan Duffey (Saltash goalkeeper) didn’t even move.”
Massey, a product of the Plymouth Argyle youth academy who signed for Falmouth on Thursday from Barnstaple, came off the bench in the 51st minute.
Jake Curtis had just fired a deserved equaliser for the Ashes to cancel out Falmouth’s ninth minute opener from Rubin Wilson, another recent signing.
Falmouth’s hopes of cruising to victory were dashed when James Ward was sent off in the 82nd minute, giving Saltash’s young side late hope of salvaging something from an excellent performance.
One major plus for the Ashes was the return after two months out injured of key winger Kieran O’Melia, who came on for the last 20 minutes.
Of the match, manager Brown said: “From our point of view of course we are disappointed. I know we weren’t probably fancied by many to get a result, but I thought at 1-1 we were more than good value for a point.
“I could sense there would be another goal because both teams were going for it but equally were defending brilliantly.
“My biggest frustration was the incident which saw James Ward sent off, I have to say I thought it was poor from the referee.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a stone wall red card and the ref has had a good game overall and fair play to him for apologising after, but if he just let the game run a split second longer Kieran had rounded the goalkeeper and had an open goal.
“I know it seems strange that I’m complaining about a red card for the opposition but the ref was too quick to stop play when there was a clear advantage, and then Wardy probably doesn’t get sent off either.
“I couldn’t ask for too much more though from the lads, they relished the challenge, we hit the post, threw ourselves in front of everything and in the end were beaten by a wonder strike.”
Saltash have slumped to second from bottom in the table but Brown remains optimistic that things will turn around.
He said: “There are some fantastic signs, and I know the lads are gutted because they put so much into the game and come away with nothing, then they walk over to me straight after the game and they don’t really understand why I’m actually really positive, but it’s because I’m proud of them, and that’s the case on a weekly basis at the moment.
“Trust me, I’m never happy to lose games and that’s the first game I think I’ve ever lost down at Falmouth.
“We’ve built several teams before over long periods of time that would go to tough places like Falmouth, relish the challenge and get results, and I recognise a proper team forming here which in time will do just that.
“If we keep doing what we are doing the results will come, no question.”
Their next test comes at his and many of his players’ last club, Millbrook, on Friday night.
Falmouth: M Coxland, J Swan, B Leivers (M Everall 37), A Calleja-Stayne, T Annear, J Ward, J Grange (L Brabyn 51), J Sims, R Wilson, C Hutchison (O Massey 51), A Wharton.
Subs not used: T Fisher, A Westgarth.
Goals: R Wilson (9), O Massey (77).
Red card: J Ward (82).
Saltash: J Duffey, T Love-Holmes, E Wright, E Goodman, T Badcott, L Murray, T Huyton, H Greening, A Goulty, J Curtis (K O’Melia 68), J Preece.
Subs: J Angel-Craven, B Goulty, M Toms.
Yellow cards: E Goodman, T Huyton.
Attendance: 328.
Smith’s crisp finishes steer Torpoint to victory
Western League
Premier Division
Torpoint Athletic 2 St Blazey 0
Ryan Smith scored two excellent goals to steer Torpoint to their eighth league victory of the season against impressive St Blazey at The Mill on Saturday.
Dean Cardew’s side sit seventh in the premier division table and are becoming difficult to beat at home.
Blazey will know they should have taken something from the game, having conceded goals at points when they were on top.
Torpoint midfield man Smith’s opening goal after only five minutes, a bullet header from a corner, came only a minute after goalkeeper Ryan Rickard’s brilliant save to prevent Lewis Russell giving Blazey the lead.
The visitors came close to equalising five minutes later when an effort by Will Tinsley had to be hacked off the line.
Blazey were very much on top despite trailing and Ben Waters, standing in for the unavailable top scorer Luke Cloke, had two excellent chances in two minutes to get them back into the game.
He was played in after 24 minutes but Rickard made a superb save and in Blazey’s next attack he turned away from a defender before hammering a shot against the bar.
The visitors were punished for not taking those opportunities four minutes later when Torpoint doubled their lead. A long clearance from keeper Rickard was controlled by Gary Hird, who played the ball into space looking to have a shot himself.
But Smith appeared to the side of him and hammered a brilliant shot from 20 yards into the top corner of the net, giving Shaun Semmens no chance.
Hird then had a great chance to make it 3-0 six minutes before half-time but this time Semmens was equal to the effort.
The second half turned into a game management exercise for Torpoint, soaking up lots of pressure, defending their lead impressively, and threatening on the break.
Blazey worked tirelessly in a bid to reduce the arrears and several times the ball flew across the six yard box without anybody gambling on getting a touch.
It was easy to imagine that Cloke would have converted at least a couple of those.
Hird had an injury time chance to score Totpoint’s third but although he got the ball past Semmens, it drifted wide of an unguarded net.
Torpoint: R Rickard, R Simmons, D Murray, O Haslam, S Hillson, J Heveran, J Pope (M Lucas 59), R Smith (S Thomson 70), G Hird, R Richards, D Hicks.
Subs not used: L Rooney, L Pacey, J Rowe.
Goals: R Smith 2 (5 & 29).
Yellow cards: D Hicks (60), S Hillson (78), G Hird (84).
St Blazey: S Semmens, W Tinsley, R Carroll, L Russell (A Dilley 35), F Walter, S Clifton, S Piper (I McCue 46), J Smale, B Waters, R Downing, G Newton.
Sub not used: M Edwards.
Yellow cards: F Walter (41), G Newton (90+3).
Referee: Rob Fleetham.
Attendance: 161.
Men of the Match. Torpoint – Ryan Smith; St Blazey – Sam Clifton.
Picture courtesy of Torpoint Athletic FC.
Lillywhites celebrate big victory after feisty cup tie
South West Peninsula League
Walter C Parson Cup
Liskeard Athletic 1 St Austell 2
There were contrasting emotions at the end of a predictably feisty cup tie between the league’s top two teams at Lux Park on Wednesday night.
While the visitors could be heard celebrating victory wildly in the dressing room, Darren Gilbert addressed his forlorn Liskeard team out in the middle of the pitch.
Editing out the expletives, it was clear that Gilbert was not impressed by some of what he considered spoiling tactics used by St Austell and called on his players to stick together as a group following a rare setback.
Leaders Liskeard have won 17 of their 18 league games – only St Austell have denied them maximum points – and they boast a nine point advantage at the top of the table.
But this wasn’t their finest hour. St Austell’s win was merited and would have been more emphatic without three excellent goal-line clearances in the late stages.
Manager Chris Knight has moulded a close knit group and this togetherness saw them through a very tough test.
There was plenty of noise off the pitch as Gilbert and his coach Bobby Hopkinson took exception to many of the referee’s decisions, but there was little reaction from Knight or his players.
And that was despite the fact that they were reduced to nine men for a spell near the end with a sin bin for striker Liam Eddy and a red card for right back Jake Shaw.
This season I am trying not to criticise referees on this podcast because I often stand watching games thinking ‘who would want to be a referee?’
The constant screams from players and managers at virtually every 50-50 challenge puts officials under pressure and drives me mad.
Having said all of that, this referee had a poor evening, with questionable decisions against both sides in equal measure.
So to the match itself. After a very cagey opening half an hour when neither keeper was tested, Liskeard swept ahead in the 31st minute when Mikey Smith jumped high at the far post to head in Ben Collins’ cross from the left.
But it took St Austell only seven minutes to get level with Eddy, who had earlier missed a sitter, turning a defender and firing into the net after Adam Carter had dummied Tom Whipp’s ball into the penalty area.
Liskeard thought they had regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Collins played in Smith, who steered a shot towards the corner of the net only to see keeper Harry Ashton stick out his left leg to divert the effort inches wide of the post.
St Austell made a significant change at the start of the second half with midfield man George Marris replacing central defender Harvey Hann and the revised formation put the visitors on the front foot.
It took them until the 74th minute to take the lead but it had been coming. A disputed corner was only half cleared and Jake Miller smashed his shot from 15 yards into the net.
A Liskeard reaction was anticipated but the visitors were much closer to extending their advantage, having two efforts cleared off the line.
But they hadn’t killed off the tie and when Eddy said something out of turn and was sin binned, there was still six minutes plus time added on to play.
Liskeard stepped up the pressure with Finn Bartlett curling a shot just over the bar and when Shaw was shown a second yellow, St Austell were down to nine men.
They were able to return to 10 when Eddy, who came back on, was immediately substituted by Kieron Bishop because his leg muscles had stiffened during his enforced 10-minute break.
The referee found eight minutes of added time but St Austell held on for a famous win.
Liskeard: S Borthwick, J McCabe, M Outtram (H Mullis 65), H Bell, W Gilbert (M Thorp 79), R Kane, M Gilbert, F Bartlett, M Smith, D Jennings (H Jeffery 79), B Collins.
Subs not used: D Peel, B Hopkinson.
Goal: M Smith (31).
Yellow cards: M Smith (24), D Jennings (64), W Gilbert (69).
St Austell: H Ashton, J Shaw, M Duff, T Whipp, O Brokenshire, H Hann (G Marris 46), N Slateford, M Searle, L Eddy (K Bishop 90+4), A Carter, J Miller.
Subs not used: T Guest, F Nancarrow, K Marks.
Yellow cards: M Searle (34), J Shaw (71 & 90).
Sin bin: L Eddy (84).
Red card: J Shaw (90, second yellow).
Referee: M Kaymaz.
Attendance: 141.
Men of the Match: Liskeard – Ruben Kane; St Austell – Matt Searle.
Quarter-final draw: Okehampton Argyle v Mullion; Newquay v Bridport; Ivybridge or Axminster v Elburton Villa or Teignmouth; St Austell v Camelford.
Ties to be played before February 29.
Eddy’s first hat-trick of season keeps Lillywhites in touch with leaders
South West Peninsula League
Premier West
St Austell 6 Callington Town 0
St Austell are refusing to lose sight of unbeaten leaders Liskeard Athletic in the race for the Premier West title.
The Lillywhites’ six-goal hammering of a youthful Callington at Poltair Park on Saturday moved them to within nine points of the Blues with a game in hand.
It’s a sizeable advantage for Liskeard but clearly St Austell are in good shape to keep in touch with them with the best part of hand a season to go.
A second half hat-trick from Liam Eddy – his first of the league campaign – cemented three more points for Chris Knight’s side in difficult blustery conditions on a pitch which played remarkably well given the rain of recent days.
Central defender Harvey Hann, restored to the starting line-up with Olly Brokenshire unwell, set the home side on their way with a 28th minute goal from Neil Slateford’s corner and he doubled the lead in similar circumstances 12 minutes into the second half.
Eddy made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute with a typically sharp finish, though his second goal 10 minutes from time was better.
Receiving the ball wide on the left, Eddy cut inside and beat a couple of defenders before firing past 16-year-old goalkeeper Karl Peters.
Substitute Tom Guest got in on the act by making it 5-0 two minutes from the end of normal time and Eddy completed his treble in time added on.
Lillywhites boss Knight said: “First of all credit to the groundsman and everyone at the club for getting the game on.
“Once we got the go-ahead it was a bit of a balancing act really as we knew Liskeard were off so wanted to play but we’re also missing four regulars in Brokes, Carts (Adam Carter), Searly (Matt Searle) and Harry (Ashton) in goal so it was a potential banana skin for sure.
“Add into that the conditions and it makes the game a really tricky one, which the first half showed. I thought we looked a bit disjointed which of course is bound to be the case but managed to get to half time in the lead and with the second half and with the wind when I though we were great.
“It was nice to see Harvey come into the team and do so well, credit to Cody in goal and of course Liam who did what Liam does.
“I was also so happy with all the subs who affected the game superbly. Tom Guest and Connor Wharton have been unbelievably patient this season and both of them have done so well recently off the bench.
“Of course they are frustrated but they’ve never been a minute’s problem and both of them were great again on Saturday.
“Tom’s minutes to goals ratio is probably the best in the league – we love him.”
It was a disappointing day for a Callington side who included six under 18s by necessity because of a lack of numbers in the senior ranks, including a late morning cry-off.
In the first half they were a threat on the break with Kevin McCallion and Kieran Prescott always making themselves available and they came close to equalising just before the break when skipper Ben Langton headed against the bar.
But the visitors wilted in the second half and the youngsters lost heart as their more experienced opponents got stronger.
St Austell now prepare for two difficult away games at Penzance (this Saturday) and Newquay (Boxing Day) before ending the year at Poltair against Mullion (December 30).
St Austell: C Hill, J Shaw, M Duff, N Teagle, T Whipp (K Stephens 83), H Hann (F Nancarrow 68), N Slateford (C Wharton 68), J Miller, L Eddy, K Bishop (T Guest 76), G Marris.
Goals: L Eddy 3 (63, 80, 90+2), H Hann 2 (28, 57), T Guest (88).
Callington: K Peters, A Patterson, R Lindsell, J Rowlands, H Southcott, B Langton, J Kerr, L May, K McCallion, K Prescott, F Ferris.
Subs: J Williams, J Brenton, K Putna, B Alford, T Goodright.
Referee: N D’Arcy.
Attendance: 108.
Men of the Match. St Austell – Liam Eddy; Callington – Kevin McCallion.
Shootout heartbreak can’t mask St Austell’s excellent performance
FA Vase third round
AFC St Austell 3 Highworth Town 3
(Highworth won 3-1 on penalties)
Losing a penalty shootout is always painful – as St Austell’s players discovered at Poltair Park on Saturday as they bowed out of the FA Vase against Step 5 side Highworth.
But the home team’s failures from the penalty spot in what is a lottery should take away nothing from a superb performance from the South West Peninsula League west side during an absorbing 90 minutes.
Manager Chris Knight said: “That was a hard one to take. I thought the boys were magnificent from start to finish, I couldn’t be prouder of how we started the game and how we came back to equalise, it shows exactly what we are about.
“Of course penalties are a lottery and we are gutted but to play so well on the day I’m really happy.”
The Lillywhites, who play in Step 6 of the football pyramid, were the better team in the first half and had goals from Adam Carter (16 minutes) and skipper Neil Slateford (30, penalty) to show for it.
Carter’s goal was a special one, latching on to a flicked header to lob Connor Johns as the Highworth keeper rushed out to the edge of his area, with the ball bouncing once before nestling in the far corner.
The Lillywhites were all set to walk off to the dressing room to discuss a perfect 45 minutes when Rob Dean’s glancing header in the third minute of time added on halved the arrears and put a different complexion on the second half.
Within three minutes of the restart the tie was all square with Rhys Wells firing into the net after St Austell keeper Harry Ashton had lost out in an aerial challenge with striker Dan Grieve.
The mood had changed and Highworth were suddenly in the ascendancy, pouring forward in their search for a third goal, and they tested St Austell’s hard working back line.
Ironically it was from a breakaway that they took the lead 20 minutes from time after Riegan Cook burst clear into the penalty area.
He took the ball past Ashton, Tom Whipp got back to try to prevent a goal but in doing so sent Cook to the ground.
The referee was well positioned and pointed to the penalty spot, with Josh Davis hammering the ball in from the resulting kick.
It would have been easy for heads to drop but to their credit, the Lillywhites stayed in the contest, which allowed them to force an equaliser in the dying seconds.
It was last chance saloon as St Austell packed the Highworth penalty area for a corner which saw Slateford’s effort end in the net.
The home side were happy to have earned the chance of a penalty shootout but their joy soon turned to despair.
Josh Davis gave Highworth a good start but Slateford, who had been one of St Austell’s best performers, missed his spot kick.
Rhys Wells made it 2-0 before Martin Watts, who had come on as a late, late substitute in order to take a penalty, reduced the arrears with a cool finish.
That was as good as it got for the home side, however, as Olly Brokenshire and Liam Eddy blasted their spot kicks over the bar. St Austell could never have imagined that Slateford, Brokenshire and Eddy would miss their penalties. This trio have played hundreds of games for the club and they were all in the team that reached the FA Vase semi-finals in 2015.
Danny Comer and Riegan Cook missed for Highworth but the visitors were left with an opportunity to seal victory with their fifth penalty, which Matty Grabe buried to launch noisy celebrations among the Wiltshire contingent.
Footnote: it was confirmed on Sunday morning that Highworth’s Tom Griffiths, who limped out of the action in time added on at the end of the game, suffered a fractured shin bone.
Penalty shootout
0-1 (Highworth – Josh Davis).
0-1 (St Austell – Neil Slateford missed)
0-2 (Highworth – Rhys Wells)
1-2 (St Austell – Martin Watts)
1-2 (Highworth – Dan Comer missed)
1-2 (St Austell – Olly Brokenshire missed)
1-2 (Highworth – Riegan Cook missed)
1-2 (St Austell – Liam Eddy missed)
1-3 (Buckland – Matty Grabe)
AFC St Austell: H Ashton, J Shaw, M Duff, N Teagle (H Hann 72), O Brokenshire, T Whipp, N Slateford, M Searle (C Wharton 78), L Eddy, A Carter (M Watts 90+4), G Marris.
Subs not used: T Guest, F Nancarrow, K Stephens, C Hill (gk).
Goals: A Carter (16), N Slateford 2 (29 pen, 90+3).
Highworth Town: C Johns, M Miller, M Grabe, M Cheetham, B Comer, L Haines, L Whelan, T Griffiths (S Robertson 90+2), D Grieve (J Davis 58), R Dean (R Cook 66), R Wells.
Subs not used: A Edenborough, T Wynn-Davis, C Mattimore.
Goals: R Dean (45+3), R Wells (48), J Davis (70, pen).
Yellow cards: R Dean (13), M Cheetham (44).
Referee: M Senior.
Attendance: 189.
Men of the Match. St Austell – George Marris; Highworth – Rhys Wells.
KJM SPORTS 