Ashes cash in this time after early double strike

Western League Premier Division

Saltash United 3 Millbrook 0

When these two teams met at Jenkins Park in December, Saltash made a lightning start and scored a goal which should have set them up for a comprehensive victory against the league’s bottom side.
But their failure to find a crucial second goal when they were on top cost them dear as Millbrook fought back to win 2-1, their first league success of the campaign. 
There was to be no repeat of that scenario at the Waterways Stadium on Tuesday because the Ashes produced two goals from another dominant start and never looked like relinquishing their advantage.
Tylor Love-Holmes’ 14th minute goal broke the deadlock and the game had progressed only another four minutes when the excellent Joe Preece doubled the home side’s lead.
It was to be another hour before skipper Ed Goodman secured victory with a third goal but by then the destination of the points was not in question.
This was Saltash’s fifth league win of the season and kept them in 14th place while for Millbrook it was their 21st defeat in 23 games.
Ashes boss Macca Brown said: “Well they say you don’t lose, you learn, and I think that was the case with our performance on Tuesday night as it was a million miles away from where we were before Christmas in the reverse fixture.
“I felt that night, despite being 1-0 up, we played with a fear because the game wasn’t put to bed, and that is the worst state of mind to try and perform in and it cost us. 
“Whereas on Tuesday night we were assertive, focussed and had a healthy confidence about ourselves and it led to a really dominant performance where the only negative was we didn’t score more goals, which I think we deserved.”
Brown went on: “I have to give credit to Millbrook because they didn’t make it easy, were marshaled well by Jason (Richards) at the back and they worked their socks off. 
“That put the onus on us to find the answers to win the game as they weren’t going to give us anything and surprisingly it was thanks to three set pieces, but we’ll take that.”
He added: “I thought our general play was very good, our forwards set the tone with their work rate, it was really a case of them being our best defenders and that allowed us to regain the ball quickly and dominate. 
“Being 2-0 up at half-time gave us a nice cushion but I was really pleased with our second half display which was effectively played in the attacking half. 
“We should have scored more and created some good openings, and at times our combination play around the box wasn’t good enough but all in all it was a good three points.”
Saltash: J Duffey, T Love-Holmes, E Wright, E Goodman (T Huyton 85), H Greening, L Murray h, J Toulson (J Jefford 85), B Fowles, J Curtis (J Ewing 68), T Badcott (S Travers 87), J Preece (K O’Melia 65).

Goals: T Love-Holmes (14), J Preece (18), E Goodman (78).

Millbrook: J Miller, J Boyle, L Wilson (F Walker 55), J Richards (B Endean 75), J Dudley, J Robertson (M Washburn 46), L Pacey, L Hewings, T Newton (C Mahoney 85). A Balde (A Beardsmore 60).

Attendance: 166.

Man of the Match: J Preece.

Falmouth on the long and winding road to success

Toolstation Western League
Premier Division
Torpoint Athletic 1 Falmouth Town 3

Falmouth’s incredible progress in the FA Vase, which has taken them into the prestigious national competition’s last eight, is having a knock-on effect with their Western League commitments.
Tuesday’s game at The Mill, played on a remarkably good playing surface given recent deluges, was the first of five league games to be played before Andy Westgarth’s side travel to Great Wakering Rovers near Southend a fortnight on Saturday. 
They are due to be away to Wellington this Saturday, face Buckland at Bickland Park next Tuesday, make the long trek to Street on Saturday week, March 2, and are at home to Ilfracombe on Tuesday March 5.
It all looks a daunting preparation for what will be their biggest match in decades on March 9, but Falmouth are enjoying the challenges which come with success.
For the time being they are concentrating on using their games in hand to try to catch leaders Helston Athletic (played 23, points 56) and second-placed Clevedon Town (played 25, points 55). 
After Tuesday’s win Falmouth moved up to third on 48 points from 22 games, so they are very much still in contention to push for the premier division title.
They weren’t at their best against a hard working Torpoint side, particularly in the first half, but eventually got the job done with two goals in the last seven minutes.
On another night they might have bagged a hatful based on the number of chances they created after the break but credit should go to Torpoint for some outstanding defending in and around their six yard box.
The home side had started the game well and took the lead after 15 minutes with a superb finish by Paul Heveran from an intelligent lay back by Ryan Richards out on the right.
They were only ahead for three minutes as Brad Leivers’ header from skipper Tom Annear’s in swinging corner from the right was allowed to stand despite some players stopping because they felt they heard the referee’s whistle blow as Annear took his kick.
Torpoint responded by going back on the attack and they almost restored their lead in the 25th minute when Richards fired a left foot shot against the bar and from the rebound lifted his volley over the woodwork.
Richards had another opportunity soon after but his shot was not powerful enough to worry Falmouth keeper Morgan Coxhead.
The visitors were a different beast in the second half and the incessant pressure seemed bound to lead to goals.
But with central defenders Sam Hillson and Callum Holder standing firm with some excellent interventions, the game entered its final 10 minutes still all square.
Falmouth were not to be denied, however, and a run with pace by Oscar Massey along the left led to a low cross where Rubin Wilson swept the ball into the net at the near post.
The visitors made sure of all three points with an 89th minute penalty from Massey.
The long and winding road continues for Falmouth on Saturday – weather permitting – when they go to Wellington. 

Torpoint: R Rickard, J Forrest, D Hicks, O Haslam, S Hillson, C Holder, J Rowe, P Heveran, R Smith, R Richards, I McCue (CJ Pritchard 70).
Other subs: J Pope, M Lucas, J Mills, J Dixon.
Goal: P Heveran (15).
Falmouth: M Coxhead, J Swan (J Grange 54), B Leivers, J Webber, T Annear, A Calleja-Stayne (T Fisher 70), L Barner (C Hutchison 77), J Sims, R Wilson, O Massey, L Brabyn (K Thomas 77).
Other sub: M Everall.
Goals: B Leivers (18 minutes), R Wilson (83), O Massey, penalty (89).
Referee: Tom Anstice-Mitchell.
Attendance: 163.
Men of the Match. Torpoint – Sam Hillson; Falmouth – Oscar Massey.

Picture by Kevin Marriott

Sudden death penalty heartbreak for Peppermints

South West Peninsula League

Walter C Parson Cup quarter-final

Newquay 1 Bridport 1 (aet)

(Bridport won 6-5 on penalties)

Newquay’s hopes of reaching their second cup semi-final of the season ended in heartbreak at Mount Wise on Saturday after a dramatic penalty shootout which went to sudden death.

The Peppermints, third in SWPL West and already through to the Cornwall Senior Cup’s last four, gave it their all against a Bridport side who are third in the East division.

The visitors edged the play in normal time although there was little to choose between the sides.

It took an equaliser from Newquay defender Harry Downing in the last seconds of four minutes of time added on to send the tie into extra time after Riley Weedon’s 83^rd minute goal appeared to seal it for the Dorset side.

Extra time proved to be 30 minutes that nobody really wanted on a wet and blustery afternoon, with few chances, so it was down to the lottery of penalties.

Newquay held an early advantage after Dan Baggs missed Bridport’s second penalty twice. His first effort was saved by Newquay keeper Brodie Cole, who was judged to have moved too early, so it was retaken and Baggs dragged the ball wide.

The next crucial moment came with the fourth set of spot kicks where Tom Moxham had the opportunity to make it 4-3 with one set of penalties to go. But his effort was brilliantly saved by Bridport keeper Callum Smalley.

Adam Diaz (Bridport) and Tom Shepherd (Newquay) scored from the fifth set of spot kicks to leave it at 4-4 and down to sudden death. Charlie Pitt (Bridport) and Matt Sanders (Newquay) scored to make it 5-5.

Kieran Daniels kept his cool to put Bridport 6-5 ahead. Up stepped Josh Evans for Newquay but his well struck spot kick brought out another excellent save from Smalley to spark noisy Bridport celebrations.

Credit to both teams for producing an enthralling cup tie on a difficult playing surface after the sort of heavy rain which wiped out many games in Cornwall on Saturday.

In the semi-finals, Bridport face holders Okehampton Argyle at Cullompton on Tuesday March 11 (7.30) while Elburton Villa await the winners of the St Austell and Camelford quarter-final, which was postponed on Saturday.

That semi-final will be played at Dobwalls on Wednesday March 12 (7.45).

Newquay: B Cole, S Flannigan, T Moxham, M Sanders, H Downing, R Fallens (J Evans 57), T Shepherd, C Turner, H Tilston (C Briggs 67), P Lowry (R Beer 80), A Cole.

Goal: H Downing (90+4).

Yellow cards: S Flannigan (78), H Downing (et, 94).

Bridport: C Smalley, H Brook (C Pitt 110), J Childs (T Diaz 75), L King, R Gall, J Owen (D Baggs 91), R Weedon, F Parsons, G Calverley (A Diaz 86), B Rowe (J Ethertington 86), K Daniels.

Goal: R Weedon (83).

Referee: N Hunnisett.

Penalty shootout

0-1  Riley Weedon 

1-1 Cam Turner

1-1 Dan Baggs (missed)

2-1 Alex Cole

2-2 Toby Diaz

3-2 Coen Briggs

3-3 Joe Etherington

3-3 Tom Moxham (missed)

3-4 Adam Diaz

4-4 Tom Shepherd

4-5 Charlie Pitt

5-5 Matt Sanders

5-6 Kieran Daniels

5-6 Josh Evans (missed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown accuses players of ‘weakness of mind’ after Saltash succumb

Western League
Premier Division
Saltash United 1 Oldland Abbotonians 3

Manager Macca Brown was scathing about his young Saltash squad after they threw away another lead to succumb to defeat at the Waterways Stadium on Saturday.
Brown accused the players of having a ‘mentality problem’ and a ‘weakness of mind’ and said they needed to ‘grow up quickly’ if they were to turn the season around.
Winger Kieran O’Melia’s 11th goal of the season gave the Ashes an eighth minute advantage but once Tom Blake equalised from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, the home side caved in.
Blake put Oldland ahead a minute before half-time and completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second half with his second penalty.
Brown said: “There’s no hiding place for us really; as games go on, patterns start developing and things become clearer and it’s pretty damning when you look at it.
“Yesterday was the ninth time this season we’ve gone ahead in a game and ended up
losing, not even able to take a draw home with us, and that says everything.
“Generally the pattern is that we are fantastic in the first stage of the game, we go ahead and everything is great, sometimes it looks like it might be even be quite straightforward and that’s probably the highest problem.
“We fall into a comfort zone and unfortunately then there is a usually a moment that may go against us, a decision, a goal, a mistake, and it doesn’t matter how small the problem is, it sets off a huge grenade that sees us self-destruct.
“It’s a mentality problem, it’s a weakness in the mind, not being able to deal with moments of adversity and every side we face have the complete opposite mindset.
“The talent is there in our group and when things are going well it’s great, but at the moment there seems to be no coming back from that moment of adversity and it’s destroying our season.
“We’ve taken too long to recognise it, but there’s no doubt the cat is out of the bag now.”
He went on: “I feel for the lads in some respects because they’re looking around the room and not seeing many lads with 200 senior games behind them and that wealth of experience that would help guide them through it and you need that on a pitch.
“Maybe with the age of the squad it’s to be expected, but the fact is it’s not expected at Saltash United, they’re not used to seeing it.
“I’ve seen it before, early in my time at Millbrook it was similar, emotional and rash in moments but those boys turned into animals by the end that nobody liked playing against.
“No challenge was too big or opponent too good, and some of those lads will probably go on and win the league this season thanks to that growth.
“It’s obviously one of those things that develops in time, I know that, but the boys don’t have time here.
“They need to grow up quickly and recognise that because they have an opportunity to wear this shirt and they’re throwing it away because nobody is waiting around for give years for it to flourish.”
Brown added: “There have been moments this season where we’ve shown resilience and come from behind to win, or to take a point, or held onto a lead, so I don’t know how they don’t take belief from that.
“Talent only gets you so far, it may get you in the changing room in the first place but it isn’t enough on its own to keep you in there long term and I hope the lads have heard that loud and clear.
“Wherever you look it’s grim reading, we’ve taken three points from 12 against sides currently below us in the league so there’s no escape, there’s no excuse, it’s look in the mirror time.
“It’s Helston up next, so it’s a tough one, but we’ve done well against the good sides in this league maybe due to the lack of expectation, so I hope we can put in more of a complete performance.”
Saltash: J Duffey, T Love-Holmes, E Wright, E Goodman, H Greening, J Toulson (J Curtis 61), K O’Melia (B Goulty 68), T Huyton (L Murray 57), T Badcott, A Goulty, J Ewing.

Lillywhites look classy and assured to stay top

South West Peninsula League
Premier West
Bude 0 St Austell 4

Should St Austell go on to win the West title and promotion, they might look back on a cold, wet and murky February afternoon in North Cornwall as a key to their success.
It’s one thing getting your attitude right on a warm autumn or spring day; quite another when you go to Bude in mid-winter.
But the Lillywhites underlined their title credentials with a classy, assured performance on a difficult, bobbly pitch against an under-strength Bude side who never let their heads drop.
From the start the visitors played on the front foot and it was no surprise when Matt Searle, the club’s player of the month for January, broke the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Adam Carter took advantage of a sliced clearance by Bude keeper Liam Hill to double St Austell’s lead just before half-time and they never looked in trouble after that.
Driven on from midfield by the excellent Neil Slateford, the Lillywhites added further goals through George Marris on the hour and substitute Tom Guest late on to remain top of the table by a point from Liskeard, whose game in hand comes next Saturday at home to Sticker.
St Austell manager Chris Knight said: “It was a good afternoon’s work against a tricky side on a difficult pitch so we are delighted.
“A clean sheet is a big plus and we played some nice football on the day.
“It was nice that we could use the whole squad and I thought the lads that came in and off the bench did fantastically well.”
One of those was veteran defender Martin Watts, who came on after 20 minutes for the injured Kieron Bishop and didn’t put a foot wrong all game.
Bude’s patched-up team, with young keeper Hill making a number of excellent saves in the second half, gave their all in tough conditions and their efforts were recognised by their loyal supporters at the end.
Bude player-manager Ben Potter said: “It was hard with seven players missing but we will be strengthening in the next week.
“We should have a full 20 to pick from for the away trip to them in a few weeks’ time.”
Bude: L Hill, J Williams, L McDonald (L Hopgood 65), S Sanders, L Rundle, B Potter (H Page 75), T Yendle, M McCann, C Chandler, A Eroglu, T Jones.
Yellow card: S Sanders (43).
St Austell: H Ashton, K Bishop (M Watts 20), M Duff, N Slateford, T Whipp, H Wilson (H Hann 73), R Hooper, M Searle (N Teagle 62), G Marris (C Wharton 62), A Carter (T Guest 73), J Miller.
Goals: M Searle (27), A Carter (40), G Marris (60), T Guest (86).
Referee: Adrian Clements.
Men of the Match. Bude – Liam Hill; St Austell – Neil Slateford.

A dull, damp and foggy afternoon at Bude.

Cloke at the double as impressive St Blazey thump fourth placed Falmouth

Western League
Premier Division
St Blazey 4 Falmouth Town 1

St Blazey underlined their growing stature in the Western League on Wednesday night with a thumping win over fourth-placed Falmouth at Blaise Park.
Striker and skipper Luke Cloke scored twice in the second half as the Green & Blacks turned an even stevens first half into an emphatic victory in front of a bumper crowd of 330.
This was Blazey’s fourth league win in five games since the turn of the year and they are beginning to look the part following last season’s promotion from the South West Peninsula League.
They are developing a good-on-the-eye style of football, passing out from the back, and they have recruited well this season to improve an already decent squad.
After Jayden Gilbert gave them the perfect start on Wednesday by prodding home a goalmouth scramble in the third minute, Falmouth soon cancelled it out with James Ward hammering in a drive from 15 yards following a period of pressure.
The visitors then had the better of the first half and Blazey were indebted to their goalkeeper Shaun Semmens, who made several excellent saves to send the sides in level at the break.
The second half proved to be a different story. Within a minute of the restart Falmouth’s defence was caught napping and Ryan Downing got past the outrushing keeper Ryan Barnes near the left byline.
He cleverly rolled the ball across the six yard box but George Newton arrived just too late to complete a tap-in.
No matter. Another two minutes on and Blazey were ahead when a superb right wing cross from Will Tinsley picked out the unmarked Cloke who headed in from six yards.
Blazey stretched their lead just after the hour with the best goal of the game. Cloke, receiving the ball just inside the penalty area, controlled the ball, turned his marker and then fired his shot into the far corner of the net.
Two minutes later it should have been 4-1 but Newton sliced his shot at the far post after more good work on the left.
Blazey continued to dominate and they finally found a fourth goal in the 75th minute when a long throw from Tinsley on the right caused panic in the Falmouth defence and Downing was at the far post to score.
The visitors had a late opportunity to reduce the arrears but Luke Barnet’s goalbound shot was deflected wide by another excellent Semmens save with his outstretched leg.
St Blazey: S Semmens, W Tinsley (F Walter 90+2), R Carroll, L Russell, A Dilley (J Pearce 46), S Clifton, G Newton, S Piper, L Cloke (J Cleverley 75), J Gilbert (I McCue 84).
Sub not used: G Robinson (gk).
Goals: J Gilbert (2), L Cloke (48 & 63), R Downing (75).
Yellow cards: W Tinsley (12), S Clifton (44), G Newton (82).
Falmouth: R Barnes, J Grange (J Swan 78), B Leivers, A Calleja-Stayne (J Webber 66), T Annear, J Ward (M Everall 75), L Barner, J Sims, R Wilson (L Brabyn), C Hutchison (T Fisher), O Massey.
Goal: J Ward (14).
Yellow cards: A Calleja-Stayne (28), J Grange (45+4), C Hutchison (51), L Brabyn (84).
Sin bin: L Brabyn (90+3).
Referee: S Edge.
Attendance: 330.

Man of the Match: Luke Cloke.

All smiles: Luke Cloke after being substituted. Picture: Kevin Marriott