March 2024 – KJM SPORTS

Liskeard return in style to close gap at top to two points

South West Peninsula League

Premier West

Liskeard Athletic 2 Dobwalls 0

It was a happy Easter weekend for Liskeard in their quest to finish as champions of SWPL West and therefore secure promotion to the Western League.

Rivals and leaders St Austell suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Newquay on Good Friday to leave them five points ahead of the Blues but having played three games more.

Twenty-four hours later the lead was reduced to two points after Liskeard, who hadn’t played for eight weeks, saw off neighbours Dobwalls in a typically feisty affair at Lux Park.

The bumper crowd of 508, bolstered by groundhoppers from all parts of the country, saw Ruben Kane break the deadlock midway through the first half.

And man of the match Max Gilbert doubled their advantage in the 51^st minute, barely four minutes after Kaycee Ogwu missed a golden chance to equalise.

Club officials and volunteers worked tirelessly in the days before the game to get the pitch fit and before kick-off it looked a picture from the sidelines.

But following heavy showers at the start of the match the playing surface was close to being waterlogged and cut up fairly badly. This made it difficult for players to keep their balance, particularly in the first half when conditions were at their worst.

Credit to both teams for producing a highly watchable encounter; credit, too, to the referee who took conditions into account when judging some of the tackles.

Dobwalls made a bright start but Liskeard swept ahead when Max Gilbert presented a low cross from the left which Kane gleefully turned into the net at the far post.

But the visitors should have equalised in the 35^th minute when a ball from the right evaded several players before falling at the feet of Ogwu, who lofted his left foot shot over the bar.

Two minutes into the second half Ogwu was presented with another golden opportunity, this time running through the Liskeard defence with only Cory Harvey to beat. But the Liskeard stopper rushed out to make a fine stop.

Dobwalls were made to pay four minutes later as a sloppy backpass left goalkeeper James Morley struggling and Max Gilbert nipped in to take the ball around him and roll it into the far corner of the net.

Dobwalls rarely threatened after that and it was Liskeard who almost scored again eight minutes from time.

Substitute Jarrad Woods fired a superb shot at goal from 20 yards. Morley got in the way of it but the ball broke to another sub, Sam Carter, whose close range shot was also kept out by the keeper.

Liskeard: C Harvey, H Jeffery, M Outtram, H Bell, D Peel, R Kane, M Gilbert, W Gilbert (J Wood 63), C Young (T Savigar 68), D Jennings (S Carter 63), B Collins.

Subs not used: J McCabe, S Borthwick (gk).

Goals: R Kane (23), M Gilbert (51).

Yellow card: W Gilbert (30).

Dobwalls: J Morley, A Wotton, T Davy (H Baugh 76), A Davy, J Cook, T Strike (C Patterson 62), G Garside, J Forrest, J Johnson, C Castlehouse (R Geach 76), K Ogwu (J Forkuo 62).

Yellow card: G Garside (88).

Referee: Paul Redding.

Attendance: 508.

Men of the Match. Liskeard – Max Gilbert; Dobwalls – Joe Cook.

REMAINING LEAGUE GAMES:

St Austell. Sat April 6 – Bude h; Sat 13 – Holsworthy a; Wed 17 – Dobwalls a; Mon 22 – Holsworthy h; Wed 24 – St Dennis a; Sat 27 – Truro City Res a.

Liskeard. Wed April 3 – Newquay h; Sat 6 – Sticker h; Sat 13 – Newquay a; Tues 16 – St Dennis a; Fri 19 – Callington a; Mon 22 – Wendron h; Wed 24 – Holsworthy a; Sat 27 – Mullion h.

St Austell blown away as Peppermints cash in

South West Peninsula League

Premier West

St Austell 1 Newquay 2

St Austell’s title bid was blown off course, quite literally, on Good Friday when they suffered a shock home defeat against fourth-placed Newquay.

The Lillywhites, unbeaten at Poltair Park since September, were hoping to extend their lead at the top to eight points but in very windy conditions they were never at their best as a lively Peppermints side claimed all three points.

Twenty-four hours later title rivals Liskeard Athletic beat Dobwalls 2-0 to close the gap to two points with two games in hand but there’s still a lot of football to be played.

On Good Friday, Newquay centre half Harry Downing broke the deadlock after 64 minutes by getting on the end of Cam Turner’s inswinging corner from the right.

And 10 minutes later a calamitous wind-assisted mix-up between Harvey Hann and goalkeeper Harry Ashton presented striker Alex Cole with an open goal to make it 2-0.

This was the signal for St Austell to introduce prolific scorer Liam Eddy from the bench and his goal 10 minutes from time set up a grandstand finish during which Newquay had Phil Lowry sent off and both sides spurned great chances.

Lowry was initially ordered to the sin bin but another remark made to the referee led to a red card being brandished, leaving Newquay to see out the final minutes with 10 men.

Just before that, Turner had missed a golden opportunity to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage as he broke clear through the middle but he shot into the side netting.

Boosted by that miss, St Austell poured forward in search of an equaliser and almost got it in the second minute of time added on when a mad penalty area scramble following Kieron Bishop’s dazzling run ended with the right back’s stab at goal cleared inside the six yard box.

St Austell manager Chris Knight said: “Full credit to Newquay, they deserved their win.

“We just couldn’t get going and once we did it was too late.”

Windy conditions played a significant part in the game to such an extent that it would have been no surprise if one of the goalkeepers had got themselves on the scoresheet.

The playing surface was in astonishingly good shape given the monsoon weather last week and the volunteer grounds people deserve huge credit.

St Austell: H Ashton, K Bishop, M Duff, R Hooper, O Brokenshire, H Hann (K Marks 78), N Slateford, M Searle, G Marris, A Carter, J Miller (L Eddy 65).Subs: T Guest, H Wilson, E Timmons.Yellow card: O Brokenshire (88).Goal: L Eddy (80).Newquay: B Cole, C Eddin, T Moxham, M Saunders (J Davy 78), H Downing, R Fallens (J Evans 72), T Shepherd, C Turner, A Cole, P Lowry, L Price.Subs: A Sharp, E Travers, H Tilson.Yellow cards: C Turner (53), A Cole (48), T Shepherd (57).Sin bin, then red card: P Lowry (84).Goals: H Downing (64), A Cole (73).Referee: Jonathan Green.Attendance: 278.Men of the Match. St Austell – Rhys Hooper; Newquay – Cam Turner.

REMAINING LEAGUE GAMES:

St Austell. Sat April 6 – Bude h; Sat 13 – Holsworthy a; Wed 17 – Dobwalls a; Mon 22 – Holsworthy h; Wed 24 – St Dennis a; Sat 27 – Truro City Res a.

Liskeard. Wed April 3 – Newquay h; Sat 6 – Sticker h; Sat 13 – Newquay a; Tues 16 – St Dennis a; Fri 19 – Callington a; Mon 22 – Wendron h; Wed 24 – Holsworthy a; Sat 27 – Mullion h.

Goalmouth scramble as St Austell push for an equaliser

Back to my football roots to discover the game at grassroots level is alive and well

St Piran League
Division Two East
Pensilva 4 Mevagissey 1

When you reach a certain age – in my case retirement – you find yourself reminiscing more than you did when family, children and work occupied your mind almost on a full time basis.
They say nostalgia is not what it used to be but my memories are golden, especially when it comes to watching football.
So I returned to my footballing roots on Saturday – which was Non League Football Day – to watch Pensilva play Mevagissey. More of which later.
What turned out to be one of my life’s passions began when I was a young boy. I was fortunate that our house in Sawley, Derbyshire, backed onto a field which incorporated a football pitch in the winter and a cricket square in the summer – and it didn’t seem to rain every other weekend.
Saturday mornings in the late 1960s involved playing footy with mates before moving across to the main pitch in the afternoon to watch the local team, Sawley CA, take on all-comers.
I’d watch them put up the nets, place the flags and on occasions mark out the lines; it was all part of the ritual.
And I stayed to watch the matches, came to know some of the players by first names and eventually started writing reports for my own personal record.
I can trace my love of writing back to those matches on the village pitch, little knowing that I would be fortunate enough to be paid to write about football in my career, from Long Eaton United in the Northern Counties East League with my first newspaper, the Long Eaton Advertiser, to Nottingham Forest in the top tier of English football and European football under the iconic Brian Clough while I worked at the Derby Evening Telegraph.
Those were heady days, of course, but when I moved down to Cornwall in 1987 to join the Plymouth Evening Herald, I very quickly fell in love with the local football scene.
People in Derby questioned why I moved here; nothing ever happens in Cornwalll, there’s no passion for football, they argued.
Well they haven’t experienced a Cornwall Senior Cup final between Saltash United and Liskeard Athletic where chairs were thrown through the doors at Newquay have they?!
They haven’t seen a ‘pumped up’ St Austell beating the mighty Bodmin Town in a Senior Cup final at Wadebridge. I recall asking Lillywhites manager Phil Lafferty before the game whether I could take a team picture and he said it probably wasn’t wise because the players were wound up to the hilt.
No passion in Cornish football? You’re having a laugh.
On Saturday I was due to cover St Blazey versus Torpoint Athletic in the Western League premier division but when it became one of the casualties of the incessant wet weather, I received a message via social media from Pensilva FC’s Zak Horsley saying they would be delighted to see me at their game.
And as their pitch is only a couple of miles away from my home, I thought why not? Back to my football roots, back to a village team.
Pensilva, who lead the way in Cornwall’s St Piran League division two east, play their home games on the Recreation Field behind the Millennium Hall.
Their preparations for the visit of mid table Mevagissey started badly when Martyn Putt was injured in the warm-up, leaving club president Dave Hicks to complete the numbers on the bench.
The teams emerged from the back of the hall and made their way through the car park to reach the pitch, in a leisurely style.
Despite the lack of pace shown, the match kicked off almost five minutes early and there was barely time to blink before the first goal was scored. So the deadlock was broken before the scheduled 3pm kick-off.
Euan Mcsherry put Pensilva ahead with barely 20 seconds on the clock and the home side went on to increase their lead to 3-0 before half-time with further goals from Aaron Saunders and Harrison Cloke.
Kicking with the wind behind their backs, Pensilva were expected to run away with the game in the second half but despite a lot of pressure they added only one more, from the living legend that is Sam Rogers.
Mevagissey, much to their credit on an old school mudbath of a playing surface, never gave up and they were rewarded with a consolation goal near the end.
The final whistle brought relief all round as the muddy marvels trudged back to the dressing rooms.
Thanks for the entertainment boys. This was proper football, not the sort we are served up on tv these days with perfect pitches and over-rated and highly overpaid players and a VAR system which threatens to ruin the spectacle.
It all began on a village pitch for me – and I’m thrilled to report that the real game of football at grassroots level is alive and well.

Pensilva: A Powell, A Saunders, R Miles, A Varcoe, H Cloke (J Dennis 66), E McSherry (T Savigar 46), K Gross (C Lawrence 66), B Coton, A Cole, J England, S Rogers.
Goals: E McSherry (1), A Saunders (6), H Cloke (31), S Rogers (59).

Mevagissey: A Bennett, S Daly, M Davy, C Elton, B Gordon, K Perry, H Prynn, J Stephens, R Thompson, J Young, S Kibell. Sub: R Morcom.

Goal: Harry Prynn (79).

Yellow card: R Morcom.

Attendance: 47.

Man of the Match: Aaron Saunders.

Sam Rogers squeezes the ball past five Mevagissey players to make it 4-0. Pictures by Shaun Lee Bending.

Reeve’s last gasp strike leaves Wadebridge stunned

South West Peninsula League
Premier West
Wadebridge Town 0 Wendron United 1

Wadebridge will still be wondering how they came out of Wednesday night’s game at Bodieve empty-handed after conceding a goal in the seventh minute of time added on.
The Bridgers had dominated the match, and got stronger as the game wore on, but they couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Wendron defence.
And with only seconds to go, the visitors broke away and after the ball was delivered from the right flank, Ryan Reeve was in the right position to fire it into the net to spark wild celebrations.
There was barely time to restart, leaving the home players wondering what had just happened to them.
For Reeve it was a happy ending after he saw his 17th minute penalty saved by Bridgers stopper Rob Rosevear. If that had gone in, maybe the pattern of the game would have been different.
As it was, Wadebridge took control and only the woodwork denied Haiden Chapman a 23rd minute goal as his powerful shot came back off the bar.
The home side were on top but Wendron almost broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Reeve’s superb cross from the right picked out Josh Wood on the near post but his effort bounced inches wide.
The second half developed into an attack versus defence exercise and it took an excellent save from Zach Telling to deny Chapman the opening goal on the hour.
Chapman was at his marauding best out on the left, his powerful runs giving the visitors all sorts of problems, but Wendron stood firm and there was some excellent defending.
Their resistance seemed bound to be ended as the game moved into time added on as James Hamson delivered a perfect cross from the left to pick out Jacob Rowe 10 yards out.
A lot of the home supporters were poised to shout ‘goal’ as Rowe connected with his head only to see Telling make a point blank save on his line to somehow keep the ball out.
Another five minutes of Wadebridge pressure came to nothing before Wendron’s last gasp breakaway winner.
Football eh!
Wadebridge: R Rosevear, T Harris, S Hepworth, J Rowe, S Gerken, L Webber, C Reski (M Valleja 64), J Hamson, K Flew (J Homer 84), H Chapman, S Wickins.
Subs not used: S Simmonds, M Lloyd, L Johnson.
Wendron: Z Telling, S Burley, L Dryburgh, M Roberts, R May, S Young, R Reeve, L Potts, R Kelly, C Bertrand, J Ward.
Subs: E Fearn (gk), Fletcher, S Palmer.
Goal: R Reeve (90+7).
Yellow card: S Young (64 minutes).
Referee: W Annear.
Men of Match. Wadebridge – Haiden Chapman; Wendron – Zach Telling.

Saltash splish splash to impressive point

Western League Premier Division

Saltash United 0 Barnstaple 0

It was a surprise to many observers that the match was given the go ahead by the match referee despite afternoon rain leaving the already saturated surface waterlogged.

Saltash’s young side gained an impressive point against top six side Barnstaple at a barely fit Waterways Stadium on Tuesday evening.

But in the extremely difficult conditions the players deserved credit for trying to play football.

Ashes manager Macca Brown, while impressed by his team’s efforts, was far from happy with the circumstances. Brown said: “I really didn’t feel comfortable with the game going ahead to be honest.

“I think it was the worst conditions I’ve been part of where the game has actually gone ahead and thankfully it stopped raining after 20 minutes or so because I don’t think it would have finished if it hadn’t.
“Full credit to the volunteers who worked on the pitch throughout the afternoon, there’s not much more they can do.

“I think it’s important to say it, because it was a good result for us, so the easy thing to do is to gloss over it, laugh it off and say we got away with it because nobody got injured.

“However, maybe it’s just me, both sets of lads might have felt it was fine and maybe I’m being a bit cautious and overprotective, but I saw Kia miss three months because of the state of the pitch at Nailsea back in October/November and that was like Wembley in comparison to the pitch last night.”

On the game itself, Brown said: “Credit has to go to both sets of players. It wasn’t easy, but they were responsible in their performances given the conditions and as much as I felt the referee made the wrong call playing the game he did manage it very well.

“We actually had some fabulous chances to win the game, I thought Jake was superb for us up front but he could have scored a hat trick, but he led the line well for us and set the tone once again for the rest of the team.

“Preecey and Tylor also had chances that they would ordinarily do better with but to be honest it was a challenge to stay on your feet let alone execute any quality in what you were trying to do.

“Barnstaple always have that bit of quality with the players they have, so to keep a clean sheet is really pleasing and I don’t think Jordan was tested too much, but he was immaculate in everything he had to do which wasn’t easy in the conditions.

“So overall I’m pleased, no injuries, we actually played a game of football which is a nice change, another clean sheet and a good point for us against a good side.

“Another really pleasing aspect is the debut of Freddie Tolcher for the first team. Freddie joins Jack Jefford and Sam Travers this season making their debuts for the first team after coming up through the Saltash Youth pathway and that’s something the club can be really proud of.

“They’ve all impressed for the Reserves this season and in training, so we are happy to give them the opportunities when it’s right to do so, and Freddie came on with 15 minutes to go last night at just 16 years old and did brilliantly.”

Saltash: J Duffey, B Goulty, E Wright, E Goodman, J Toulson (T Huyton 69), L Murray, T Love-Holmes, B Fowles, J Curtis (K O’Melia 60), A Goulty, J Preece (F Tolcher 78).
Subs not used: B Salop, J Kelsey.
Barnstaple: J Arthur, A Whitfield, S Laird, C Prentice (M Perkins), B Montague, A Heywood, M Andrew, J Grigg (J Hearsay), S Bowker (H Dorothy), N Iseguan, T Swann (B Tucker).
Sub not used: M Bye.

Villa clinch cup final place as late comeback stuns Lillywhites

South West Peninsula League

Walter C Parson League Cup semi-final

St Austell 2 Elburton Villa 3 (aet)

Elburton Villa booked their place in the league cup final with a rousing late comeback in a dramatic semi-final at mud-splattered Lantoom Park on Tuesday night.
Villa, who had lost at the same stage of the competition for the past two seasons, found themselves on the brink of an unwanted hat-trick with St Austell leading 2-0 with 12 minutes to go.
Adam Carter had broken the deadlock on the hour and when he made it 2-0 in the 78th minute it felt like the crucial goal.
But Elburton reduced the arrears almost immediately through former Saltash United striker Sam Hughes, who then forced the tie into extra time with a last minute equaliser.
The initiative was clearly then with Villa and they produced the goal of the game to secure victory.
St Austell were on the attack in the 104th minute but it broke down and the ball was swept forward into Hughes’ path along the left wing.
Substitute Bentley Alcantara, sprinting forward unmarked on the opposite flank, was screaming for the ball. Hughes provided the perfect delivery and Alcantara gleefully smashed the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations from Villa.
St Austell, who hadn’t lost in domestic competition since September, were expected to respond but they had nothing left in the tank on an energy-sapping playing surface.
In fact Villa could have increased their lead but Alcantara saw a shot roll across goal and finish inches wide while Dan Tate lifted an effort over the bar when poised to score.
Even having goalkeeper Jason Peters sin binned for dissent six minutes from time – Dan Vile taking over in goal – didn’t knock them off course, with St Austell also reduced to 10 men a couple of minutes later when striker George Marris was sin binned.
The referee appeared to be swept away with the excitement of the occasion and some of the cautions he handed out on a very difficult pitch were, frankly, unnecessary.
He was also inconsistent, booking one player for handball and then deciding not to book another for the same offence.
But his erratic performance couldn’t spoil what was an enthralling night of local football.
St Austell: H Ashton, K Bishop, M Duff (M Watts 90+1), H Wilson, O Brokenshire, T Whipp, N Slateford (T Guest 107), M Searle (H Hann 112), G Marris, A Carter, J Miller.
Subs not used: L Eddy, J Shaw.
Goals: A Carter (60 & 78).
Yellow cards: T Whipp (17), A Carter (25), N Slateford (82). May have been more!
Sin bin: G Marris (116).
Elburton Villa: J Peters, O Newton (A Hicks 67), J Lee, J Rundle, D Lewis, G Photiou, L Edwards (D Tate 75), S Leary (D Vile 112), S Hughes, R Brown, C Crossfield.
Sub not used: C Stearnes.
Yellow card: D Lewis (37). May have been more!
Sin bin: J Peters (114).
Referee: T Burley.
Attendance: 120.
Men of the Match. St Austell – G Marris; Elburton Villa – S Hughes.

League Cup action at Lantoom Park on Tuesday.

You can’t keep a good man down

Toolstation Western League

Premier Division

Torpoint Athletic 4 Street 2

Ryan Richards scored three goals in seven minutes near the end of an enthralling game to turn the prospect of defeat into a handsome victory at The Mill on Saturday.
Things didn’t look good when the Somerset visitors swept into a 2-1 lead with ten minutes to go after looking the better side in the second half.
But Torpoint responded brilliantly with Richards – who had scored Torpoint’s opening goal in the 12th minute – capitalising on a goalkeeping error to equalise with three minutes of normal time left.
That set up a grandstand finish and the home side didn’t disappoint. A long through ball sent Richards racing clear and he sidestepped the oncoming keeper Shay Allen before rolling the ball into an empty net bang on 90 minutes.
Street pressed for an equaliser and there was an air of desperation about Torpoint’s defending at two late corners as the ball was eventually hacked out of the mud with the visitors camped in the penalty area.
But when the ball was cleared up to Richards near the halfway line, he turned inside his marker and fed the ball through to substitute CJ Pritchard, who was sprinting unmarked through the middle.
The former Dobwalls striker then unselfishly squared the ball to Richards, who had kept running after his initial pass, and the master finisher rolled it into an empty net.
On an afternoon when the pitch survived two inspections after heavy overnight rain, the players from both sides gave their all.
None more so than Richards, whose four goals took his league tally this season to 20.
He’s been banging in the goals on the local football scene for 15 years and to see the same appetite for goals still with him at the age of 32 on a heavy playing surface was something to behold.
Credit to Street too. One of the game’s most cultured young players, Eli Collins, gave them an eighth minute lead and it was his deflected free kick after 80 minutes which restored their advantage.
Street are an attractive team to watch, with their passing game on a difficult pitch delightful to see when hoofing the ball on some occasions might have been the preferred choice for some teams.
They will still be wondering how they lost. Unfortunately for them, Ryan Richards would not go away.

Torpoint: R Rickard, M Lucas (CJ Pritchard 82), D Hicks, O Haslam, S Hillson, E Crawford, J Rowe, J Pope (S Rutter 71), R Smith, R Richards, I McCue (J Taylor 90+5).
Goals: R Richards 4 (12, 87, 90, 90+4).
Yellow cards: R Smith (44), M Lucas (67), J Wood (74), D Hicks (79).
Street: S Allen, T Stephens, Z Collins, C Corbridge, J Hodsey, D Peach, B Sykes, J Goodman, K Strange, J Dickens, E Collins (O Pearson 86).
Goals: E Collins 2 (8 & 80).
Yellow cards: J Hodsey (75), J Dickens (85).
Referee: T Roper.
Attendance: 122.
Men of the Match. Torpoint – R Richards; Street – D Peach.

Fab Four: Ryan Richards, man of the match. Picture courtesy of Torpoint Athletic FC

Mud, sweat and cramp as experienced St Austell pushed all the way

South West Peninsula League
Walter C Parson Cup quarter-final

Camelford 1 St Austell 3 (aet)

St Austell are through to a league cup semi-final against Dobwalls next Tuesday (March 19) – but boy oh boy did they have to work hard for their place in the last four.
The Lillywhites arrived at Trefrew Park as hot favourites against a much weakened Camelford side and when Matt Searle fired them ahead in the eighth minute it appeared to be going according to the script.
But Sam Brown equalised for the home side in the 20th minute and from that point it developed into a mighty battle which dragged the quarter-final into extra time which nobody really wanted.
Both sets of players, having had little football in recent weeks because of the appalling weather, were out on their feet and it might have been more humane to go straight to penalties.
Crucially, St Austell had a strong substitutes’ bench and were able to replace their walking wounded and exhausted players with very experienced individuals.
One of them, striker Liam Eddy, finally broke Camelford’s dogged resistance by firing the Lillywhites ahead a minute before the end of the first half of extra time.
The home side still refused to lie down and despite suffering injuries and cramps they made St Austell battle to the end.
Only when another substitute, Tom Guest, finished well in the 116th minute, could they finally relax just a little.
Camelford deserve great credit for giving it their all – they had chances to win towards the end of normal time – but in the end St Austell’s experience and strength on the bench proved the difference.
At the start of the game the pitch looked immaculate given the amount of rain which has fallen this month, but as the tie progressed it became obvious that it was an energy sapping surface and the cold blustery wind added to the difficulty.
Given all of that, the players deserve great credit for providing the crowd with a cup tie you couldn’t take your eyes off.

Camelford: J Colwill, T Crowe, J Chafer, C Sturdy, S Wade, R Blare, S Watts, D Metherell (J Biddick 90+2), S Brown, M Gusterson, S Cardiff (D Sprake 86).
Goal: S Brown (20).
Yellow cards: C Sturdy (33), R Blare (119).
St Austell: H Ashton, K Bishop (T Guest 106), M Duff, N Teagle (L Eddy 86), O Brokenshire, H Hann (M Watts 90+3), H Wilson (N Slateford 56), M Searle, G Marris (C Wharton 74), A Carter, J Miller.
Goals: M Searle (8), L Eddy (104), T Guest (116).
Yellow card: L Eddy (100).
Men of the Match: Camelford – Sam Wade; St Austell – Matt Searle.

St Austell celebrate Liam Eddy’s extra time goal.

Job done as leaders St Austell hit back to see off impressive Sticker

South West Peninsula League
Premier West
St Austell 3 Sticker 1

St Austell increased their lead at the top of the table to five points with a comfortable victory over local rivals Sticker at a cold and blustery Poltair Park on Friday night.
The visitors, who are fighting their battles at the opposite end of the table, shocked their hosts by sweeping ahead in the fifth minute with Ovo Ememerurai finishing off a superb sweeping move from the right.
But the Lillywhites took less than two minutes to equalise with a fine finish from Kieron Bishop and they went ahead soon afterwards through striker Tom Guest.
Sticker continued to offer a threat on the break but they suffered another setback in the 32nd minute when Town left back Martyn Duff forced the ball in after a corner had only been half cleared to make it 3-1.
That proved to be the end of the scoring as St Austell comfortably held onto what they had, although on another night with better finishing they might have doubled their advantage.
But much credit to Sticker, a young side who never stopped battling. Their stand-out player was 17-year-old defender Jack Ham, whose enthusiasm provided a great example for his team-mates.
It was also encouraging to see a young player take the honours on the St Austell side. Noah Teagle, the 18-year-old midfielder, looks a great prospect – he has time on the ball and reads the game very well for a teenager.
St Austell manager Chris Knight said: “We were glad to win obviously but it was clearly the performance of a team that hasn’t played for a month.
“We looked very rusty and disjointed, which to be fair we expected. We had quite a few missing as well so the result is all that matters.
“Credit to Sticker and their young team. I thought they sat in well and were dangerous on the counter but ultimately we were never in any danger and missed numerous chances to make it comfortable.”
St Austell have seven league games left and are five points clear of Liskeard Athletic, who have played two games less. The Blues were unable to close the gap on Saturday because their scheduled match at St Dennis was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
St Austell: H Ashton, J Shaw, M Duff, N Teagle, O Brokenshire, H Hann, J Hooper, M Searle, T Guest, A Carter, K Bishop.
Subs: G Marris, T Whipp, L Eddy, C Wharton, M Watts.
Goals: K Bishop (6), T Guest (13), M Duff (32).
Sticker: C Clarke, S Bray, J Ham, M Rowles-Jane, L Clapham, J Nancarrow, P Cox, D O’Hara, A Flack, A Hamley, O Ememerurai.
Subs: J Margetts, T Chapman, A Lees, H Hambley, E Etwell (gk).
Goal: O Ememerurai (5 minutes).
Referee: S Edge.
Attendance: 139.
Men of Match. St Austell – Noah Teagle; Sticker – Jack Ham.

Brixham reel in three points as Blazey lose their way

Western League premier division

St Blazey 1 Brixham 3

St Blazey’s first game in a month ended in frustration and disappointment on Wednesday night when they conceded twice in the last 17 minutes after being reduced to 10 men.

The Green and Blacks, who trailed to a 15th minute goal from Brixham striker Charlie Johansen, made the perfect start to the second half at Blaise Park as top scorer Luke Cloke equalised 18 seconds after the restart.

It should have provided the platform for the home side to go on to win – but instead they lost their composure at a vital time and were unable to recover.

Midfield man Ryan Downing, having been booked in the first half, appeared to kick the ball away in the 61st minute, leading to a second yellow card followed by a red.

Brixham were visibly lifted by their man advantage and retook the lead in the 73rd minute as Josh Parry rose to score from a corner.

Blazey had lost their shape by then and completed a 10 minutes to forget when a defensive mix-up left Tom Mortimore to fire into an unguarded net to make it 3-1.

There was still time for Blazey to try to rescue something from the game but the visitors stood firm to claim an impressive away win.

Blazey first team coach Brad Richardson said: “I thought we started slowly and could see we haven’t played for a while but as the half went on I thought we looked better.

“We changed a few things at half-time and started the second half on the front foot and got the goal.

“After that I could only see one winner with a big chunk of possession and passing the ball something like we were doing before the break in the weather.

“But individual errors and petulance will cost you and it did last night.

“The sending off gave them the lifeline they needed. I’m a very frustrated figure today because all three goals were avoidable. We should be going on to win the game with 11 players on the pitch.”

He added: “This year for us as a group is about learning and growing with a lot of youngsters. But I don’t expect to lose this sort of game next season if the scenario is the same.”

St Blazey: S Semmens, W Tinsley, R Carroll, L Russell, F Walter, L Vooght, G Newton (J Cleverly 67), S Piper, L Cloke, J Gilbert (C Kenny 67), R Downing.
Subs: J Pearce, T Strike, A Dilley.
Goal: L Cloke (46).
Red card: R Downing (61, second yellow).
Brixham: G Fisher, B Hopkins, H Field, R Somers, S Robinson, J Parry, C Harford, J Chisholm, C Johansen, T Mortimore, A Wellington.
Subs: M Harford, R Keates, J Meslan.
Goals: C Johansen (15), J Parry (73), T Mortimore (80).