⚽ Cornwall Football: March 20 round-up
Truro City capitalise on Weston-super-Mare's slip-up to reignite title race; Mousehole ship stoppage-time equaliser; River Allen hails his side’s display as St Blazey move a step closer to SWPL title
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⬇️ Inside today’s newsletter ⬇️
🐯 City capitalise on Weston slip-up to reignite title race
🟢 Western: Seagulls ship stoppage-time equaliser
💪 Town chief lauds defensive effort in Welton win
🔥 SWPL: Dobwalls and St Austell play out eight-goal thriller
👏 Allen hails leaders’ display as St Blazey move a step closer to title
⚽ Grassroots: White Tigers record massive victory
💚 Argyle stroll to victory against dismal Forest Green
👀 What’s on this weekend
Enjoy. 〓〓
🐯 City capitalise on Weston slip-up to reignite title race
Just when it looked like Truro City’s Southern League Premier South title hopes were all but over, Paul Wotton’s side have a sniff once again following an impressive 3-0 win at in-form Bracknell Town on Saturday.
A brace from Harvey Greenslade and a 16th goal of the season for Rocky Neal means City departed Bracknell’s Bottom Meadow with the top of the table back in their sights.
Their title hopes have been reignited after leaders Weston-super-Mare took just one point from their two games this week, with City now just four points behind the Seagulls…
⚽ First blood: Greenslade breaks the deadlock just after the half-hour when he meets Dan Sullivan’s clipped cross with his head and guides it past home custodian Michael Eacott. 0-1 (32’)
🧤 Super stop: Take a bow, James Hamon. It looks for all the world that Joe Grant’s header is nestling in the top corner, but for a tremendous flying save from the City stopper to tip it onto the bar. 0-1 (48’)
⚽ Two up: It’s Greenslade again! The on-loan Bristol Rovers man is alert to a loose ball in the box after Neal closes down a clearance and he rifles it in at the near post! 0-2 (51’)
⚽ Clincher: There’s no way back for Bracknell now as Neal secures the points for City with a lovely finish, with the 16-goal forward racing through and slotting past Eacott. 0-3 (75’)
📋 City: Hamon, Craske, Riley-Lowe, Palmer, En-Neyah, Dean, Sullivan (Egan 84), White, Neal (Haste 90), Greenslade (Brett 78), Knowles. Subs (unused): C Harvey, Okoro.
“It was a good reaction [from last week’s defeat at Merthyr]. We spoke about a reaction in training this week and on Saturday. I think the good thing in football is you always get a chance to rectify it, and last week is forgotten about. They did react very well and I thought to a man they worked really hard.
“I think the boys wanted to prove a point to me. I don’t think they liked what I said last week, and they shouldn’t. They’ve proved me wrong today and hopefully they keep doing it.”
Weston-super-Mare’s blip means the White Tigers are back to within four points of the Seagulls, who now have just one game in hand…
📈 The Southern League summit:
Weston-super-Mare, 78pts
Truro City, 74pts
Bracknell Town, 66pts
Chesham United, 63pts
Poole Town, 62pts
Swindon Supermarine, 59pts
Hayes & Yeading United, 55pts
Metropolitan Police, 55pts
Beaconsfield Town, 53pts
Merthyr Town, 51pts
🟢 Western: Seagulls ship stoppage-time equaliser
Falmouth Town 2-0 Welton Rovers
Luke Brabyn scored twice in the second half, including one from the spot, as Town saw off their Somerset opponents to increase their unbeaten run to four games and end a run of three home games without a win. Veo highlights
Jack Wood (2), Josh Toulson and Jason Richards all netted for the Brook as the east Cornwall outfit warmed up for tomorrow night’s Cornwall Senior Cup semi-final with a comfortable victory over Cadbury Heath. The win also sees Mackenzie Brown’s side rise one place to 13th.
How important could this result prove to be come the end of the season? Hayden Turner’s 90th-minute penalty looked to have given the Seagulls a priceless win in their quest for the title, only for Andy Martin to equalise for Mallet deep into stoppage time. Mark Goldsworthy and Reece Thomson had scored earlier on for Jake Ash’s side after Danny Constable and Josh Jenkins had given the hosts the lead on separate occasions.
After their midweek heroics in reaching their first Senior Cup final in ten years, the Blues came back down to Earth with a little bit of a bump on Saturday as they played out a goalless draw in Somerset.
Torpoint Athletic 3-1 Wellington
Second-half goals from Gary Hird, Ryan Richards and Curtis Damerell cancelled out Miles Quick’s first-half opener for the Tangerines as Torpoint recorded their eighth win of the campaign to leap above their beaten opponents into 14th place.
📈 The top of the Western League:
Saltash United, 72pts
Mousehole, 70pts
Bridgwater United, 61pts
Buckland Athletic, 59pts
Barnstaple Town, 54pts
Shepton Mallet, 48pts
Helston Athletic, 47pts
Falmouth Town, 43pts
Ashton & Backwell United, 38pts
Clevedon Town, 36pts
💪 Town chief lauds defensive effort in Welton win
By Gareth Davies at Bickland Park
Boss Andrew Westgarth hailed the defensive performance of his Falmouth Town side after a 2-0 Western League Premier Division win over Welton Rovers.
The Bickland Park clash, Town’s first on home soil for close to a month, was settled by Luke Brabyn’s second-half double with one of his goals coming from the penalty spot.
It was a dominant showing from Westgarth’s side as they restricted Welton, who travelled to the Duchy on a run of only one loss in seven games, to very few clear-cut chances.
Home custodian Zach Telling, deputising for the suspended Ryan Barnes, was by far and away the quieter with Rovers gloveman Dominic Oakes and his replacement in the second period Chris Blammon, responsible for keeping the score at just 2-0 to Town.
“They were tough conditions because although it was sunny, the pitch was sticky,” Westgarth said at full-time. “Welton came here as one of the form sides in the league because they have only lost one game in seven so, if I’m honest, I expected a bit more from them.
“We had Zach stepping in for Barnesy and he didn’t have anything to do which is testament to our back four.
“I thought we looked really solid all game and although we had a clean sheet, what I was most pleased with was our game management. It wasn’t pretty at times but once we got the second goal, with them trying to disrupt things, we kept our composure and looked really professional in the last 15 minutes.
“We saw the game out and it looked relatively easy but at the start of the season, we were frantic and throwing leads away. Today we looked like an established Western League side.”
Brabyn was guilty of passing up a glorious chance after just 90 seconds when he fired over inside the box as the impressive Ryan Downing and Scott Kellow also came close to breaking the deadlock inside the first half.
After the turnaround, Brabyn was once again in range early in the piece and this time he made no mistake to fire home a sixth goal of the season.
This strike seemed to leave Town with further fire in their collective bellies while Welton were visibly deflated at conceding so early and Westgarth was keen to acknowledge the importance of an early goal.
“Throughout the season, first goals are so important, especially at this level of football,” he added. “It was a great team move with the ball into Barner, he turned it round the corner to Brabyn and he scored.
“It gives us momentum and with the crowd behind us, we had all the attacking play and 2-0 flattered them to be honest.”
Just nine minutes after Town took the lead, the hosts were then presented with an opportunity to further strengthen their grip on proceedings from the penalty spot.
Brabyn was crudely upended by towering Welton defender Joe Garland and with assistant referee Scott Coutts placing his flag across his chest, man with the whistle Kevin Hoare pointed to spot and this infuriated Welton.
Player by player they took it in turns to remonstrate with the referee and Blammon was booked for kicking the ball away. When order was finally restored after a near five-minute delay, Brabyn, with ice running through his veins, calmly tucked home.
This shouldn’t have been the only penalty that went Town’s way as Downing seemed to be fouled in the box just before the break and once again with time ticking down towards the end of the game.
Although Westgarth felt that the referee got the incident that resulted in the second Town goal correct, he felt his side should have had more, whilst questioning Welton’s actions when Mr Hoare did award the only penalty of the match.
“On another day we could have had three or four (penalties) but I did think it was a penalty to be fair,” he revealed. “Brabyn got their first and old boy left his leg out.
“You don’t need the aftermath though and it was almost like every single Welton player took it in turns to have their say to the referee.
“Fair play to the linesman, because he gave it and stuck to his guns. The carry on was relentless and I don’t know why players get involved so much because the referee isn’t going to change his mind.”
📸 View Matt Friday’s full photo gallery from the game
🔥 SWPL: Dobwalls and St Austell play out eight-goal thriller
Alex Wharton scored the only goal of the game just before half-time at Trefrew Park as the ninth-placed Camels earned a narrow victory over bottom side St Dennis to close the gap on Dobwalls and St Austell above them to just one point.
Owen Rosevear scored a dramatic late equaliser for St Austell as the Lillywhites shared eight goals with their hosts at Lantoom Park. Kieron Bishop, Tyler Cheshire and Tom Guest also netted for Town, with Charlie Castlehouse, Joseph Cook, Kelvin Fyneboy and Ian Thomas getting on the scoresheet for the Reds, who remain level on points with their opponents.
Alfie Cole and Alfie Fothergill provided the goals as the improving Clarets moved clear of the bottom two with their fifth win of the season, with defeat for Mullion leaving them one place above their opponents in 13th spot.
Liskeard Athletic 5-0 Penzance
After running out 4-0 winners last week, the Blues went one better this weekend as they put an improving Penzance to the sword at Lux Park. James Rowe, Max Gilbert, Dan Jennings and own goal gave the hosts a four-goal lead after little more than 30 minutes, with Rowe bagging a second to complete the scoring in the second half.
River Allen scored from one free-kick before setting up Luke Cloke to score from another as league leaders St Blazey overcame a difficult test in the shape of the Peppermints in their own back yard to move another three points closer to the title.
St Blazey are now just three points off leaders Wendron United with three games in hand. Liskeard Athletic also stay in touch with the top two ahead of their meeting with St Blazey at Lux Park this weekend…
📈 The top of the SWPL:
Wendron United, 64pts
St Blazey, 61pts
Wadebridge Town, 57pts
Liskeard Athletic, 55pts
Bude Town, 49pts
Newquay, 44pts
Dobwalls, 36pts
St Austell, 36pts
Camelford, 35pts
Bodmin Town, 27pts
👏 Allen hails leaders’ display as St Blazey move a step closer to title
By Tom Howe at Mount Wise
Mercurial midfielder River Allen was full of praise for a determined second-half performance that saw St Blazey overcome a huge hurdle in the shape of Newquay on Saturday.
The South West Peninsula League Premier West title chasers found themselves embroiled in a battle of attrition at Mount Wise but doubled down to secure an important 2-0 win and reduce the gap to leaders Wendron United to just three points.
The plucky Peppermints, who conceded a late equaliser during their visit to Blazey just ten days prior, began the stronger of the two sides as the men in green and black were handed a rare test of their championship credentials.
The breakthrough came via two free-kicks after the break, with Allen smashing the first through a Newquay wall that crumbled in the face of adversity. He later guided the second onto the head of teammate Andy Watkins, whose knockdown was tapped home by Luke Cloke.
“The first 15 or 20 minutes were difficult,” Allen reflected to Cornwall Sports Media at full-time. “Newquay pass the ball well. We found it difficult to cope with that in the last game [against them]. They are well drilled and we didn’t really know how to figure them out. Once we’d had a chat and sorted ourselves out, we dominated and there was only going to be one winner.
“We try doing things the right way. Newquay knock the ball around nicely and I think that, player for player, we can do the same. I try to get on the ball and affect the game as much as I can. It doesn’t always come off and I can be quite a frustrated figure but today, luckily, it has done.
“Newquay are a good side, they are well drilled and their management team do the right things. There aren’t many games this season where we have had to dig in. Without sounding big-headed, you look at our results and we have been threes or fours up.
“It has probably been our downfall, we are not used to going behind and digging in. We can get on each other's backs but I think today couldn’t have gone any better, to have dug in and come away with three points.”
The result ramps the pressure up on a table-topping Wendron side who hang on to a slender lead at the summit, albeit having played three times more than their rivals.
By the time the two meet at Blaise Park on April 22, the hosts may well have already been crowned Premier West victors for 2022/23. Allen, for one, is far from counting his chickens just yet though.
“No game in this league is an easy game,” continued the former Truro City and Bodmin Town ace. “I have really noticed that. Before the season, I thought some would be. We have got Liskeard breathing down our necks along with Wendron who are both good sides.
“It was nice to catch a game on Wendron this weekend. We have got six matches left and I think every team in the league would swap positions with us. It is just about taking every game as it comes.”
As for the decisive set-piece that ultimately turned the tide, Allen joked: “I have tried that before but a lot more of them go over the bar than go in. I know myself that if I am in that wall I would turn my back.
“It’s managed to go in but obviously the three points at this time of the season are the most important thing. Every one of us wants to win that league.”
Ainslie blasts ‘schoolboy’ defending
There are two sides to every coin and, in stark contrast to Allen’s jubilation, Newquay manager Craig Ainslie was infuriated by the ‘schoolboy’ defending that led to both breaches of Harry Ashton’s goal.
“In the first half we were the better team and moved the ball well,” he began. “[Blazey] had a spell at the end of the half during which Harry made a good save and we had to weather a storm. Nil-nil was a fair reflection at half-time though and things were going to our game plan.
“What we can’t legislate for, especially in a game like this against a good side, is a lack of quality and commitment at set-pieces. The first one, I am going to lose sleep over that. It would make me cry as a centre-back having to watch that back.
“A five-man wall just turning their backs and splitting? It’s not good enough. That is schoolboy stuff. Stand your ground and protect your goal. What is Harry supposed to do about that? It doesn’t go under the wall or over it. It isn’t a quality free-kick, he has just hit it hard and the boys have bottled it.
“It’s not good enough and they know that. I have just said that to them in the dressing room. The second goal was another set-piece. We gave away silly fouls and didn’t react. We had an opportunity to get something out of this game. We had good opportunities but didn’t take them.”
“I think that psychologically in that second half we switched off,” concluded Ainslie, whose side remain sixth in the standings. “We had them frustrated in the first and they were getting at the officials. I don’t know why we came out the way we did in the second, complaining to the referee and the linesman, and committing cheap fouls in bad areas.
“We played into their hands. They have experienced players and know how to manage a game well. That is something we are going to have to learn as a side moving forward if we want to go into these games against the better sides and get results.”
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⚽ Grassroots: White Tigers record massive victory
Title tussle: It is very much advantage Truro City reserves in the St Piran League West title race after the White Tigers defeated championship rivals Mousehole Development 1-0 at Trungle Parc on Saturday. Oliver Paterson’s goal was what separated the teams, with John Fabby’s side now four points clear of the Seagulls with four games remaining.
Held: There was also a significant result in the St Piran League East as title hopefuls St Dominick were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Polperro. Lee Hawkins, Kieran Prescott and Kieran Ryall’s goals were not enough to claim all three points, which means leaders Saltash Borough can now clinch the title by winning each of their three remaining fixtures.
Unbeaten: Foxhole Stars’ incredible unbeaten season is still going strong after the mid-Cornwall outfit triumphed 6-1 at St Stephen in their East Cornwall Premier League Cup semi-final tie at the weekend. The Foxes are yet to lose a game in any competition this season, and goals from Cam Bidgood (2), Aaron Beresford, Jake Couch, Tim Peers and Courtney Rowe secured their passage through to the final on Easter Sunday.
Finalists: Foxhole’s opponents in said final at Blaise Park will be Torpoint Athletic thirds after the Point prevailed 2-1 at St Columb Major in Saturday’s other semi-final. All three goals came inside the first 12 minutes, with Josh Payn and William Burns doing the damage for the visitors either side of Matt Laithwaite’s equaliser.
💚 Argyle stroll to victory against dismal Forest Green
Plymouth Argyle bounced back from last week’s 3-0 loss at promotion rivals Barnsley with a routine 2-0 victory over basement dwellers Forest Green Rovers at Home Park on Saturday.
Steven Schumacher’s side, who still sit second in League One, barely got out of second gear as goals from James Bolton and Bali Mumba got the job done against a Rovers side that already seem to be preparing for life back in League Two next season.
The win maintains Argyle’s outstanding home record, which now stands at 52 points from a possible 57, and keeps the Pilgrims’ promotion destiny firmly in their own hands…
⚽ Early lead: It’s a great start for the Greens as Jordan Houghton’s corner is nodded past Rovers gloveman Lewis Thomas by Bolton for his first goal for the club. 1-0 (8’)
❌ Woodwork: So close to a second! Danny Mayor, still seeking his maiden goal this season, sees his effort take a deflection onto the upright with Thomas rooted to the spot. 1-0 (30’)
⚽ Daylight: The points are virtually secured within two minutes of the restart as James Wilson provides a clipped cross for Mumba to head back across goal and into the corner. 2-0 (47’)
Argyle: Burton, Gillesphey, Houghton (Matete 70), Wilson, Butcher, Edwards (C Wright HT), Mayor (Hardie 86), Ennis (Waine 70), Mumba (Earley 89), Azaz. Subs (unused): Parkes, Scarr.
“At 2-0 we thought we had a little bit more breathing space. Our defenders, the goalkeepers and the whole team didn't make any errors, and kept another clean sheet, which is great.
“We asked for a professional performance, and I feel as though everyone to a man did that today. In the main, we handled the game really well.
“We've managed to get people on the pitch who needed minutes. It's a good afternoon and we go again on Tuesday, for another big game and one that we go to need to win again.”
📸 View Colin Bradbury’s full photo gallery from the game
Argyle, Ipswich and Barnsley all gain two points on leaders Sheffield Wednesday, who were held by Bolton on Friday night…
📈 A glance at the top of League One:
Sheffield Wednesday, 78pts
Plymouth Argyle, 77pts
Ipswich Town, 75pts
Barnsley, 69pts
Derby County, 64pts
Bolton Wanderers, 64pts
Elsewhere at Home Park:
👀 What’s on this week
🏆Cornwall Senior Cup semi-final: Tuesday, 7.30pm: Wendron United v Millbrook (at Sticker AFC).
⚽️League One: Tuesday, 7.45pm: Accrington Stanley v Plymouth Argyle.
⚽️Southern League Premier South: Saturday, 3pm: Truro City v Salisbury.
⚽️Western League Premier Division: Tuesday, 7.30pm: Saltash United v Barnstaple Town; Welton Rovers v Helston Athletic. Saturday, 3pm (unless stated): Cadbury Heath v Torpoint Athletic (2pm); Helston Athletic v Clevedon Town; Millbrook v Sherborne Town; Shepton Mallet v Falmouth Town; Wellington v Mousehole.
⚽️South West Peninsula League Premier West: Tuesday, 7.30pm: Launceston v St Austell; St Dennis v St Blazey. Wednesday, 7.45pm: Wadebridge Town v Newquay. Saturday, 3pm: Callington Town v Mullion; Dobwalls v Bude Town; Liskeard Athletic v v St Blazey; Newquay v St Austell; St Dennis v Launceston.
🏆Cornwall Women’s Cup semi-finals: Sunday, 2pm: Foxhole Stars v Liskeard Athletic; Mousehole v Helston Athletic.
⚽️FA Women’s Premier League Division One South West: Sunday, 2pm: Keynsham Town v St Austell.
⚽️South West Regional Women’s Football League Western Division: Thursday, 7.30pm: Saltash United v Sticker. Sunday, 2pm: Marine Academy Plymouth v Sticker.
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