🟡 Falmouth boss delighted with second-half efforts in Street victory
Plus, reaction from Truro City, Mousehole, Helston Athletic, Torpoint Athletic, Saltash United and Camelford, and our regular women's football round-up
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⬇️ In today’s newsletter ⬇️
🟡 Falmouth: Westgarth delighted with second-half efforts in Street victory
⚪ Truro: Wotton pleased with ‘well deserved’ draw at Worthing
🟢 Mousehole: Defeat had been coming, admits Seagulls chief Ash
🔵 Helston: Cusack relieved to return to winning ways with five-goal triumph
📸 IN PICTURES: Falmouth Town 6-1 Street
🟡 Torpoint: Bridgwater ‘a far better side’, admits Cardew after heavy loss
🔴 Saltash: We need to fix away form, admits Ashes boss Brown
🔵 Camelford: Hambly disappointed to leave St Austell empty-handed
📸 IN PICTURES: Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Swansea City
⚽ Women’s football round-up
Enjoy. 〓〓
🟡 Falmouth: Westgarth delighted with second-half efforts in Street victory
By Matt Friday at Bickland Park
Falmouth Town 6 (Hutchison 2, Barner 2, Sims, Gilbert)
Street 1 (Dickens)
Western League Premier Division
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Falmouth Town manager Andrew Westgarth was thrilled with his side’s sparkling second-half display as the Western League leaders ran out resounding 6-1 winners against Street.
Cam Hutchison fired Town in front at Bickland Park but the hosts were pegged back by Jakob Dickens’ fine finish, only for Luke Barner and Jared Sims to turn the tide back in Town’s favour eight minutes after the turnaround.
Hutchison’s penalty extended the lead before Barner’s delivery was turned in by a visiting defender, with Jayden Gilbert completing a stellar second half late on.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Westgarth told Cornwall Sports Media after the final whistle. “It’s been a great week for us and we’re on a really good run at the minute. Winning becomes a habit and last week [2-1 win at Buckland] really gave us a shot of confidence, not only the performance but to win it right at the death and that was followed up with the Senior Cup win [against Wendron in midweek], that never-say-die attitude [was superb].
“Today, we started the game really strong and scored a great goal and some of the football we played at times was great. But we almost sat back once we got the goal and looked a bit pedestrian, a bit lethargic. I was really disappointed to concede the goal and it was very avoidable.
“And then in the second half, fair play to the boys, credit where it’s due, they came right at them with two quick goals and they didn’t stop. Overall, it was a great day for us.”
Town took the lead after 11 minutes thanks to a bit of quick thinking from Sims and Hutchison when the ball drifted out for a corner. Sims quickly played it short to Hutchison, who stepped inside from the left and curled the ball into the top corner, with visiting stopper Oliver Pearson only able to stand and watch.
It was a half of few clear-cut chances, with Street's Eli Collins coming close with an effort from distance before Town right-back James Swan struck the crossbar at the other end from the edge of the box.
But it was the visitors who found the net shortly before the break with skipper Dickens' 20-yard effort flying past the outstretched arm of home custodian Morgan Coxhead.
Whatever was said at half-time clearly had an effect as Town struck twice inside the first eight minutes of the second half. First it was Barner who tucked in the rebound after Jayden Gilbert's venomous strike hit the post in the 49th minute, before a long ball down the left allowed Sims to race through and slot the ball underneath Pearson five minutes later.
It was very much one-way traffic and a fourth duly arrived midway through the half after Hutchison was brought down in the area. After a lengthy delay, the same man tucked the ball into the bottom corner, and the F-Troop were soon celebrating a fifth when Barner's low cross was turned in by an unfortunate Street defender.
Despite having the game well and truly won, Falmouth refused to drop the intensity and grabbed a deserved sixth in the 87th minute when Kayden Gordon-Dunn's cross was dispatched by Gilbert.
It still could have been more, with Hutchison's hopes of a hat-trick being dashed in stoppage time when Pearson clawed his effort off the line, but it was otherwise another excellent afternoon for the Western League leaders.
The victory made it two from two in October for Town following their midweek Senior Cup triumph at Wendron United, and it has been a good start to a very challenging month that will also see Westgarth side’s entertain Shepton Mallet this Saturday before making the long trip to Fareham Town in the FA Vase.
Town will then welcome local rivals Helston Athletic to Bickland Park in the Les Phillips Cup before rounding off the month with a journey to Devon to take on unbeaten Barnstaple Town in the league.
“It’s a huge month,” Westgarth said. “October is always about the FA Vase and Senior Cup, your season could be over in October if results go against you. We know the Wendron game was massive and we can put that to bed now until November.
“The FA Vase is a great day out and we’re really looking forward to the unknown and we’ve got the mouthwatering game of Barnstaple away [in the league] which will be tough. We lost up there last year but it’ll be a good game.”
⚪ Truro: Wotton pleased with ‘well deserved’ draw at Worthing
By Matt Friday
Boss Paul Wotton was pleased with his Truro City side’s patience as the White Tigers rescued a 2-2 draw at nine-man Worthing in the fifth minute of stoppage time in their National League South encounter.
Ryan Brett’s stoppage-time header salvaged a point for City as they ended a run of three successive defeats in dramatic fashion at Woodside Road.
Ed Palmer got City off to a great start in West Sussex with a cool finish in the third minute, but Joe Felix restored parity for the hosts — who later lost Luca Woodhouse to a second yellow card — a few minutes into the second half.
Ollie Pearce appeared to clinch the points for the home side from the penalty spot with 15 minutes to play, but soon found themselves down to nine when Felix was given his marching orders before Brett headed home in the fifth minute of added time to rescue a draw at the death.
“It was a crazy game, wasn’t it? First off, I’m glad we didn’t lose because we didn’t deserve to lose the game,” Wotton said.
“We had to be really patient [after the Worthing red cards]. We started off slinging balls into the box but then we got the message on that we needed overlaps and double-ups on the wide areas and we scored in the last minute and I think it’s well deserved. I think a draw was a fair result. Worthing are a really good outfit and they defended excellently with nine men.
“We’ve been on the end of a lot of last-minute goals this year so it’s nice for us to get one. The boys stuck together. It’s a long old day for us, but they stuck together, they kept believing, they showed real unity and togetherness and we got our just rewards.”
City have an unexpected fortnight off after their scheduled league game against Dover Athletic this weekend was postponed due to the Whites’ continued involvement in the FA Cup, and Wotton is keen to make the most of this break.
“We’ve got two weeks without a game now which is welcome because of our injury situation and hopefully a few boys will be back in that fortnight,” he said.
“We can sit back now and breathe in this fortnight. We can evaluate and have a bit of an extended recovery for the boys and just gather our thoughts and see exactly where we are in the new league.”
🟢 Mousehole: Defeat had been coming, admits Seagulls chief Ash
By Matt Friday and Pablo Woolls-Blanco
Mousehole manager Jake Ash admitted that a bad result had been coming for his side after the Seagulls were dumped out of the FA Trophy by Larkhall Athletic.
Mousehole’s debut FA Trophy campaign came to an end in the third qualifying round after the Seagulls suffered a two-goal reverse at their Southern League Division One South colleagues, becoming only their second defeat of the 2023-24 campaign.
Matt Bowman nodded in the opener from a corner after 20 minutes, with Harvey Pritchard securing progression for the Larks midway through the second half.
A superb first couple of months of the season had seen the west Cornwall outfit lose just one of their 12 games prior to the weekend — their only blemish being a 5-0 defeat to Salisbury in the FA Cup — but Ash acknowledged that another defeat had been coming after a couple of fortunate results.
“The reality is that result has been coming for a few weeks now,” Ash said. “We’ve managed to scramble and turn things on in the second half, but we haven’t got near to the levels that we should be at, so we needed that.
“The group have sat down and had a good reflection there. I just feel like in the last three or four games that trend has been set and that result was going to happen sooner rather than later.
“We’ve papered over the cracks in the last few weeks. We’ve been fortunate and stayed in games — which is a great attribute to have, but we’ve said to the boys that doesn’t last forever.
“The fact that they are disappointed and wanting to sit down and chat for 20 minutes amongst the group is a really good sign about them. They’re a brilliant bunch and they’ll be absolutely fine, but they have to accept that in the last few weeks we just haven’t been there.”
🔵 Helston: Cusack relieved to return to winning ways with five-goal triumph
By Matt Friday
Boss Matt Cusack underlined the importance of bouncing back with a win as his Helston Athletic side responded to last week’s defeat to Barnstaple Town with a 5-1 hammering of Oldland Abbotonians.
Red-hot striker Rikki Shepherd scored a hat-trick for the Blues to take his tally to 14 in 12 games this term, and the prolific marksman scored twice in the first nine minutes at Aitchison Playing Field after being teed up by strike partner Curtis Damerell on both occasions.
But newly-promoted Oldland were quickly back in it after 11 minutes with Mitch Dann halving the deficit in a frantic start in South Gloucestershire, which was then brought to a halt for several minutes after an assistant referee pulled up injured.
Helston had to wait until the final 20 minutes to make sure of the points, with substitute Sam Carter giving the Blues breathing room before fellow sub Jordan Copp added a fourth, with Shepherd completing his hat-trick late on to round off the game.
“It was a comfortable win on the road and I feel that they are a club that are in the ascendancy themselves,” Cusack said. “They’ve got a really great infrastructure there and I do expect them to rise in the not-too-distant future, but for us it was just important to get the win after the previous week.
“I said to Dan [Harrison, assistant] that we needed that third goal just to take the tie away because at 2-1 teams will always get a chance and that came back to bite us on the opening day against Wellington. We were 2-0 up and cruising and they got it back to 2-1 and we missed a whole host of chances and they got another and suddenly things have turned very different.
“It was important to get the third goal and I think that just settled any nerves that we may have had and it made sure that we had a good bus on the way home which is what it’s all about.”
The match took a bizarre turn midway through the first half when one of the assistant referees pulled up with an injury, and with no other qualified official available it was left to Blues director of football Steve Massey to run the line for the remainder of the game.
“There were no contentious decisions and he just did throw-ins and corners and left the rest to the referee, so there was nothing contentious that he had to deal with that could have impacted the game so that was a good thing,” Cusack said.
📸 IN PICTURES: Falmouth Town 6-1 Street
By Matt Friday
Check out our selection of photos from Falmouth Town’s resounding six-goal victory over Street at Bickland Park on Saturday.
🟡 Torpoint: Bridgwater ‘a far better side’, admits Cardew after heavy loss
By Matt Friday
Torpoint Athletic manager Dean Cardew admitted his side were beaten by ‘a far better side’ after they suffered a 5-0 hammering at Bridgwater United.
The Point went into their game at Fairfax Park in good form and hadn’t lost in their previous five matches, but the east Cornwall outfit were dealt their heaviest defeat of the season to a Bridgwater side that have now won their last six games.
Harry Horton’s 43rd-minute goal separated the sides at the interval, but the Robins moved through the gears in the second half with Jack Thorne (2), Dave Thorne and Jay Murray finding the net to complete a disappointing afternoon for the visitors, who will host unbeaten Barnstaple Town this weekend.
“We were just well beaten by a far better side. I think that they will go very close to winning the league this year,” Cardew said.
“We're realistic in where we're at as a team at the moment. It's only our second season in the Western League so if we can finish mid-table / top half it would be an improvement on last season.
“There are probably four or five teams that have ambitions of promotion this season and Barnstaple are one of them, so we're aware of how much of a difficult game it will be again this weekend.”
🔴 Saltash: We need to fix away form, admits Ashes boss Brown
By Matt Friday
Saltash United chief Mackenzie Brown admitted that his side need to find a way to improve their away fortunes after the Ashes were beaten 3-1 at Shepton Mallet.
The southeast Cornwall side have taken just one point from a possible 18 away from their Waterways Stadium home this season — with that coming in a 1-1 draw at Brixham — with Saturday’s defeat their fifth in six away trips in the Western League so far this term.
Leo Eglin gave the home side the lead in Somerset before Josh Jenkins doubled the advantage before the break.
Tylor Love-Holmes halved the deficit on the hour with a fine looping header but Will Banks clinched the points for Mallet in the final few minutes to end the Ashes’ three-game unbeaten run.
“I’m obviously really disappointed to lose the game,” Brown said. “It was very similar to the games that we played at Ilfracombe and at Oldland, away games where I feel like we didn’t just drop a point but dropped three. I do look back on the game and think it was a game that we should have won.
“In the early stages I thought we would do the business. We missed a host of really good chances and we seemed to be controlling things, but away from home we’re just too easy to beat. We’re too easy to play against and we get a little bit carried away and we’re over-expansive, and when we don’t have the desired quality we lose the ball and we get punished and that’s what happened [on Saturday].
“Our away form is a problem and I said that to the lads afterwards. We’ve conceded so many goals away from home — all sorts of goals, lots of set pieces and more worryngly we’re conceding goals in the first halves of these away games. I think in every single away game we’ve played we’ve conceded in the first half, sometimes two, sometimes three, and we have to be harder to beat.
“If we’re not taking the chances then we have to make sure we’re keeping a clean sheet at the other end and it’s not happening and it’s something we need to address. I take responsiblity for that as well because I’m the one that’s picking the team, I’m the one that’s picking the players, it’s my tactics and if they keep repeating what they’re doing and I’m not changing it then I’m the biggest fool there.”
🔵 Camelford: Hambly disappointed to leave St Austell empty-handed
By Tom Howe
Camelford manager Reg Hambly admits he was 'disappointed to come away with nothing' from Saturday's 2-0 defeat at SWPL Premier West table toppers St Austell.
It was an auspicious start to the season for a Camels side that lost six of their first seven outings but, no doubt about it, their improvements of late make them a team to watch.
They showed the confidence of a side unbeaten in three games too, including that memorable 4-3 triumph at Callington Town in midweek Cornwall Senior Cup action.
They stood toe-to-toe with a St Austell side whose class ultimately won the day, with first-half strikes from Matt Searle and Kieron Bishop undoing the valiant visitors.
“St Austell are top of the league for a reason but I thought that our boys played very well,” Hambly told Cornwall Sports Media at the final whistle. “We had a lot of ball in the midfield and tried to play through. They scored a couple of goals that I was a bit disappointed with. They were literally on the goalline, so they reacted a little bit better than we did. Take that away, I thought the boys have done well again.
“It was a pretty decent performance on the back of several that we have had. We are not going to win every game but we are competing in every one and I am happy with that. We have a young group of lads and a lot coming through, too. I was pleased with the performance but disappointed to come away with nothing. I don't think any of the St Austell lads will say they had a stroll.
“It was hot and they had to work hard, as did we. You can't give them an inch because they will take it. They created four or five chances -our boys did pretty well to limit them to that amount. We tried to play the ball out of defence, through the middle and up top and, as I say, I was pleased but disappointed not to get any reward.
“Fair play to them. They are top of the league, are a good side and have done what they needed to today. At the start of the season we took four points from half a dozen games and had conceded quite a lot of goals. Throughout September we have definitely improved on that, which is all you can ask for. The boys are improving and hopefully we can take that on.”
The Camels, also beaten 2-0 by St Austell in August's reverse fixture, reacted well to going a goal down and would have been level but for a superb stop from Lillywhites custodian Harry Ashton to keep out Sam Wade’s powerful header.
It was a dangerous part of the game for Chris Knight's men, who doubled and defended their advantage with Ashton called upon to keep out Eli Evans and Sam Watts.
“I was right behind the diving save in the first half and had thought it was a goal all over," continued Hambly. “Our centre-back, Sam Wade, is very good in the air and it looked like a goal all the way but Harry made a tremendous stop.
“He is a good goalkeeper and made a couple of good stops in the second half as well. St Austell didn't have it all their own way and I think they would admit that.”
In a quirk of the fixture list, Camelford welcome second place Liskeard Athletic to Trefrew Park on Tuesday evening, with a win for the unbeaten visitors being enough to topple St Austell on goal difference.
“We have got an equally — if not tougher game — on Tuesday against Liskeard,” concluded the Camels’ boss. “Those two teams, with Wendron [United], are probably the three teams to catch this year.
“That will be another good test for us. We will enjoy it. It's at our place and we are looking forward to it.”
📸 IN PICTURES: Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Swansea City
By Colin Bradbury
Check out our set of snaps from Plymouth Argyle’s 3-1 defeat at home to Swansea City at Home Park on Saturday.
⚽ Women’s football round-up
By Matt Friday
St Austell suffered their third defeat of the South West Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division campaign with the Lillywhites going down 6-1 at Bristol Rovers.
Laura Curnock scored twice for Rovers, with Alice Bowden, Neve Platt, Abigail Todd and Helena Costa also finding the net for the Gas Girls, while Freya Jackson netted a consolation for Town.
Liskeard Athletic were also on the wrong end of their game as the Blues lost 3-1 at home to Sherborne Town, with Becky Narramore, Sacha Paynter and Kelly Snook scoring for the visitors.
It was a better afternoon for Saltash United who ran out 6-0 winners at home to Middlezoy in SWRWFL Western Division. Yasmin Franklin scored a brace and Jade Bryan, Nicola Symons, Maisie Williams and Hayley Ranachan also netted as the Ashes moved up to third spot.
But it wasn’t to be for Sticker who went down 5-0 at leaders Ilminster Town. The aptly-named Jodi Cornwall bagged a brace for the hosts, with Ellie Orritt, Maisie Parker and Harrie Kelly completing the rout.
Sally Lago Salter scored twice and Ellie Cunningham also found the net as RNAS Culdrose moved to the top of Cornwall Women’s Football League Division 1 with a 3-1 victory at Wadebridge Town, while Jordana Pardoe plundered a hat-trick for St Agnes as they won 4-0 at home to previously unbeaten Bodmin.
Biscovey are the Division 2 leaders after Summer Hanson, Mandy Payne and Anna Wherry found the net in a 3-0 win at home to St Agnes reserves, while Tegan Kitchen’s hat-trick helped Troon earn their first point in a remarkable 5-5 draw at Charlestown.
There were four ties as the CWFL Cup first round was played, with Abbie Carveth’s late goal securing a 3-2 win for Redruth United at home to Penryn, while Katrina Dale scored twice in FXSU’s 4-1 win over Lanner.
Elsewhere, Sophie Perrin scored a four-timer and Abby Shapland claimed a hat-trick as Saltash Borough defeated Callington Town 7-1, while Mousehole recorded a 25-0 victory over a Dropship side that fielded just eight players.
We’re back on Thursday. See you then!
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