⚽ Cornwall Football: April 17 round-up
St Piran League title ‘just desserts’ for Truro City reserves; Tyler Harvey bags brace as first team clinch play-off place; Mousehole two points away from Western League title
Good afternoon, readers!
We're delighted to unveil our plan to launch paid subscriptions to Cornwall Football this summer – our bid to take local sports journalism to the next level.
We’re increasing our local football coverage next season and doubling the number of posts per week from two to four, and you’ll be able to access it all through our brand-new paid subscription service.
The service begins in July, ahead of the 2023/24 season, but we’re inviting you to pledge a subscription now to help us gauge initial interest. Rest assured, you won’t be billed until we officially start the service in July.
For more information, read the below: ⬇️
⬇️ In today’s newsletter ⬇️
🥳 St Piran League title ‘just desserts’ for City side
🏴 Kernow chief hails chance to play at St George’s Park
🐯 Harvey bags brace as City clinch play-off spot
🟢 Western: Seagulls two points away from title
🎯 SWPL: Rowe and Jennings on target as golden boot race hots up
💚 Argyle earn bragging rights in Devon derby
👀 What’s on this weekend
Enjoy. 〓〓
🥳 St Piran League title ‘just desserts’ for City side
By Matt Friday at Tregye Fields
Truro City reserves assistant manager Jim Hilton hailed the White Tigers’ St Piran League West title triumph as ‘just desserts’ for their efforts this season.
Requiring just a single point to make sure of the title with a game to spare, City got the job done in style on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Redruth United in front of their own fans at Tregye Fields.
Fin Harrison grabbed a hat-trick while George Newton found the net twice as City eventually overpowered their 11th-placed opponents, who had levelled just before the break through Liam Paddock.
The victory should also be enough for City’s second string to secure promotion to Step 6 for the first time, as Cornwall Sports Media understands Tregye has passed its ground grading inspection. Although it won’t be ratified by the FA until May, the White Tigers should be looking forward to South West Peninsula League football next season.
“We were probably a little bit complacent [in the first half] but we played well in the second half and scored goals at important times so we got the job done, and deservedly so for all the effort, commitment, attitude — everything that they’ve put in this season, this is what they deserve,” Hilton told Cornwall Sports Media after the game.
“Most of them are young players who have got bright futures and it’s been a pleasure helping coach and manage them. They listen, they react in the right way, and one of the things I’ve been really impressed with is their discipline, they’ve not got involved in stuff, and today, they got their just desserts for everything that they’ve worked for at training and in games throughout the season.
“It’s a phenomenal achievement for a team mainly of youngsters and some good older players as well. I’m chuffed for the boys.”
It looked like it might be a comfortable afternoon on Saturday when Newton received Lawson Turpin’s sublime lofted pass and stroked it past Redruth goalkeeper Brad Walters in the 13th minute, but the visitors threw a spanner into the works in first-half stoppage-time when Liam Paddock met a ball over the defence and shot past Morgan Coxhead.
But it took less than two minutes of the second half for City to restore their lead, with Harrison nodding in from Jacob Grange’s corner before top scorer Newton doubled the advantage from the spot with his 20th goal of the season after he was brought down by Ben Widdershoven.
All of a sudden there was a feeling of inevitability about the result as Harrison turned his man in the box and found the net before Teddy Horton’s cross fell for Harrison to complete his hat-trick and take his tally for the season to 18 goals.
Dan Bowman pulled one back late on when he scored the rebound after Coxhead saved his penalty kick, but it did nothing to dampen the party atmosphere once referee Samuel Doble blew his whistle for the final time.
“Redruth didn’t let it be easy,” City manager John Fabby said. “They didn’t stop and [scored a] goal when we switched off and they actually had a few more chances, to be fair, but it was good from our lads to just focus on what we do and I’m super proud of them.”
“In the first half they snatched at their chances a little bit, but in the second half they showed great finishing and they’ve been really strong towards the end of the season as well when we’ve needed it,” Hilton added.
“We’ve scored goals in important games when we’ve scored in the 87th minute and won, so the boys have had a ‘never say die’ attitude which has been fantastic all season.”
While it is not completely set in stone at this point, Saturday’s win secured not only the league title but promotion to the South West Peninsula League, with sources close to Cornwall Sports Media confirming that the club had passed their ground grading inspection, although this will not be ratified by the FA until May.
City may not have had to wait this long had the planned merger between the SWPL and the Western League at the end of the season gone through, with the knock-on effect meaning extra vacancies at Step 6 next term. However, the merger fell through in February, meaning the promotion rules reverted to only the highest-ranked applicant per division.
With just one spot in next season’s SWPL now up for grabs, City needed to finish above all other promotion applicants — namely second-placed St Day and third-placed Mousehole Development — to secure promotion, and that mission has now been accomplished.
“I’m so proud of the boys today,” Fabby said. “All through the season they’ve worked really hard and when we had the change with the merger not going ahead [it made our job a lot harder].
“[Initially] we were thinking we’d try and coast through to being in the top five and suddenly we had to go and win it and the boys just stepped it up, every game became a cup final and they just stepped it up, so I’m super proud.”
“When we talked about today we said it’s a cup final, but it’s more than that because, yes, you win the league, but you also get promotion and there’s also a play-off with the east division champion, so today was a massive game,” Hilton said.
“You don’t want to go into the last game of the season, away at Helston, not knowing what your chances are, so it was important that we won it today, and [to do it] at home as well, it meant a lot to the boys.”
It could well be a double celebration for City this season if the first team, currently third in the Southern League Premier South, go on to clinch promotion back to the National League South, with any potential success for the first team placing added importance on the reserve team to also climb the ladder.
With the reserve team both a breeding ground for several talented youngsters and also a place for first-team players to regain fitness, a higher level of reserve-team football will have several positive effects, so promotion would certainly be celebrated within all corners of the club.
“[Promotion is] important because of our close relationship with the first team and the boys need to be playing higher-level football and now they’ve achieved it, and hopefully we’ll keep most of the boys here and see how it goes next year,” Hilton said.
“I think when they started the team two seasons ago [promotion to Step 6] was the objective. We got to two cup finals and we fell a bit short last year, but I think everyone’s really pleased with how the season’s gone [this year] and we’ve got our just desserts.”
🏴 Kernow chief hails chance to play at St George’s Park
Chairman Jason Heaton described the opportunity to play at England’s National Football Centre as ‘showing just how far Kernow Football Alliance have come’.
Heaton took charge of an inclusive Kernow squad that travelled to St George’s Park on Saturday (April 15) following an invite to provide opposition during an open trial for the England Transplant team.
The Cornishmen, alongside fellow invitees Everton, put the trialists through their paces on the 3G pitch inside the Sir Alf Ramsey Arena, situated within the £105 million Staffordshire complex.
Seventeen Kernow players, split into two teams, took part in round robin matches between the three organisations present, in what was a great advert for disability and transplant football.
“For me, the one overriding thing is the exemplary attitude of the players before we had even got out onto the pitch,” Heaton told Cornwall Sports Media’s Tom Howe, who had ventured north with the Cornish outfit.
“This transpired into a real international showcase of a team that has worked hard on its craft. This is now a team that really knows how to set the standard and I look forward to the day that Cornwall has facilities in line with the excellent St George’s Park.”
Steve Woodrow’s England team provides recipients of organ, stem-cell or bone marrow transplants with the opportunity to represent their country on a football pitch.
Trials took place for both England’s senior and development sides, meaning Kernow faced different levels of opposition and challenges throughout the afternoon in a real test of their calibre.
“We would like to extend our gratitude for the invitation,” continued Heaton. “The whole setup was really nice and we look forward to an opportunity to return the favour and welcome Steve and his teams to Cornwall later this summer.”
Kernow represents the Cornish people on the international stage after being inducted as members of the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) almost five years ago.
They are amongst more than 50 other members across the globe, each with their own distinctive story — from nations, de-facto nations and regions to minority peoples and sports isolated territories.
CONIFA held their inaugural tournament for disabled footballers in the principality of Monaco in January of 2019. Their aim is to support members in starting up inclusive teams, as well as encouraging new global friendships through football.
Kernow’s own disability team forms part of the Alliance’s wider project, which also features both male and female representative football.
🐯 Harvey bags brace as City clinch play-off spot
Truro City clinched a Southern League Premier South play-off place with three games to spare as two late Tyler Harvey goals secured a 2-0 win over Metropolitan Police at Boltiho Park on Saturday.
It means City, whose title hopes are now effectively over, can finish no lower than fifth place in the division, with four points from their final three games this week required to secure a home play-off semi-final tie…
⚽ Finally: We have the breakthrough with 15 minutes to play! Harvey gets to the ball first and bundles the ball over the line to finally break the deadlock. 1-0 (75’)
⚽ Wrapped up: City clinch the points in stoppage time when Harvey unselfishly finds Rocky Neal in the box, with his strike parried back to Harvey who makes no mistake with the rebound. 2-0 (90’)
📋 City: Hamon, Craske, Riley-Lowe, Adelsbury, Palmer (Egan 61), Haste (Brett 55), En-Neyah, Dean, Sullivan, Neal, Greenslade (Harvey 55). Subs (unused): Knowles, White.
“Half-time was a little bit of a frustrated changing room, but I thought the boys showed great perseverance and we deserved to win the game on chances and possession. The clean sheet was really welcome because we haven’t had many of late. Overall, I think we defended well and we were comfortable and good value for our win.
[On the prospect of playing their last three league games in the next five days] “No-one at the league is going to listen to this and no-one at the league really cares, but the schedule that ourselves, Hendon, Bracknell, Plymouth Parkway and Tiverton find themselves in is shambolic.
“[Taking into account] health and safety of the players, it beggars belief the schedule that’s being dished out. Why the season finishes on April 22 I’ll never know.”
Weston-super-Mare are now nine points clear of the White Tigers, who have a maximum of nine points left to play for. It means City must win all three of their remaining games and hope the Seagulls lose both of theirs to claim the title, while also hoping that Bracknell Town — who City face tonight — do not win their other two matches…
📈 The Southern League summit:
Weston-super-Mare, 89pts
—————————————
Bracknell Town, 84pts
Truro City, 80pts
Chesham United, 79pts
Poole Town, 77pts
—————————————
Swindon Supermarine, 71pts
Hayes & Yeading United, 64pts
Metropolitan Police, 61pts
Merthyr Town, 50pts
Beaconsfield Town, 57pts
🟢 Western: Seagulls two points away from title
Buckland Athletic 1-0 Millbrook
Sam Stayt’s excellent strike from distance ten minutes from time secured the points for Buckland, who rise to third in the division.
Cadbury Heath 0-2 Helston Athletic
Isaac Burdon and Josh Storey scored as Cornwall Senior Cup winners Helston returned to league action with a two-goal win at bottom side Cadbury Heath.
Clevedon Town 2-1 Saltash United
Saltash’s title hopes are hanging by a thread after the Ashes suffered a surprise defeat in Somerset. Archie Ferris scored either side of George Spencer’s late equaliser to condemn Danny Lewis’ side to defeat.
That defeat allowed Mousehole to move within two points of the title if they could beat second-from-bottom Keynsham, with goals from Tallan Mitchell, Hayden Turner and Paulo Sousa sending the Seagulls within touching distance of the title and promotion to the Southern League. Read the match report here
Sherborne Town 2-1 Falmouth Town
Louis Jagger Cane’s first goal for Falmouth could not prevent the visitors from falling to a defeat at Sherborne, who scored through Aaron White and Ben Hughes.
Wellington 1-5 Torpoint Athletic
Ryan Richards and Gary Hird both scored two goals apiece as Torpoint cruised to victory at Wellington, who scored their goal through Zeph Collins. Callum Thompson completed the scoring for the visitors, who remain 12th.
📈 The top of the Western League:
Mousehole, 82pts
—————————————
Saltash United, 78pts
Buckland Athletic, 68pts
Bridgwater United, 65pts
Barnstaple Town, 63pts
Helston Athletic, 59pts
Shepton Mallet, 55pts
Falmouth Town, 49pts
Clevedon Town, 46pts
Ashton & Backwell United, 42pts
🎯 SWPL: Rowe and Jennings on target as golden boot race hots up
Goals from Jake Anderson and C-Jay Pritchard secured victory for the Reds in the all-east Cornwall affair at Priory Park.
Callington Town 1-5 Wendron United
Wendron kept their slim title hopes alive with a five-goal thrashing of their hosts at Marshfield Parc. Charlie Young and Ryan Reeve scored two goals apiece with Lucas Potts also notching for the Dron, while Andre Rodyukov had given the home side an early lead.
Jacob Rowe scored twice to move onto 34 for the campaign and one behind leading scorer Dan Jennings as Wadebridge came from behind to triumph at Clifden Parc, with the fourth-placed Bridgers’ scoring completed by an own goal.
St Dennis 3-5 Liskeard Athletic
Dan Jennings scored his 35th of the season from the penalty spot as Liskeard came from 3-1 down to triumph 5-3 at bottom side St Dennis. Two own goals and Aiden James’ effort had given the Saints a 3-1 lead after Ruben Kane’s opener, but the Blues hit back through James Rowe, Jarrad Woods, Jennings and an own goal to snatch victory.
Alex Cole and Rhys Hooper did the damage at Burngullow Park as sixth-placed Newquay recorded their 15th win of the campaign.
St Blazey just need to avoid defeat at home to Sticker on Wednesday evening to secure the title and promotion to the Western League…
📈 The top of the SWPL:
St Blazey, 73pts
—————————————
Wendron United, 70pts
Wadebridge Town, 67pts
Liskeard Athletic, 67pts
Bude Town, 52pts
Newquay, 50pts
Dobwalls, 39pts
St Austell, 38pts
Camelford, 35pts
Mullion, 27pts
💚 Argyle earn bragging rights in Devon derby
You can’t keep a good team down for long. Plymouth Argyle have an excellent record of bouncing back from defeats this season and they were at it again on Saturday when they recorded a potentially seismic 1-0 win at rivals Exeter City.
Coming five days after a rare home reverse at the hands of Lincoln City, Argyle knew a response at this sticky stage of the season was important. Step forward, Matt Butcher, whose deflected strike separated the sides to preserve Argyle’s position at the top of the League One table…
⚽ Huge goal: Butcher plays a one-two with Niall Ennis from a corner and takes aim on the angle, with the strike taking a big deflection off former Argyle man Will Aimson and flying past Grecians gloveman Jamal Blackman. 0-1 (70’)
Argyle: Burton, Houghton, Wilson, Scarr, Butcher, Edwards, Ennis (C Wright 78), Cosgrove (Hardie 66), Azaz (Randell 86), Galloway, Earley (Gillesphey 66). Subs (unused): Parkes, Mayor, Matete.
"I felt that we were professional. We put in a team performance; a team, for me, who looked like they could go on to win the league. You're going to have to come to places like this and win, if you want to get promoted or you want to win the league.
"After the Lincoln game, we felt down, but it was still in our own hands. It still is, and now we've put the pressure on Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday today, and let's see what happens.
"Credit to the players, once again, for coming back and getting all three points. It wasn't easy; credit to Exeter, we've got some good players. The two forward players in particular were so sharp.
"But we've done the business, and our fans can go home celebrating — and tonight, Devon is green."
Argyle remain at the summit with in-form Ipswich Town still one point behind after thrashing ten-man Charlton Athletic 6-0. The big result from the Pilgrims’ perspective is another defeat for Sheffield Wednesday, who went down 3-1 at Burton Albion…
📈 The top of League One:
Plymouth Argyle, 86pts
Ipswich Town, 85pts
—————————————Sheffield Wednesday, 84pts
Barnsley, 81pts
Bolton Wanderers, 71pts
Peterborough United, 70pts
Elsewhere at Home Park:
📰 Sponsor this newsletter
Are you a business interested in supporting the Cornwall Football newsletter through sponsorship or advertising?
Drop us a message on: info@cornwallsportsmedia.co.uk and let’s talk.
👀 What’s on this week
⚽️League One: Tuesday, 7.45pm: Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle. Saturday, 3pm: Plymouth Argyle v Cambridge United.
⚽️Southern League Premier South: Monday, 7.45pm: Truro City v Bracknell Town. Wednesday, 7.45pm: Truro City v Salisbury. Saturday, 3pm: North Leigh v Truro City.
⚽️Western League Premier Division: Tuesday, 7.45pm: Bridgwater United v Mousehole. Thursday, 7.30pm: Ashton & Backwell United v Saltash United. Saturday, 3pm: Cadbury Heath v Millbrook; Falmouth Town v Sherborne Town; Keynsham Town v Helston Athletic; Mousehole v Wellington; Saltash United v Shepton Mallet; Torpoint Athletic v Ilfracombe Town.
⚽️South West Peninsula League Premier West: Monday, 7.30pm: Callington Town v Dobwalls. Wednesday, 7,30pm: Bude Town v Callington Town; St Blazey v Sticker; St Dennis v Launceston. Saturday, 3pm: Bodmin Town v Newquay; Callington Town v Penzance; Dobwalls v Bude Town; Launceston v Sticker; Liskeard Athletic v Camelford; St Blazey v Wendron United; St Dennis v Mullion.
🏆Cornwall Intermediate Cup semi-final: Tuesday, 7.30pm: St Dominick v Foxhole Stars (at Dobwalls).
🏆St Piran League Cup semi-final: Saturday, 3pm: Illogan RBL v St Dominick (at St Austell).
🏆Cornwall Women’s Cup final: Friday, 7.30pm: Helston Athletic v Liskeard Athletic (at St Austell).
⚽️FA Women’s National League Division One South West: Sunday, 2pm: St Austell v Moneyfields.
⚽️South West Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division: Sunday, 2pm: Warminster Town v Liskeard Athletic.
⚽️South West Regional Women’s Football League Western Division: Sunday, 2pm: Saltash United v Sticker.
See you on Thursday!
Follow us on Twitter: @sportscornwall
Follow us on Facebook: @cornwallsportsmedia
Follow us on Instagram: @cornwallsportsmedia
Visit our website: cornwallsportsmedia.co.uk