⚽️ Cornwall Football: December 12, 2022
Football schedule decimated by winter weather; Falmouth prevail in nine-goal thriller; Truro City boss on White Tigers' season so far
Good afternoon! 👋
It’s been a rather quieter weekend of football than we expected thanks to the cold snap across the south west. ❄️
That said, there were still plenty of talking points, with Falmouth Town defeating Barnstaple Town in a nine-goal epic at Bickland Park, while Redruth United and St Dominick booked their places in the Cornwall Intermediate Cup semi-finals.
We’ve also got reaction from St Austell Ladies’ defeat to AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, an interview with Truro City chief Paul Wotton and plenty more.
Enjoy. 〓〓
Word count: 2,673 words (10 minutes)
🤯 Town triumph in nine-goal epic
There may not have been many matches in Cornwall over the weekend, but everyone who made their way to Bickland Park on Saturday certainly got their money’s worth.
Falmouth Town threw away a three-goal lead as Barnstaple Town fought back to 4-4 in their Western League encounter, only for Tom Annear’s stoppage-time spot-kick to rescue an astonishing victory for the home side.
⚽ Strong start: Falmouth take the lead in the 13th minute when Tim Nixon heads home from Olly Walker’s cross. 1-0 (13’)
⚽ Back on terms: Barnstaple are on the board shortly before the break when Callum Laird fires in from close range. 1-1 (43’)
⚽ Back in front: Nixon turns provider with his lofted pass finding Luke Brabyn, who slots past Barum gloveman Liam Kingston. 2-1 (57’)
⚽ Quickfire double: Town double their advantage in no time at all with Nixon controlling a pass on the edge of the box before stroking the ball into the far corner. 3-1 (59’)
⚽ Out of sight?: The hosts appear to be running away with it as Brabyn latches onto Walker’s pass before rounding Kingston and tucking the ball into the empty net. 4-1 (65’)
⚽ Comeback begins: Falmouth goalkeeper Ryan Barnes does brilliantly to save Laird’s header, but the Barum man nods in the rebound to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. 4-2 (72’)
⚽ Game on: Hold on a minute, there’s only one goal in this now as Barnes bats away another shot but only for Matt Andrew to hammer it into the net from 15 yards. 4-3 (79’)
⚽ Comeback complete: Would you believe it? Somehow we’re all square and it’s come from yet another save from Barnes, with Laird able to smash in the rebound yet again and claim his hat-trick. 4-4 (85’)
⚽ Last-gasp winner: The hosts are on the ropes, but they’ve only gone and won it. Cam Hutchison is brought down in the box and Tom Annear dispatches the spot-kick. Cue incredible scenes at Bickland Park. 5-4 (90+2’)
📋 Town: Barnes, Kellow, Moxham, Webber, Annear, Ward, Walker, Calleja-Stayne, Brabyn (Edney), Barner (Swan), Nixon (Hutchison). Subs (unused): Gordon-Dunn, Clark.
“From the outside looking in people might just think, ‘It’s a league game, it’s December, it means nothing’, but for us as a team and as a group, it’s huge.”
Falmouth manager Andrew Westgarth
Elsewhere:
Helston Athletic 1-1 Buckland Athletic
Helston came from behind to take a point from what was the only other match to take place in the Western League on Saturday. Rikki Shepherd’s 24th-minute goal for the Blues cancelled out Josh Webber’s earlier effort for the Devon outfit.
📈 No change at the top:
Saltash United, 50pts
Bridgwater United, 48pts
Shepton Mallet, 38pts
Mousehole, 36pts
Buckland Athletic, 32pts
👏 Wotton lauds ‘unbelievable effort’ so far
Boss Paul Wotton has hailed the ‘unbelievable effort’ this term from his Truro City side who currently occupy second place in the Southern League Premier South standings.
The White Tigers were left kicking their heels at the weekend after the arctic blast which has hit the South West over the past week forced their latest home match against Hanwell Town to bite the dust.
A frozen Bolitho Park pitch meant City’s promotion quest, which is still to pass the midway point, still reads well with 46 points from 19 games. Weston-super-Mare currently occupy top spot and have collected 47 points from the same amount of matches played.
The only blot on Truro’s 2022/23 copybook in the league came at Chesham United on November 26 when Wotton’s side, who finished the game with nine men, were defeated 3-1.
“I’m delighted with where we are because we have lost one league game in 19 games, won 14 and drawn four,” Wotton told Cornwall Sports Media in an exclusive interview. “That is an unbelievable effort from the boys but we have still got 23 games left.
“Perhaps when we have six games left, people can start talking about promotion but at the moment there is just too much happening. We have got a lot of tough games ahead and now we are starting to pick up a few injuries because pitches are getting heavier and fatigue is kicking in.”
➡️ Read Gareth Davies’ full interview with Paul Wotton on our website
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🐯 City miss chance to return to summit
The inclement weather meant there was no action for Truro City or any of their fellow Southern League Premier South big-hitters on Saturday.
The White Tigers were hoping to build on their hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to Beaconsfield Town three days earlier, which saw in-form City striker Rocky Neal score his sixth goal in as many games…
❌ Early opportunity: The hosts almost take the lead in only the second minute when Neal bursts through on goal, but he shoots just wide of Ravan Constable’s net. 0-0 (2’)
⚽ First blood: The City forward soon makes up for his miss by meeting Connor Riley-Lowe’s pass and lifting the ball over Constable’s head. 1-0 (16’)
❌ Fired wide: Neal passes up the chance to double the White Tigers’ advantage with a powerful effort that clears the crossbar. 1-0 (20’)
🧤 Top save: Ed Palmer’s misplaced pass lets visiting striker Nathan Minhas in but City custodian James Hamon saves well. 1-0 (28’)
⚽ Long-range screamer: The away side equalise in some style as Stags skipper Sam Togwell finds the top corner from outside the box. 1-1 (30’)
⚽ Late chance: Truro have the chance to win it late on as Kyle Egan crosses to substitute Colin Oppong, but he puts the ball narrowly wide. 1-1 (83’)
📋 City: Hamon, Egan, Riley-Lowe, White, Palmer, Dean, Porter, Knowles (Oppong), Harvey, Neal, Brett (Okoh). Subs (unused): Okoro, Haste, Yetton.
The point means Truro are now one point behind leaders Weston-super-Mare with both sides now having played 19 games. There are plenty of twists and turns in this title race yet…
📈 The Southern League summit:
Weston-super-Mare, 47pts
Truro City, 46pts
Chesham United, 44pts
Poole Town, 34pts
Tiverton Town, 31pts
⚽ The pick of this week’s grassroots action
Final four: St Piran League East side St Dominick booked their place in the semi-finals of the Cornwall Intermediate Cup after they triumphed 3-1 at last year’s semi-finalists Hayle. Kieran Ryall (2) and Ben Jeffery netted as the Doms joined last week’s winners Illogan RBL in the hat, with Zack Williams replying for SPL West club Hayle.
Penalty drama: Illogan and St Dominick will be joined by Redruth United in the final four after they edged past Combination League outfit Pendeen Rovers on penalties following a 2-2 draw in west Cornwall. Redruth looked to be heading through in normal time thanks to goals from Liam Paddock and Matt Allum, but two strikes from Alex Ralph took the tie to penalties, where the Reds prevailed 4-2.
Eleven’s heaven: Reigning St Piran League East champions Saltash Borough returned to the top of the pile this term in some style, running out 11-1 winners over St Austell reserves at Saltmill Park. Henry Bunning and Kieran Owen both scored hat-tricks, with Joe Preece (2), George Soper (2) and Ryan Winfield completing the rout.
New leaders: We also have new pacesetters in the East Cornwall Premier League as North Petherwin also took full advantage of postponements elsewhere to reach the summit. Jack Digby, Ben Sharpe, Sam Watts, Lewis Haxell and Kevin Hatch netted as the north Cornwall outfit defeated St Stephen 5-2 at Trethosa Road.
League info:
👩 St Austell beaten in Sunday’s only game
St Austell Ladies took on AFC Bournemouth at a chilly Poltair Park on Sunday. Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes to allow the pitch to thaw, and credit must go to the club for getting the game played when so many other fixtures fell victim to the winter weather.
The visit of Bournemouth, second in the FA Women’s National League Division One South West, was always going to present a tough challenge to a St Austell side in their debut season at this level, but the 6-1 score line doesn’t tell the full story of the day.
Trailing 4-0 at half time, the home team could so easily have capitulated in the second 45, but instead pulled a goal back through Teagan Ridgment and conceded only two more.
“I think the girls did themselves proud,” manager Simon Parnell told Cornwall Sports Media. “This season has been really difficult with the step up given the difference in standard between teams in step four and step five.
“My girls have the ability to compete at step four, but what we have been trying to install into the team over the last month or so is their work rate. Yesterday, I think we out-ran Bournemouth and had a lot more desire, which was great to see.”
➡️ Read Colin Bradbury’s full interview with Simon Parnell on our website
League info:
📸 The week in photos
ST AUSTELL - The St Austell players celebrate Teagan Ridgment’s goal in their FA Women’s National League Division 1 South West encounter at home to AFC Bournemouth on Sunday. The match ended 6-1 to the Cherries at Poltair Park.
FALMOUTH - Tim Nixon (right) nods in the opening goal for Falmouth Town in their remarkable Western League Premier Division victory over Barnstaple Town on Saturday, with a stoppage-time penalty ensuring a 5-4 triumph at Bickland Park.
PLYMOUTH - Members of the Truro City team congratulate Rocky Neal (centre, left) on his goal in their Southern League Premier South clash at home to Beaconsfield Town on Wednesday night. The match finished 1-1 at Bolitho Park.
❓️ Trivia time ⏰️
Here’s one for the Western League followers among you.
Falmouth Town’s 5-4 victory over Barnstaple Town on Saturday was the second nine-goal game involving a Cornish team in the Western League Premier Division this season.
Can you name the first one?
Answer at the bottom.
💚 Goalless draw sees Argyle slip to second
Plymouth Argyle’s time at the top of the League One table is over - for now - after the Pilgrims were held to a goalless draw at Cambridge United.
In what was a match low on clear-cut chances, Argyle can take the positives of a hard-fought point on the road, a first start for Mickel Miller and a ninth clean sheet of the campaign.
“It was just a bit of a slog. There wasn’t too many clear-cut chances in the game, but we’ve come out of it with a clean sheet, so that’s a bonus.”
Argyle boss Steven Schumacher to pafc.co.uk
A win for Ipswich Town over Peterborough United means the Tractor Boys climb above Argyle to the League One summit, but Schumacher’s side do still remain in the automatic promotion places after Sheffield Wednesday were also held to a draw on Saturday.
📈 Here’s how the top of the table looks now:
Ipswich Town, 45pts
Plymouth Argyle, 44pts
Sheffield Wednesday, 42pts
Barnsley, 33pts
Bolton Wanderers, 32pts
Elsewhere at Home Park:
🍕 Seven reasons to support the Papa Johns Trophy
Next Wednesday (December 21) sees Plymouth Argyle take on AFC Wimbledon in the rearranged Papa Johns Trophy round of 16 match. Many Argyle fans view the Trophy (PJT for short) as, at best, an irrelevance or, at worst a distraction from the important business of chasing promotion.
Bigging-up the PJT isn’t a popular position. A competition with the UK’s fourth largest pizza delivery company as title sponsor is hardly the height of glamour and, for the group games at least, crowds tend to be sparse (averaging just over 1,900 for Argyle’s first four games in this season’s competition).
But here are seven reasons why the PJT is worth your attention and why the Green Army should seriously consider getting down to Home Park next week for some cup knockout action.
Wemberleee! The reward for reaching the PJT final is a trip to Wembley next March, which means that Argyle are three wins away from an appearance at the Home of Football. What’s not to like?
Up for the Cup: Since the Greens are unlikely to be hoisting the FA Cup or Carabao Cup anytime soon (certainly not this season…), the PJT represents the club’s best chance of winning silverware in a cup competition.
Time to shine: This is the first time since 2016 – when the competition in its current form was introduced – that Argyle have reached the knock-out phases. For that reason alone, the Greens deserve support.
Show me the money! The PJT represents a boost for club finances. All teams get a £20,000 participation fee, plus £10,000 for each win in the group stage (and £5,000 for a draw) with the overall Trophy winners walking away with a cheque for £260,000.
Fountain of Youth: Maybe the biggest PJT plus is as a showcase for Argyle’s Academy talent. Already this season, Will Jenkins Davies and Oscar Halls (who bagged a goal apiece against Swindon Town in the group phase), Freddie Issaka, Finley Craske and Jack Endacott have featured in the competition. Want a glimpse of the future of Argyle? The PJT is the place to be.
Big-time Charlies: It’s also a chance for Argyle’s young players to test themselves against Premier League opposition (ok, their Academies). Argyle have already faced (and beaten) Crystal Palace under-21s, while Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton under-21s are all still in the forthcoming round of 16.
Family time: Tickets are just £4 for under-18s and free for under-12s so this is a perfect opportunity for an affordable family trip to Home Park (and maybe a first-ever Argyle experience for a younger family member?)
➡️ Read Colin Bradbury’s full Papa Johns Trophy piece on our website
👀 What’s on this week
⚽️Southern League Premier South: Saturday, 3pm: Dorchester Town v Truro City.
⚽️Western League: Saturday, 3pm (unless stated): Buckland Athletic v Falmouth Town; Keynsham Town v Helston Athletic; Millbrook v Street (2pm); Saltash United v Bridgwater United (2pm); Torpoint Athletic v Ashton & Backwell United; Wellington v Mousehole.
⚽️South West Peninsula League Premier West: Saturday, 2.15pm (unless stated): Callington Town v St Austell (3pm); Godolphin Atlantic v Camelford; Mullion v Dobwalls; Penzance v Bude Town (3pm); St Dennis v Launceston; Wendron United v Wadebridge Town (3pm).
⚽️St Piran League East: Saturday, 2.30pm: Gunnislake v St Dominick; Launceston v St Austell; St Mawgan v Saltash Borough; Sticker v Altarnun.
⚽️St Piran League West: Saturday, 2.30pm (unless stated): Falmouth Town v Illogan RBL; Mousehole v Penryn Athletic; Porthleven v Wendron United; Redruth United v Perranwell; St Day v St Agnes; Truro City v Mullion (2pm).
⚽️East Cornwall Premier League: Saturday, 2.30pm: Liskeard Athletic v Nanpean Rovers; Newquay v St Blazey; North Petherwin v St Dennis; St Columb Major v Roche; St Newlyn East v Looe Town; Wadebridge Town v St Teath.
⚽️Combination League: Saturday, 2.30pm: Pendeen Rovers v Hayle; Wendron United v St Day.
⚽️FA Women’s National League Division One South West: Sunday, 12.30pm: AFC St Austell v Portishead Town.
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Drop us a message on: info@cornwallsportsmedia.co.uk and let’s talk.
Have a great week!
Trivia answer: Saltash United 9-0 Welton Rovers (November 5).
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