⚽️ Cornwall Football: December 27, 2022
Truro City rescue late draw; Falmouth end Saltash's unbeaten run; Ten-man St Blazey see off St Austell
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Good afternoon, and Merry Christmas! 👋
Well, Boxing Day did not disappoint.
⏱️ An injury-time goal saw Truro City rescue a point against landlords Plymouth Parkway.
🗡 Falmouth Town came from behind to end Western League leaders Saltash United’s 11-game unbeaten run.
✅️ SWPL title contenders Wendron United, St Blazey and Wadebridge Town all emerged victorious.
Enjoy, and Happy New Year. 🎄 〓〓
Word count: 2,657 words (11 minutes)
🐯 Dean snatches point at the death
Truro City’s first league meeting with current landlords Plymouth Parkway since 2006 was moments away from becoming only their second league defeat of the season on Boxing Day.
Step forward Will Dean, whose stoppage-time free-kick was eventually deemed to have crossed the line to secure the Southern League Premier South title contenders a precious point at Bolitho Park.
⚽ Tigers take the lead: It’s Tenants 1, Landlords 0 as Tyler Harvey’s header is tipped onto the post, with Adam Porter there to bundle home the rebound. 0-1 (15’)
⚽ From the spot: Parkway are back on terms after Jack Seymour is bundled over just inside the box, with the same man scoring from the spot despite James Hamon guessing the right way. 1-1 (25’)
⚽ Back in front: The, err, visitors lead again when Rocky Neal’s cross finds Connor Riley-Lowe at the back post who slots home to give City the lead. 1-2 (45+1’)
⚽ Level again: We’re all square again when a lovely passing move ends with Seymour finishing low past Hamon for his second of the day. 2-2 (53’)
⚽ Turned on its head: Parkway lead! Jack Crago’s shot takes a big deflection and loops in at the back post. 3-2 (84’)
⚽ Controversial leveller: Controversy as Dean’s free kick beats Parkes but hits the inside of the post and bounces on the line before being cleared, but the assistant referee deems the ball had gone over. Drama! 3-3 (90+2’)
Did it cross the line or didn’t it? You decide…
“I didn’t think it was a great game but a draw was probably a fair result. It’s kicked off at the end but it’s a goal, it’s gone in. It’s a free-kick and it’s a goal.”
📋 City: Hamon, Riley-Lowe, Adelsbury, Palmer, Porter (Sullivan 63), Dean, Harvey, White, Knowles (Brett 73), Neal, Egan (Wright 86). Subs (unused): Oppong, Haste.
Paul Wotton’s side are two points further adrift from Weston-super-Mare after the Somerset outfit won at Tiverton Town, but could that late, late point prove to be pivotal come the end of the season?
📈 The Southern League summit:
Weston-super-Mare, 50pts
Truro City, 47pts
Chesham United, 44pts
Poole Town, 37pts
Salisbury, 33pts
🔥 Falmouth hit back to beat leaders
Cornish sides are doing fairly well in the Western League Premier Division at the minute, with two form teams meeting at Waterways Stadium on Boxing Day as table toppers Saltash United, unbeaten in 11, welcomed Falmouth Town, unbeaten in six.
The pendulum swung the way of both sides throughout the 90 minutes in east Cornwall, but it was Town who came from behind to run out 3-1 winners and become only the second team to topple the Ashes this season…
🧤 Big save: A huge chance early on falls the way of Falmouth skipper James Ward, whose close-range strike is tipped over by home custodian Jordan Duffey. 1-0 (5’)
❌ Denied: Town have the chance to open the scoring when Luke Barner is brought down by Duffey, but the Ashes gloveman makes amends to save Luke Brabyn’s spot-kick. 0-0 (41’)
⚽ Sucker-punch: That comes back to bite the visitors as Saltash draw first blood, with Adam Carter firing across Ryan Barnes’ goal and into the far corner. 1-0 (43’)
🧤 Staying alive: Barnes pulls off a big save to tip Mike Landricombe’s effort over the bar before the break. 1-0 (45’)
⚽ All square: Town draw level when Olly Walker beats his man for pace and crosses for Tim Nixon to steer in at the back post. 1-1 (75’)
⚽ Turnaround: The visitors surge ahead late on when Brabyn plays a one-two with Marcello Jones, whose effort from just inside the box flies in via a deflection. 1-2 (82’)
⚽ Points secured: Brabyn is involved again when his right-wing cross is superbly headed home by Walker to cap off a fantastic victory for Falmouth. 1-3 (88’)
📋 Saltash: Duffey, Barker, O’Brien, Landricombe, Elkington, Wilson (Merrin 65), Miller, Davis, Farrant (Cairo 56), Carter (Spencer 81), Smith. Subs (unused): Bleasdale, Webber.
📋 Falmouth: Barnes, Kellow, Moxham, Webber, Annear, Ward (Gordon-Dunn 62), Walker, Calleja-Stayne, Brabyn, Barner (Jones 60), Nixon. Subs (unused): Swan, Hutchison, Clark.
“It was brilliant for the lads considering how many times we’ve been in front [and not gone on to win] and it’s pleasing for the lads to see it out.
“We looked really comfortable for the last five minutes - we defended really well and the boys in the middle of the park were excellent. It’s really hard to fault the side.”
- Falmouth Town boss Andrew Westgarth
Elsewhere:
Millbrook 0-0 Torpoint Athletic
The points were shared in east Cornwall as 12th-placed Millbrook and 15th-placed Torpoint played out both sides’ first goalless draw of the season. The hosts ended the game a man light after Sean Thomson saw red.Mousehole 3-0 Helston Athletic
Goals from Hayden Turner and substitute Jack Rhead (2) helped the Seagulls close the gap on the leaders with a victory that extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches.
📈 The Western League at the end of 2022:
Saltash United, 50pts
Bridgwater United, 49pts
Shepton Mallet, 41pts
Mousehole, 39pts
Buckland Athletic, 35pts
✅ Ten-man St Blazey edge past rivals
It was a triumphant return to action for St Blazey on Boxing Day, who defeated closest rivals St Austell 2-1 in what was their first match in exactly a month.
Thirty days had passed since their last run-out at Axminster Town, but the Green and Blacks brushed off the cobwebs to record their sixth successive South West Peninsula League win despite playing the majority of the game with ten men.
The mid-Cornwall derby was watched by 686 spectators at Blaise Park - the highest of the season across the SWPL’s two divisions.
⚽ First blood: Luke Cloke scores his 19th of the season in style with his edge-of-the-box effort beating Town gloveman Brett Allen. 1-0 (25’)
🟥 Down to ten: Not long after receiving his first yellow, Blazey defender Martin Giles is shown another after scything down Kieron Bishop on the edge of the box at the end of a marauding run. 1-0 (38’)
⚽ Back level: That’s how to make the most of a man advantage. Neil Slateford takes the resulting free-kick and whips it beyond Shaun Semmens and into the corner. 1-1 (39’)
⚽ Coming out firing: The half-time team talk must have worked as the ten men of St Blazey restore their lead shortly after the turnaround. Cloke turns provider, squaring for Liam Eddy to score into an empty net. 2-1 (83’)
🧤 Top stop: How’s he saved that?! Cloke looks certain to score as he gets his head on a cross but Allen throws himself at it and saves with his feet in mid-air. 2-1 (85’)
📋 St Blazey: Semmens, Tinsley, Wotton, Allen, Cooper, Giles, Clifton, Brokenshire, Eddy, Cloke, Ward. Subs: Vooght, Buckley, Garside, Marks, Russell.
📋 St Austell: Allen, Timmons, Thomas, Duff, Hann, Rosevear, Slateford, Mulready, Guest, Penrose, Bishop. Subs: Hamley, Dingle, Margetts, Best, O’Connor.
“The lads really dug in and it was a massive win and a step forward in chasing Wendron who are top of the table and seemingly the team to beat.”
St Blazey joint manager Andrew Moon
🗣️ Read Gareth Davies’ interview with Andrew Moon on our website
“To let in a goal just after half-time blows everything we talked about in the dressing room out of the water. It has happened too many times this season and we have a habit of conceding when we are on top.”
St Austell boss Mark Smith
🗣️ Read Gareth Davies’ interview with Mark Smith on our website
Elsewhere:
Camelford 1-0 Bude Town
Sam Haddy scored the only goal of the game to give the Camels victory in the teams’ first league meeting since 2004/05.Dobwalls 3-3 Liskeard Athletic
Liskeard lost ground on their title rivals after falling to a late draw at Dobwalls. James Lorenz, Max Gilbert and Dan Jennings netted for the Blues, who had Macauley Thorp sent off late on, but Jordan Hogan, Joe Eke and Charlie Castlehouse scored as the Reds twice battled back to rescue a point.Launceston 2-1 Callington Town
Launceston move off the botton of the table after recording their third win of the season, with Noah Maund’s second-half strike not enough to earn a share of the spoils for Callington.Newquay 8-2 Godolphin Atlantic
Jack Rapsey scored five goals as Newquay put town rivals Godolphin to the sword at Mount Wise. Alex Cole also bagged a hat-trick, with the hosts scoring seven times during a devastating second half. The G’s response came through Ben Colquhoun and an own goal.Sticker 3-1 St Dennis
Rich Edworthy (2) and Haiden Chapman scored as Sticker moved up to 12th with victory over neighbours St Dennis, for whom Mikey Davies netted from the spot.Wadebridge Town 7-2 Bodmin Town
Jacob Rowe and Matt Lloyd bagged a brace apiece as Wadebridge made light work of Bodmin. Jacob Smale, Kyle Flew and Jack Bowyer completed the scoring for the hosts, who will finish the year in second spot.Wendron United 3-1 Mullion
Wendron United confirmed their status as end-of-year leaders with a round of games to spare, with Dan Greet’s effort from distance providing a consolation for ninth-placed Mullion.
📈 How the top of the SWPL looks:
Wendron United, 50pts
Wadebridge Town, 46pts
St Blazey, 42pts
Bude Town, 39pts
Liskeard Athletic, 37pts
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⚽ The pick of this week’s grassroots action
Derby delight: Goals from Steve Abbott-Smith, Simon Ellis, Jacob Hoon and Aaron Myers helped Illogan RBL to a handsome 4-1 win over Redruth United and up to seventh in the St Piran League West.
Title bid dented: A brace from Teddy Horton helped Truro City reserves to a 3-2 win over St Piran League West title contenders St Day, with Phil Lowry adding the White Tigers’ third.
Narrow win: Jack Willis and Alex McKenna scored as St Just triumphed 2-1 at Pendeen Rovers in the Combination League, with Matthew Roberts netting for the beaten hosts.
League info:
📸 Boxing Day in photos
MOUSEHOLE - The RNLI flag was at half-mast at Trungle Parc as Mousehole and Helston Athletic observed a minute’s silence in memory of those lost in the Penlee lifeboast disaster in December 1981. Mousehole went on to win 3-0 in the Western League encounter.
ST BLAZEY - St Blazey had to do it the hard way after centre-back Martin Giles was sent off late in the first half of their derby duel with St Austell. The Green and Blacks still got the job done though, triumphing 2-1 in front of a 2022/23 SWPL record 686 spectators at Blaise Park.
❓️ Trivia time ⏰️
Here’s a tricky one to round off the year.
The year 2022 was the first year to feature at least one Cornish team at step five from start to finish (i.e. January to December) since 1994.
But how many goals were scored by Cornish teams in the step five Western League Premier Division in 2022?
Answer at the bottom.
💚 Whittaker’s strike keeps Argyle at the top
Plymouth Argyle will end the year in the League One automatic promotion places after they eventually overcame a stubborn Cheltenham Town to prevail 1-0 in Gloucestershire on Boxing Day.
It was a match short of clear-cut chances and general excitement, but Morgan Whittaker was the man to make the difference 12 minutes from time to keep Argyle at the League One summit…
❌ Early effort: Cheltenham win a free-kick in a dangerous position and Alfie May’s inviting delivery is nodded narrowly wide by Charlie Raglan. 0-0 (13’)
❌ Momentum: Niall Ennis’ effort is too high before Whittaker’s superb dipping effort clips the roof of the net as Argyle begin to dominate. 0-0 (35’)
🧤 Big stop: Joe Edwards releases Ennis in the box and his goalbound shot forces Town gloveman Luke Southwood into a superb save. 0-0 (57’)
⚽ Breakthrough: The all-important goal finally arrives as Whittaker picks up the ball 35 yards from goal, surges towards the edge of the box and rifles it into the bottom corner. 0-1 (78’)
📋 Argyle: Cooper, Gillesphey, Scarr, Butcher (Houghton 61), Edwards, Mayor (Roberts 83), Ennis (Cosgrove 62), Mumba (Wilson 87), Whittaker, Randell (Hardie 61), Lonwijk. Subs (unused): Burton, Jenkins Davies.
“We knew it would be a tough test and it proved that. Thankfully we managed to keep our patience to produce one moment of quality that has won us the game.”
Wins for Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday against Oxford United and Fleetwood Town respectively means it is as you were at the top...
📈 A glance at the top of League One:
Plymouth Argyle, 50pts
Ipswich Town, 48pts
Sheffield Wednesday, 45pts
Barnsley, 37pts
Bolton Wanderers, 35pts
Elsewhere at Home Park:
Argyle round off a fine 2022 at Home Park on Thursday evening (December 29, 7.45pm) when Wycombe Wanderers come to town.
That match is already sold out, but you can watch it on Argyle TV.
👀 What’s on this week
⚽️League One: Thursday, 7.45pm: Plymouth Argyle v Wycombe Wanderers. New Year’s Day, 3pm: Plymouth Argyle v Milton Keynes Dons.
⚽️South West Peninsula League Premier West: New Year’s Eve, 2pm (unless stated): Bude Town v Launceston; Callington Town v Dobwalls; Godolphin Atlantic v Bodmin Town; Liskeard Athletic v Camelford; Mullion v Penzance; St Austell v Sticker; St Dennis v St Blazey (11am); Wadebridge Town v Newquay.
⚽️East Cornwall Premier League: New Year’s Eve, 2.30pm (unless stated): Nanpean Rovers v Liskeard Athletic; Newquay v Wadebridge Town; St Blazey v Foxhole Stars; St Newlyn East v St Columb Major (1pm); St Stephen v St Dennis; St Teath v North Petherwin.
⚽️Combination League: New Year’s Eve, 2.30pm: Hayle v St Ives Town; Porthleven v Wendron United; Praze-an-Beeble v Pendeen Rovers.
⚽️Southern League Premier South: Monday, 3pm: Truro City v Tiverton Town.
⚽️Western League: Monday, 3pm (unless stated): Barnstaple Town v Saltash United; Clevedon Town v Mousehole; Falmouth Town v Bridgwater United; Helston Athletic v Shepton Mallet; Torpoint Athletic v Buckland Athletic; Wellington v Millbrook (1pm).
⚽️St Piran League East: Monday, 11am: Altarnun v Callington Town; St Austell v St Mawgan.
⚽️St Piran League West: Monday, 11am: Penryn Athletic v Mullion; Redruth United v Porthleven.
🏆St Piran League Cup quarter-finals: Monday, 2pm: Gunnislake v St Dominick; Hayle v Mousehole; Millbrook v Polperro; Wendron United v Illogan RBL.
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Happy New Year! 🥂
We’ll be back on Tuesday next week to allow us to cover the bank holiday action. See you then!
Trivia answer: 317 (Saltash 93, Mousehole 85, Helston 46, Millbrook 34, Falmouth 30, Torpoint 29).
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