LUDGVAN 1 MULLION 5
WHAT a difference a week can make, as Mullion's lamentable performance at home to Penzance was turned into a fine 5-1 win away to Ludgvan.
It still leaves Mullion anchored in the bottom places at the wrong end of the table, but the result is extremely encouraging for the club.
"It was a fine team performance," said assistant manager Steve Gilks. "After last week I was very pleased with the display which was matched by the effort.
"They did everything that was asked of them and although we won't get carried away by one result I feel we have moved a step in the right direction.
"However, one big blow will be the loss of skipper Jason Robertson who will be starting a 35-day suspension.
"Martin Hearn has now stepped in to help with the training and the spirit is very good, but now we have to take that on into our next game at Mousehole which will be a very difficult one. Let's see what happens."
Mullion had the game virtually wrapped up after the first 25 minutes, but they had an added edge with the introduction of striker Dan Stidwell.
He put Mullion in front after ten minutes when he ran on to Matt Fox's pass and beat the 'keeper with a shot into the corner of the net.
Five minutes later Mullion added a second goal when Fox got on the end of David Cheetham's cross and gave the 'keeper no chance with his low finish from 12 yards.
Probably the best move of the game saw Mullion put things out of the reach of the home side when Darren Meagor provided the pass for Stidwell to display a clinical piece of finishing.
Ludgvan were given a brief glimmer of hope when they pulled a goal back from a goalmouth scramble through Francis Pellow, but despite John Matthews having a header, saved by stand-in 'keeper Steve Gilks, the writing was on the wall.
Meagor had to take over in goal from Gilks during the interval, but despite the change Mullion looked solid at the back.
They strengthened their grip on the game on the hour when a free kick produced a goalmouth scramble from which Gareth Harris scored with a superb overhead kick.
Stidwell crowned a fine performance with his hat-trick goal after being put through in a one-on-one with the 'keeper.
Mullion had the ball in the net again, but was controversially disallowed after the ball was ruled to have earlier gone out of play on the touchline.
Mullion: S Gilkes, B Tremaine, M Buchanan, G Harris, D Cheetham, D Meagor, J Robertson, B Stidwell, M Fox, G Richards, D Stidwell. Subs: M Peters, J Legg, L Chapman.
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