ST AGNES 5 MULLION 1

MULLION were hoping for a much better result than the 5-1 pasting they received from St Agnes at Enys park in the Jolly's Combination League.

In fact, it could well have been much worse because after just half an hour they were already five goals down and on their way to a much heavier defeat.

Fortunately, after conceding the fifth goal, they knuckled down and got to the break without conceding another, and in the second half looked a transformed side in scoring the only goal of the half.

Mullion assistant manager Steve Gilks said he is bemused by the different levels of performance by the Mullion side: "It seems to be the mindset with this team that for the first half they just play as poorly as they can and concede soft goals, and then once that has been achieved they get their game together and look a completely different side.

"We did the same thing at Mousehole, had an awful first 45 minutes and then dominated the second half, but it is a bad habit that the players need to change.

"I thought Darren Meagor had a terrific game in goal for us and to be honest the team deserves praise for never allowing their heads to drop and fighting back from such a hopeless position. I take my hats off to them for that."

However, one thing that Gilks will not be taking his hat off to is the fact that the team travelled for a Jolly's Combination League game short of players and no subs.

"The club and Terry Stidwell have asked me to step in and help them," said Gilks, "but it hasn't taken me long to see the wider picture and why they are finding themselves in the lowly position that they are.

"We have a reserve team at this club and we should be able to pull in those players when we are short. That is not happening and it is unhealthy for the club. There is no way that Terry and I should be substitutes for the Jolly's Combination League side and the 2nd XI, who play in division three of the Falmouth-Helston League, have a full quota.

"We need to move this club forward, but we cannot achieve that if there is no commitment or cohesion at all levels of the club to ensure it happens.

"On occasions when you pull in players it can be disruptive for all those concerned, but that is part and parcel of football and Mullion Football Club should always try and field their strongest available team from the players within the club. They sign for the club not a team."

The one bright spot for Mullion from Saturday's game was their second half performance, although St Agnes might contend that they had already got the game won.

The visitors bounced back well and they were unlucky to have a goal disallowed five minutes after the break. Matt Fox hit a terrific 30-yard shot that gave the 'keeper no chance, despite making a brave effort to get to it. However, with St Agnes resigned to their fate of conceding a goal the referee then disallowed it after indicating that it was an indirect free kick. That decision even surprised the St Agnes players.

Midway through the half, Mullion did score a consolation goal that was fully deserved. Fox dribbled his way into the box and was brought down, but he got up to knock the spotkick into the net.

Mullion had other chances to reduce the arrears, but it just wouldn't go in for them as St Agnes finished 5-1 winners.

Mullion: D Meagor, B Tremaine, G Harris, B Stidwell, L Chapman, M Fox, C Hanson, J Strachan, G Richards, R Carey, J Legg. Subs: T Stidwell, J Legg.