FALMOUTH TOWN 2 ST BLAZEY 1
FALMOUTH Town pulled off the result of the day in the Carlsberg SWL when they achieved a richly-deserved win over league leaders St Blazey.
After being comprehensively beaten 1-4 the week before by the same opponents, this match was a total contrast. Town were much the better team and St Blazey were by their own high standards, very poor.
Steve Massey was without Chris Davey but Wayne Hewitt and Dean Tongue both returned to the starting line up with Lee Blatchford the other player making way.
Visiting manager Trevor Mewton left Nick Campbell on the bench with Dominic Richardson starting. Danny Bance and Paul Madden both started with Steve Ovens and Wayne Riley also amongst the subs.
The game started slowly with both teams having to acclimatise to the wet and boggy conditions. The home side had glimpses on goal but neither goalkeeper was tested in the early stages.
After 13 minutes Dean Tongue was penalised for a foul on the edge of his own penalty area, but Justin Harrington's free kick was overhit and ended up going out for a throw.
Four minutes later Town had the best chance of the game thus far when Ryan Trudgian saw his shot from close in well saved by Garry Penhaligon.
The home side did the majority of attacking in the opening 45 minutes but St Blazey's well worked defensive unit foiled them every time.
Penhaligon's aerial ability was matched by Joe Tickle whose confidence on crosses has increased as the season has gone on.
The assistant referee's flag came to St Blazey's aid, much to the frustration of the Town forward line, as several good flowing moves were halted.
Harrington capitalised on Tongue's misplaced pass to set up Richardson, but his left footed low drive from the edge of the box was easily smothered by Tickle.
After 29 minutes, former Town player Mike Body shot into the side netting and the only other incident of note was Danny Bance's 41st minute booking.
Within seconds of the re-start, St Blazey took the lead. An 18-yard drive from Richardson saw Tickle rooted to the spot as it entered the top corner.
The goal seemed to spur on Town and after 58 minutes they forced an equaliser that their play deserved. A long ball from the back saw Fergus Nevin chase and with Penhaligon charging out, Nevin got the first touch and lobbed the onrushing 'keeper from the edge of the box.
In the 66th minute, Harrington was booked for dissent after questioning the handball decision awarded against him on the edge of the box, but Nevin's free kick was blocked by the wall before an attempt at goal ended up high and wide.
The winning goal came in the 73rd minute. A brilliant solo run by man-of-the-match Andy Bowker saw him beat two players before shooting left footed from just inside the box giving Penhaligon no chance.
St Blazey made a double change just after the restart with Riley and Ovens replacing Jay Isbell and Richardson.
Defending in numbers paid off for the visitors twice with a loose ball dropping into the area and no one being able to get on the end of it.
With seven minutes remaining, Town were forced into a change when Darren Burchell replaced Peter Davey who minutes earlier sustained a head injury.
St Blazey attacked in hope but were a shade of the side of only seven days before when they appeared almost shot-shy in front of goal as Tickle hardly had a shot to save.
Town made a change in the 88th minute when Ryan Trudgian was replaced by Carl Paparone who came on to make his debut for a Town side that held out for a vital, crucial and highly important win.
Next Saturday Town have a 2pm start in the Cornwall Senior Cup game at Godolphin Atlantic.
Town: J. Tickle; W. Brown, F. Nevin, W. Hewitt, P. Davey (D. Burchell), L. Beer, M. Roberts, D. McGhee, R. Trudgian (C. Paparone), A. Bowker, D. Tongue. Subs (unused): C. Farnham, S. Rogers & L. Blatchford.
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