FALMOUTH TOWN 1

C Paparone

BODMIN TOWN 3

M Berry (2), S Chitty

Town: J. Tickle; S. Proctor, F. Nevin, D. McGhee, W. Brown, L. Beer, D. Burchell, S. Burt (M. Roberts 73m), S. Sims (P. Wolstencroft 81m), C. Paparone (A. Bowker 81m), W. Hewitt. Sub (unused): C. Davey.

Bodmin: J. Chapman; L. Underhay, D. Byrne, S. Simmonds, S. Chitty, C. Swiggs, M. Godfree, N. Dowling, D. O'Hagan, M. Berry, W. Quinn. Subs used: H. Morgan & R. Teagle. Unused: L. Hodge & G. Squires.

Referee: Stephen Paul (Delabole)

Assistants: Patrick Wellington (St Austell) and Kevin Wilkinson (Truro).

REIGNING champions Bodmin town took another step towards retaining their Carlsberg SWL title with this hard fought win against Falmouth Town at Bickland Park on Saturday.

Town made a bright start and after only two minutes, the home side forced a corner but it came to nothing.

The visitors took the lead three minutes later. Bodmin had a free kick out on the right, and the ball was lofted into the goalmouth where Joe Tickle fumbled his attempt to catch it and the ball fell to Mark Berry on the edge of the six-yard box and he blasted it in to give them an early lead.

In the ninth minute Lee Beer tried a long shot which Jason Chapman turned over the bar for a corner and from the resultant kick, Dave McGhee came powering in but Steve Simmonds got his head to it first and cleared it away.

After 15 minutes Wayne Hewitt had a good run on the left and put over a good cross to Carl Paparone, but he hit his shot just wide of the far post form 15 yards.

Six minutes later Beer tried another long range shot, but it went too close to the 'keeper and he pushed the ball around the post for another corner which Leigh Underhay headed away under little pressure.

In the 25th minute Bodmin had a good move on the left and the cross into Town's penalty area was eventually hit wide from a tight angle by Danny O'Hagan.

After 32 minutes Darren Burchell took the ball out wide on the left and then played it into the area towards Paparone, but the alert Chapman dived at the lone striker's feet and gathered the ball.

Three minutes later Burchell played the ball into the area where Steve Sims shot over from 10 yards under pressure from Underhay and Craig Swiggs.

Five minutes before the break, Bodmin had a breakaway which caught out the Town defence, but O'Hagan's shot went just wide as Wayne Brown closed in on him.

Within a minute Bodmin had another free kick near Town's penalty area, but Berry's header went wide of the mark.

Nick Dowling tried a long shot from 25 yards but Tickle gathered comfortably.

Five minutes after the break, Burchell took the ball past two defenders on a run into the area but hit his shot straight at Chapman.

In the 52nd minute, the hard working Wayne Hewitt played a good ball out to Steve Sims who in turn hit it back out towards Hewitt, but it was just too far in front of him and Dominic Byrne managed to clear the danger.

On the hour, Sims intercepted a poor pass between the Bodmin defenders and played a lovely ball through to Paparone who blasted the ball home from six yards out for only the 13th goal Bodmin have conceded in the league all season!

Two minutes later Steve Proctor played a good ball into Burchell who in turn knocked it through for Paparone to run on to, but Chapman and Underhay beat him to it.

Bodmin took the lead again in the 68th minute. A good move down the left flank resulted in Sam Chitty shooting home unmarked from 10 yards out to restore their lead.

In the 74th minute Town were pushing forward trying to get another equaliser when Bodmin suddenly broke away out of defence and Danny O'Hagan's good cross was met by Mark Berry who headed home for his second goal of the game.

Both teams made substitutions following this with Bowker and Paul Wolstencroft replacing Paparone and Sims for Town and Huw Morgan and Robin Teagle coming for Bodmin.

In the 79th minute Bodmin had a corner which was punched clear by Tickle, the ball fell to Mike Roberts, who had missed the last three games through injury, and he set off on a run down the right wing but was eventually crowded out by the tight Bodmin defence.

Five minutes later and Berry, looking to complete his hat trick hit a fierce, 15 yard shot, but Tickle made a good save to deny him.

Two minutes from time, Fergus Nevin went on a good run down the left wing and cut in towards goal but his shot flew across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.

Falmouth visited Launceston yesterday evening and on Saturday make the long trip to Tavistock.