PENRYN ATHLETIC 0

BODMIN TOWN 3

AFTER suffering a shock home Carlsberg SWL defeat against Newquay in midweek, Bodmin Town might have been a little nervous of their trip to Kernick Road to play Penryn Athletic.

Fortunately for Town, their nervous system was not put to the test as Athletic never looked remotely likely to repeat Newquay's shock result.

It was remarkable that Athletic managed to stay in the game so long given that for much of it they were outplayed, but after battling to stay in the game they conceded a gift goal right on half time to undo all their hard work.

Another goal right after the break ensured there would only be one result and the only unanswered question was by how many goals?

Town should have been a goal up inside five minutes when Danny O'Hagan flicked the ball on to Mark Berry, but he only half-hit his shot and Chris Symons easily saved the close range effort.

A wicked cross into the box by Craig Swiggs was deflected for a corner by Lee Bradd, but the relief was only temporary as Bodmin dominated possession.

Athletic never committed enough midfield men forward to help their front runners and that in turn succeeded only in inviting pressure as the visitors were given the freedom of their own half.

It was difficult for the strikers to make any headway, but as well as a poor workrate there was also a distinct lack of commitment to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Town's defenders were never put under any pressure and were given time and space to clear any stray ball into their half.

Darren Gilbert went close with a speculative 25-yard shot that went just past the post and four minutes later he was involved again when he put Berry through only to see his shot saved.

Town missed a glaring chance in the 41st minute after poor defending by Athletic. They should have long cleared the ball before Berry hit Gilbert's cross against the bar, but from seven yards, Danny O'Hagan put the ball high over the woodwork when it was easier to score.

Just when it looked as if Athletic would reach the sanctuary of the dressing room on level terms, a Gilbert corner was helped into his own net by Symons to gift Bodmin their opening goal.

Four minutes into the second half Athletic slipped deeper into trouble when yet another corner by Gilbert was headed into the net at the near post by O'Hagan.

Athletic continued the second half in much the same vein by continually giving away possession and inviting pressure, but on the hour the sun had obviously got to joint manager Les Gilbert who made a triple substitution. Off went Rowson, Salmon and Moore to be replaced by Dale Band, Steve Jewell and Dan Richardson.

It was a bold move provided no-one got injured, but within minutes the strategy went up in smoke as Matt Drummond was injured after running on to a great pass by Sam Eglinton.

Eglinton had a fine game and hardly put a foot wrong, but more importantly never wasted a pass, something the more senior players would have done well to copy.

Surprisingly, Athletic had their best spell of the game when playing with ten men and in the 35th minute Jason Chapman punched out a Dean Harris corner to Adam Trudgian who fired in a good shot from just outside the box.

After Dan Richardson just failed to get on to another fine pass from Eglinton, Dale Band was denied when Steve Simmonds blocked his goalbound shot.

Three minutes from time Town completed the scoring when Craig Swiggs hit a ball over the top. Symons and O'Hagan became involved in a race for the ball, but it was the Town striker who was the sharpest as he read the situation much quicker and nicked the ball away and rolled it into an empty net.

The immaculate Kernick Road surface invited good football, but on the day only one team could manage to make the most of it.

Athletic: C Symons, S Eglinton, B Goldring, M Cain, L Bradd, D Harris, A Trudgian, M Moore, M Salmon, S Rowson, M Drummond. Subs: D Band, S Jewell, D Richardson.