Town edge Vase clash

Despite the defeat, Athletic, shorn of a number of players, will no doubt take more positives from this game than a strong Town side.

Athletic were forced to field both managers, Dale Band and Steve Jewell, in their starting line-up for the first time this season and will they will be pleased with their side's performance.

Stuart Massey will probably be wondering why his side gave such a disjointed display that overall lacked any real purpose or style. Eventually it was Town's sharper finishing that proved the deciding factor.

As early as the third minute Athletic made it clear to their higher division neighbours that the result was not going to be a foregone conclusion.

Dan Stidwell broke through the Town defence and found himself in a one-on-one situation with Town 'keeper Nathan Murphy which resulted in the ball being palmed away for a corner.

A few minutes later Atheltic forced a corner following another attacking move involving former Town players Band and Jewell.

Following this Town launched a quick counter attack with Kain Bond's run being halted by Sam Eglinton at the expense of a corner, which was headed away by another former Town player, home captain and birthday boy Peter Davey, who had an outstanding game at the heart of the Athletic defence.

Jewell found his name going into referee Steve Paul's notebook after 23 minutes when he kicked the ball away in anger after conceding a free kick in midfield. This was just one of countless free kicks awarded to both sides in a game that was never allowed to flow.

Five minutes later, Steve Warr was cautioned for a tackle from behind, the resultant free kick being cleared away eventually by Davey and a couple of minutes later Town's Fergus Nevin was shown a yellow card but Penryn failed to take advantage of the free kick with Neil Bettis heading the ball away.

Town started to come into the game more as half time neared with Andy Bowker having a fine run on the right and whipping over a good cross, but Athletic 'keeper Andy Butcher was alert and gathered it safely before Bond could get to the ball.

Ten minutes before the break a Falmouth corner was only partially cleared to Bond but he shot wide through a packed penalty area.

Five minutes later Stidwell cut in from the right and hit a fierce shot which Murphy did well to push away for a corner.

Play switched to the other end where a fine move between Squires and Bowker ended with Bond hitting the ball over the bar from the edge of the box.

The deadlock was broken just three minutes before the break when the busy Matt Cusack put in a fine run down the wing and delivered a great cross into the box which Bond headed home from eight yards to give Town the lead.

Athletic started the second half at a fast pace and Town's defence had to be alert to snuff out a Band move as he cut into the area.

A quarter of an hour into the second half, Bowker put over a high cross from the right and Fergus Nevin came charging in to head home from close range to double Town's lead.

Atheltic put both their substitutes on and Town brought on former Penryn defender Ben Goldring to replace Glen Squires.

Town also brought on Steve Sims to replace Bond as both teams started to tire in the hot conditions and play not surprisingly, eased up a bit from the fast-paced game it had been earlier.

Bowker put over a couple of crosses in the next few minutes but the home defence came out on top on both occasions and the hard working striker was substituted by Rob Francis for the final few minutes of the game.

Nevin had a free kick tipped over the bar for a corner and Athletic saw a last- minute shot go across the face of Murphy's goal to deny them a late consolation.

Falmouth face a long trip to Hallen in the next round. Town are hoping to run a coach and anyone interested is asked to contact the secretary on 01326 378352 or email pidgeon1981@hotmail.com.

On Saturday Athletic are away to Camelford in the South West Peninsula League and Town travel to Clyst Rovers.