Falmouth Town 5 - Torpoint Athletic 0

It was the Oscar Massey show again on Saturday as the prolific Town striker continued his form of last season with a four-goal haul in this FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against Torpoint Athletic at a sunny Bickland Park, writes Scott McCormack.

Falmouth were nearly back to full strength, with only Reuben Wilson and Kai Cornish missing, and started new signing Harrison Jewell in what looked like a three-man central defence. Luke Barner and Bradley Leivers lined up as wing-backs, and Jack Webber started in central midfield after a frustrating injury-hit last season.

It was a frenetic first ten minutes with neither side taking control. This all changed on 11 minutes when Massey struck for the first time.

Luke Barner picked the ball up on the right-hand side in the Torpoint half and played a straight ball through the defence. Massey, who played on the shoulder of the Torpoint defence all game, outpaced everyone, rounded the keeper and passed it in to the net to make it 1-0.

Massey nearly made it two a couple of minutes later when he was put through and went one-on-one with Marshall in the Torpoint goal. However, this time he could only hit the foot of the right-hand post and the score remained the same.

Falmouth were in the ascendancy and it was only a matter of time before they went ahead again. On 29 minutes, a good ball down the right from Jewell found Barner who got to the touch-line and crossed to Massey in the box. A good first touch gave Massey the space he needed and he side-footed it past Marshall to extend the lead.

The game remained one-sided with Torpoint unable to create any threat of note but the half ended at 2-0 and Town looked on course to pick up the healthy £1,125 prize money for winning the tie.

The second half started eventfully when, on two minutes, a break down the left resulted in a cross to Jack Webber, who had made a run into the box. Webber was clearly pulled back by the Torpoint defender but the ref waved play on.

The ball ended up with Jared Sims, who squared it from the left for Webber to bundle the ball home from two yards out. Webber had an excellent game and never stopped running as he renewed his partnership with the ever-improving Andreas Calleja-Stayne in central midfield.

The game was put beyond Torpoint ten minutes in when Massey bagged his hat-trick, taking the ball around the keeper after a good move down the left involving Sims.

Town manager Westgarth then understandably started to make the changes, with Tom Fisher replacing Jewell. The new signing from Helston had an accomplished game alongside Ward and Annear and looks to be a great addition, continuing the predominantly local flavour of the squad.

Goal five was again scored by Massey after 35 minutes. This time it was Leivers who got down the left and threaded the ball through to Massey who out-paced the central defender, ran through on goal and converted for his fourth.

Three minutes later and he nearly got his fifth after he again hit the post from a one-on-one with Marshall.

All game he got the ball down, ran at the defence and caused havoc and Torpoint could do nothing about it. He will be a key player for Falmouth in the coming months as they embrace the challenge of the Southern League South.

Falmouth made several more changes but could not add to their lead and it finished in a comfortable 5-0 victory and a boost to their morale after a win-less pre-season.

Falmouth will be away to the winners of the tie between Helston Athletic and Barnstaple Town, which finished at 3-3 - Barnstaple having come back from 2-0 down to take the lead, only for Helston to equalise late on to force the replay.

Next Saturday brings another historic milestone for Town as they play their first ever game in the Southern League away to Bashley, a team from the New Forest. The following Tuesday sees them host their first ever game at this level when they entertain Tavistock, familiar opponents in the past from their SW Peninsula league days.

A long season awaits, but on this evidence Falmouth look like they will be equal to the challenge.

Falmouth Town: Morgan Coxhead, Harrison Jewell, Tom Annear, James Ward ©, Bradley Leiver, Luke Barner, Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Jack Webber, Jared Sims, Cam Hutchison, Oscar Massey.
Subs: Tom Fisher, Max Everall, Charlie Edney, Andy Elcock, Luke Brabyn, Ned Symons.

Referee: Andy Hobbs.