Falmouth Town 3 - Willand Rovers 3

It was very much a game of two halves at Bickland Park in the second game of Falmouth Town's new venture into the Southern League, writes Scott McCormack.

They went in at half-time three goals up against ten-man Willand Rovers, only to concede three after the break resulting in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Falmouth preferred Andy Elcock to the in-form Jack Webber in midfield and started again with Cam Hutchison in an attacking midfield role, with Rubin Wilson starting from the bench.  New signing from Helston Athletic, Kai Cornish, is still to reappear after his pre-season injury.

Willand Rovers started with River Allen in midfield, who has played for a number of local clubs at this level and above, after initially being with Plymouth Argyle.

It was an even start to the first half with neither side creating any clear-cut chances but the game changed on 22 minutes when Willand captain Owen Howe was sent off for an elbow on Falmouth's Tom Annear. The linesman refreshingly stepping forward with an opinion as the incident happened right in front of him.

Three minutes later Falmouth's Luke Barner opened the scoring from a cross by Oscar Massey. Massey ran on to a clever ball inside the full back and cut the ball back to Barner who was waiting on the edge of the six-yard box. He calmly side footed his shot past George Burton in the Willand goal to make it 1-0 to Falmouth.

Falmouth then scored again on 41minutes. A foul was committed on the edge of the area by River Allen and Tom Annear stepped up to the free-kick and scored with a low strike which crept under the wall and found the bottom corner.

Falmouth's third goal of the half was scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Some questionable defending by the Willand back-line after an errant back pass resulting in a rushed clearance from Burton which fell to Barner, who passed it into the net from just outside of the area for his second of the match and to make it 3-0 to Falmouth at the break.

Again the second half started fairly evenly with Luke Barner having a good headed chance saved by George Burton in the Willand Goal. He was soon to rue that miss, as on 17 minutes, Willand got their first goal back.

A mix-up in the Falmouth defence culminated in Finlay Rourke poking the ball past the on-rushing Coxhead, who had come out of his box to try to claim the ball, and it rolled agonisingly into the Falmouth net.

In the 25th minute Willand scored another with a River Allen strike from the edge of the box after a good build-up.

Falmouth were now reeling and Wiland, with their ten men, were dominant. The come back was completed two minutes later as Willand equalised through Rourke after another misunderstanding at the back from the normally imperious Falmouth defence.

River Allen then hit the bar for Willand and Barner hit the post for Falmouth but the score remained at 3-3 to end an eventful first Saturday afternoon game for Falmouth in the Southern League.

Although Falmouth will be disappointed that Willand were able to get the draw from what looked like an impossible position, they will have learned that in this league the game is never won until the final whistle is blown.

Four points from a possible six is a good return from Westgarth’s men though, as they adapt to the higher standards of step 4 football.

Falmouth’s next challenge is an away tie to Bashley on Saturday, August 31, before entertaining Cinderford Town on the following Saturday in their first FA Trophy match for many years. They will be hoping for another big crowd for that one as the Bickland Park faithful love a national cup competition after their exploits in the FA Vase last season.

Falmouth Town: Morgan Coxhead, Bradley Leivers , Tom Annear, James Ward(c), Harrison Jewell, Luke Barner , Andy Elcock, Cam Hutchison, Oscar Massey, Andrea's Calleja-Stayne.
Subs: Jack Webber, Luke Brabyn, Tom Fisher, Rubin Wilson, Andrew Westgarth.

Willand Rovers: George Burton, Adam Whitfield, Ryan Guppy, Jack Kennell, Ross Edwards, Jamie Richards, Oliver Sully, Ashton Hewitt, Owen Howe (c), River Allen, Douglas Camillo.
Subs: Nathan Byrne, Finlay Rourke, Charlie Miller, Michael Lilley.