Falmouth Town 3 - Cinderford Town 0

Falmouth Town overcame their fellow Southern League South opponents Cinderford Town in front of a large vocal crowd of 373 at Bickland Park on Saturday, writes Scott McCormack.

This was Town's first FA Trophy tie since 1981, with goals from Oscar Massey, Rubin Wilson and Luke Brabyn.

Manager Andy Westgarth fielded a changed starting line-up to keep his squad fresh. With captain James Ward unavailable, Tom Annear, who recently celebrated making his 250th appearance for the club, stepped up.

The club also welcomed back Marcello Jones, who has been playing in the USA over the last few years. Luke Brabyn started in place of Luke Barner, and Tom Fisher took his place at right-back, with Harrison Jewell moving to his preferred centre-back role.

Cinderford are struggling at the bottom of the Pitching In Southern League Division 1 South table, with no wins from five games played. However they started strongly, with big centre forward Mike Symons and schemer Marley Thomas causing problems for the Falmouth defence for the majority of the first half.

Indeed, Falmouth had to survive a series of corners and set-pieces where Cinderford were unlucky not to score, although Falmouth defended admirably with a great save low-down from Morgan Coxhead and an amazing diving header from Harrison Jewell turning the ball around the post from a Cinderford strike.

Punctuating the Cinderford attacks, Falmouth’s prolific striker Oscar Massey was taking up a position wide on the left whilst out of possession and he was giving the Cinderford right-back a torrid time as he took him on, cut in and drove into the box.

However, it was Falmouth Town who struck first right on the stroke of half-time. On 47 minutes, a rare aerial pass to Rubin Wilson was nodded down to Luke Brabyn who was attacking down the right.

Brabyn took on his full back and lashed the ball into the top corner to make it 1-0 against the run of play and maintain his impressive record of scoring in FA competitions, having been successful during Falmouth’s recent FA Vase runs.

Falmouth went in to the break then 1-0 up and made it 2-0 two minutes into the second half courtesy of Rubin Wilson. A defensive slip-up from the Cinderford right back resulted in the ball falling to their centre-back, whilst under pressure from Wilson. He couldn’t make the clearance and Wilson pounced to convert from just inside the area.

Cinderford could not replicate their first half dominance and Falmouth comfortably negotiated the second half, with the rain pouring down on the Bickland Park faithful.

After about 20 minutes, Falmouth made a triple substitution welcoming Marcello Jones, Cam Hutchison and Luke Barner to the fray. Jones looked the pick of the bunch with his intelligent runs off the ball and clever short and long passing.

The third and final goal was another late one after 91 minutes. Substitute Hutchison showcased his close-control in the box bamboozling the tired Cinderford defence before squaring to an unmarked Massey at the far post who scored a deserved tap-in after tireless running throughout the game.

In the end it was a much-deserved win as they weathered the storm and then took control in the later stages.

Falmouth will be the only Cornish team left at this stage of the competition, with fellow Southern League clubs Helston Athletic and Mousehole both drawing before falling short in their respective penalty shoot-outs. Truro City, of the National League South, will join the competition in its latter stages.

This Saturday, Falmouth resume their league campaign with a home tie against Thatcham Town. They will need a big turn-out from their home support to spur them on to another win, to keep the pressure on the sides at the top of the table - two of which are their local rivals in Helston and Mousehole.

Their form at Bickland Park will be crucial this season and their “12th man” will be much-needed in every game.

Falmouth Town: Morgan Coxhead. Bradley Leivers, Tom Annear, Harrison Jewell, Tom Fisher, Andreas Callejas-Stayne, Andy Elcock, Jared Sims, Luke Brabyn, Rubin Wilson, Oscar Massey. Subs: Marcello Jones, Jack Webber, Andy Westgarth, Cam Hutchinson, Luke Barner.

Cinderford Town: Joel Manning, Ben Vine, Joe Keeping, Adam Davies, Mike Symons, Dale Evans, Lenny Johnson, Ben Watkins (c), Curtis Bell, Marley Thomas, Myles Colson.

Subs: Yakubu Ismall, Blaine Waugh, Josh Aldridge, Will Cape, Matthew Driscoll.

Referee: Luke McPharlane.