PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 2 FALMOUTH TOWN 0 Falmouth Town will have to play a lot better than in their opening spat at Plymouth Parkway if they are aiming to play in the Premier Division of the new Peninsula League when it starts next season.

Their inexperienced lineup will struggle for the top seven finish that is required unless they get their act together pretty sharpish.

Fielding a completely new team from the successful one of last term, Town were fortunate that Parkway were without ace hitmen Mike Southgate and Andy Sargent. Returning manager Steve Massey included six former Town players in his starting line up with three more on the bench.

The signs were ominous from the start when after only two minutes Parkway's first attack ulminated in Martyn Sullivan's header hitting the crossbar before being cleared.

On the quarter hour the Town goal had a lucky escape when a right wing cross evaded the attempted clearances and Danny Brook, unmarked at the far post and with time and space on his side, scuffed his shot badly wide!

Six minutes later, the home side went 1-0 up. A cross from the right wing was left by Joe Tickle and Sullivan beat Sam Twyford for the ball and easily headed the ball past the stranded 'keeper.

Within two minutes a mistake by Wayne Brown went unpunished as Town managed to mop up and turned to attack. Carlton Farnham beat the offside trap and weaved his way into a shooting position but his shot was straight at Joey Syndecombe in the home goal.

With ten minutes left before half time Tickle fumbled again when he flapped at another cross but made amends with a fine save from Lee Doel.

On 42 minutes Tickle made a good save by tipping a curling shot away for a corner and from the flag kick he punched clear under pressure, but the referee awarded a free kick for a foul on the Town custodian.

As injury time approached, Town missed a glorious chance to equalise. Luke Weston, brother of Adam, was clean through on goal but he opted to place his shot and Syndecombe made a good if easy save.

A minute into the second half, new captain Brown sloppily gave the ball away to Paul Edwards who slipped it to Koran Whitfeld. His neat pass to Doel saw him evade a hopeless challenge from Lee Beer and he coolly rounded Tickle to score a fine goal.

Virgil Igalawuye shot wide and minutes later Brook hit a shot which took a slight deflection which Tickle held well.

Mark Gammon managed to get on the end of a cross and his weak header was fumbled by Tickle who had a poor first game, but his blushes were spared when the referee awarded a free kick for a foul on the 'keeper.

In the 59th minute Sullivan picked up the only booking of the day for dissent.

Three minutes later, Parkway brought on Neil Robertson for Kevin Robinson and two minutes later, Aidan Dodd for Whitfeld.

Steve Massey made a triple substitution in the 65th minute with Nick Pugliese, Bobby Bryant and Steve Burt replacing Sam Twyford, Darren Burchell and Lee Blatchford.

The change certainly injected life into the Town team and there was a sense of urgency and determination.

Eight minutes from time James Corden replaced Sullivan for Parkway.

Five minutes later Pugliese shot wide and in stoppage time Adam Weston's determination to chase what appeared a "lost" cause resulted in him winning a corner and from Pugliese's kick he headed inches wide.

Overall it was a disappointing and ineffective performance. Weak at the back, and nothing up front, these are two positions that will need to be improved upon if Town are going to be a force this season - and at the moment that isn't looking likely.

They have a tough task in the next game when they again travel to Bolitho Park where they take on many people's title tips, Plymouth Argyle "A".

They begin their home games on Saturday against Saltash United and entertain Goonhavern on Tuesday August 22.

Town: J. Tickle, S. Twyford (S. Burt), F. Nevin, W. Brown, H. Howlett, L. Beer, D. Burchell (N. Pugliese), A. Weston, L. Weston, C. Farnham, L. Blatchford (B. Bryant). Subs (unused): S. Winnan and C. Strike.