Saturday 3 December 2005

Grampound 3-2 Looe Town

(Duchy League Div 3)
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Grampound put their recent poor run to an end with an excellent win in an sparkling game. Grampound began well, moving and passing with some authority in the opening exchanges but shooting opportunities for Brooker and Cotterill ended with the ball flying just the wrong side of the post on both occasions. With Harris keeping Barton quiet in Grampound's new look back three and the midfield five dominating their area it was no surprise when Grampound took the lead. A long ball forward was picked up by Cotterill and he volleyed past the keeper's right hand from just outside the 18 yard line. Now a goal down, Looe stepped up their pace and Grampound were under sustained pressure for the first time but with Weeks always available as an outlet and Glyn Ford running and turning defenders there was always the chance that Looe would over-extend themselves. This duly happened just before half time when Ford went past two defenders in the penalty area, only for the second of them to bring him down for a clear penalty. Cotterill calmly dispatched the spot-kick to give Grampound a pleasing 2-0 half-time lead.

The second half saw Grampound having to defend for long periods, but Looe were restricted to few real chances although Tony Ford made an excellent point-blank save to keep out the visitors. With James Webb and John Brooker plugging the gaps and tackling well in midfield, it looked as if the half-time score would remain but, for once, Barton evaded the marking and his deflected shot from distance put Looe back in the game. As has happened so many times in the past, Grampound had allowed their opposition back into a game that looked won, and with half an hour to go it looked ominous. The pressure was relieved with 15 minutes remaining when Maker's pinpoint pass into Cotterill's run gave the experienced player the chance for his hat-trick and his cool finish restored the two goal lead. This was not maintained for long, though, when a desperate Looe launched a free kick into Grampound's area and Barton, for once, rose unchallenged to head them back into contention. With 10 minutes remaining it was backs to the wall stuff as Looe flooded forward in search of a point. This left a few spaces at their back and Grampound had a number of opportunities to put the result beyond doubt but could not quite manage to put the ball away. At the final whistle both teams knew they had taken part in an excellent game but Grampound were deserved winners, with the 3 points putting their season back on track and new manager Glyn Leaney had achieved his first victory as manager.

Squad

1 Ford T
2 Harris
3 Leaney
4 Cooper
5 Weeks
6 Webb J
7 Maker
8 Brooker, John
9 Toms (sub Bawden, 65)
10 Cotterill
11 Ford G

Goals

Cotterill (25, 43pen, 75)

Man of the Match

Shane Weeks

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Red Cards

Nonen of the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards