Saturday 18 March 2006

St Mawgan 2-1 Grampound

(Duchy League Div 3)
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St Mawgan were intent on keeping their Division 3 status by fielding a much strengthened team that appeared to be mainly Premier Division players and unrecognisable from that which battled excellently to win a point at Grampound at the end of January. This did not seem particularly sporting to the other relegation-threatened clubs, nor fair to their own regular players. Grampound again began the match well, making several good shooting chances in the opening exchanges without really extending the St Mawgan goalkeeper. As the half wore on, though, it became clear that the added passing ability of some of the St Mawgan team was going to make it a difficult afternoon for Grampound. The howling crosswind and a lively pitch made it hard for either team to gain much control but it was St Mawgan who seized their opportunities when Grampound twice failed to clear properly and they went into the break two goals up.

Grampound played much better in the second half and mostly outplayed their more illustrious opponents. With Webb and Harris shackling the lively St Mawgan strikers, Grampound pushed on and made a number of good chances. The introduction of Cotterill gave Grampound added control and shape and his prompting from midfield was behind most of Grampound's added threat. Alex Brunt, running selflessly from midfield to join the strikers, managed to get himself into excellent positions to score three times, only for his final shot to be wayward on each occasion. The St Mawgan keeper made an excellent save from Kev Toms, and with time running out Glyn Ford was put clear. His shot ricocheted between keeper and defender and ended up in the net to put the away team back in the match. Grampound pushed on in the remaining minutes but could not quite prise open another clear opening. Grampound were disappointed to lose narrowly against, effectively, a Premier Division team, but were even more disappointed with the attitude of a club who have cynically fielded such a team when in a Division 3 relegation fight.

Squad

1 Ford T
2 Webb J
3 Leaney
4 Harris
5 Weeks
6 Brunt
7 Maker (sub Cotterill 70)
8 Allen
9 Dunn G
10 Varnell M (sub Toms 55)
11 Ford G

Goals

Own goal (80)

Man of the Match

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