Saturday 26 April 2008

St Columb Minor 1-2 Grampound

(Duchy League Div 2)
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Grampound needed 3 points for guaranteed survival, but so did St Columb Minor, probably more badly than Grampound, and the game had an aggressive edge throughout that the referee did well to keep on top of, even if some players went beyond the accepted on occasions. Grampound started much the better and played some neat passing moves in all areas of the pitch, taking the lead on 18 minutes when excellent link play down the right allowed Matt Fletcher to get to the goal line and pull the ball back to Glyn Ford, who finished the move from eight yards, even if he did not hit his shot as cleanly as he would have liked. Instead of building on the confidence generated by the goal, Grampound eased off the gas and St Columb Minor came more into the game, although the protection for Cooke was such that he had very little to do.

The second half started brightly for Grampound as they pressed back the hosts and soon into the second half, Glyn Ford's speculative cross from the left was met by Matt Fletcher's head and the ball went back across the goalkeeper into the far corner to double Grampound's lead. There was only one team now in control as the confidence surged through the Grampound team and they looked to be cruising to victory, allowing the home team hardly a look in around Grampound's penalty area. Their only move of note was when a long cross from the right was headed goalwards, only to be well gathered by the Grampound keeper. One good, sweeping move, though, changed the atmosphere as a home forward finished off a swift set of passes, managing to knee a lob over Cooke into the away net. It seemed that a backs-to the-wall defensive performance as in the last fixture was going to be needed in the last 20 minutes, and things became worse when a rash challenge resulted with a penalty being awarded against Greg Dunn. It looked as if an equaliser was on the cards but Harry Cooke made an excellent save, moving quickly to his left to parry the shot whch was, admittedly, at a good height for the goalkeeper.

The remaining minutes saw the home team pressing but creating very little. Grampound should have made the game safe at this time as 4 or 5 excellent opportunities were created on the break, but the final ball was lacking in most cases. Grampound held on in a fairly comfortable manner to claim all the points and guarantee division 2 football next season.

Squad

1. Cooke
2. Webb
3. Leaney G
4. Harris
5. Dunn G
6. Rosevear
7. Maker
8. Cooper
9. Weeks
10.Fletcher (sub James A,70)
11.Ford G

Goals

Ford G (18), Fletcher (51)

Man of the Match

Harry Cooke (for winning us 2 extra points with his penalty save) and Glyn Ford (for a much-improved, dynamic performance)

Yellow Cards

None

Red Cards

None of the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards