Saturday 26 January 2008

Grampound 0-2 St Cleer

(Duchy League Division 2)
Back to Fixtures

Grampound adjusted to a 4-4-2 system for the visit of runaway league leaders St Cleer and it seemed to pay off as the illustrious visitors were unable to impose themselves on the game in any way in the first half. Indeed, it was Grampound who were first to the ball and were giving the visiting back four a tough time. Grampound thought they had taken the lead on the half hour when Andy James chipped the ball into the St Cleer penalty area over the last defender and Glyn Ford ran past him to flick the ball past the goalkeeper from six yards. As the ball hit the net up went the linesman's flag to deny Grampound a well-deserved lead for a very dubious offside. The physicality of Stuart Harris and the passing of Ryan Maker allowed Grampound to boss the centre of midfield for much of the opening half and at half-time the team were up-beat after denying the visitors any real sniff of a goal.

Grampound were under more pressure in the second half but Harry Cooke in the Grampound goal had very little to do as Grampound's defence repeatedly closed the door on any St Cleer move. The opening goal, when it came on 75 minutes, was a result of a serious defensive error as Greg Dunn was dispossessed just outside the Grampound area. The shot that came in was not hit particularly well but had enough on it to evade the right hand of the Grampound keeper. Grampound changed things round to try and recover the goal but in the last minute of added time another soft goal gave St Cleer the opportunity to extend their lead and give the scoreline an unrepresentative slant.

Grampound played well, but a little sharper cutting edge might have made the difference. St Cleer were very solid but did not have the aura of runaway leaders. At times their play was scrappy and this was one of the quietest games a Grampound keeper has had all season. However, if you can win when not exactly on top, that is championship form.

Squad

1.Cooke
2. Webb (sub Dunn J, 75)
3. Leaney
4. Fletcher
5. Woodman A
6. James A (sub Dunn D, 65)
7. Maker
8. Harris
9. Dunn G
10. Weeks
11. Ford G

Goals

Man of the Match

Stuart Harris.

Yellow Cards

James Webb

Red Cards

f the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards