Saturday 8 March 2008

Grampound 1-3 Holywell Bay/Cubert Athletic

(Duchy League Division 2)
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Grampound started very slowly in what they knew would be a difficult game. Grampound's defence looked solid, however, in the opening quarter of an hour and Ford in goal had little to do. As the half progressed Grampound looked stronger but gave away a soft goal on 25 minutes when Holywell players were allowed space and time to pick their passes and the final shot into the corner left everyone wondering why it had been allowed so easily. Grampound responded straight away and Weeks' ball into the area was missed by a visiting defender and Max Varnell had what looked an easy chance from 6 yards. He did not hit the ball well, though, and the keeper managed to divert the ball around the post. Minutes later Weeks had a similar chance and he too scuffed his shot and the visitors escaped again. Ten minutes before the break Grampound were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and Shane Weeks hit a blistering free kick that rattled the crossbar with the keeper beaten, but just minutes later Grampound half-cleared a corner only for a visiting player to be allowed a free turn on the edge of the area. Naturally, his eventual shot found the corner of the net for a rather unconvincing two goal lead.

Grampound started the second half in determined mood and pressed back the visitors for long periods. Headers from Cooper and Varnell went close and a number of half chances seemed only to want a touch to put Grampound back in the game. The visitors were defending stoutly but with 25 minutes left Cooper's cross evaded the keeper to nestle in the net and Grampound were back in with a chance and poured forward in search of an equaliser. Holywell Bay survived a number of dangerous situations, especially when Weeks' shot from the edge of the area flashed just the wrong side of the post. With five minutes remaining Ford was cynically fouled on the edge of the visitors' penalty area and the culprit could easily have been shown a card. The ball, however, found its way to Harris 15 yards out and he should have scored but his shot, not the strongest, was diverted past the post. Holywell Bay scored the final goal with minutes remaining when a midfield player, who had won every ball in the air all afternoon, was allowed the freedom of the Grampound penalty area to head an aemphatic third goal for the visitors to give them a very flattering scoreline.

Grampound's very spirited second half performance was worth at least a point, but they did not get what they deserved. The performance of Grampound's new signings Clements and Rosevear, coming off the bench in a difficult game, showed that the club could do well in the run in of the remaining fixtures.

Squad

1. Ford T
2. James A (sub Clements, 60)
3. Webb
4. Fletcher
5. Dunn G
6. Cotterill (sub Rosevear, 65)
7. Cooper
8. Harris
9. Ford G
10. Varnell M
11. Weeks

Goals

Cooper (55)

Man of the Match

Stuart Harris

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

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