Saturday 17 November 2007

Holywell Bay/Cubert Athletic 1-1 Grampound

(Duchy League Division 2)
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As has been the pattern for a number of weeks, Grampound began slowly and the defence was under pressure from the start as the home side threw crosses into the penalty box. I needed some heroic defending by the back three of leaney, Webb and Fletcher to keep Holywell Bay at bay but Gramound were their own worst enemies at times as the bal was repeatedly presented to the opposition under little or no pressure. However, key tackles were being won and Cooke in the Grampound goal was not under undue pressure, Holywell Bay's best first half opportunity being when a corner was forcefully headed goalwards, only for Cooke to make an excellent one-handed save above his head followed by a smart punch to clear the goal area.

Grampound looked marginally the better side in the second half but the home team created a few good chances to take the lead. Cooke managed to snatch the ball from a home forward when it seemed that he must score. Cooke made a couple of saves but pressure at the other end was also being placed on the home defence and Weeks was unfortunate to be denied what looked like a reasonable penalty decision as he cruised past the last defender. In Grampound's danger area Chad Gibson was causing his usual problems but he was exceedingly well-marshalled by Matt Fletcher who denied the prolific goalscorer a real chance all afternoon.

As the game progressed, Grampound's confidence grew and the home team became more and more frustrated. Weeks was kicked off the ball in full view of the referee but the offender was shown a yellow card only. Ford, Weeks and Maker went close for Grampound in the final part of the game but it was clear that frustration and disharmony in the home camp was beginning to make Grampound's task easier, as did their passing which showed huge improvement from the start of the game. Holywell Bay became increasingly frustrated with each other, with Grampound and with the referee as they did not make their expected breakthrough. In the final minutes, Holywell Bay threw everything at Grampound in an effort to take the lead but succeeded only in getting names into the referee's book. One minute from time a long throw from Grampound's left was headed towards safety by Fletcher but the ball hit fellow defender Leaney and flew into the top corner. Grampound could not believe they had conceded with only seconds left and after defending so well for so long . Not to be down for too long, Grampound launched a final attack b ut an over-zealous tackle gave Grampound a free-kick wide out on the left. Maker's clever, low freekick in towards the edge of the six yard box saw Glyn Ford escape his maker to slide the ball past a helpless home keeper. Grampound were jubilant but Holywell Bay managed to upset the referee over a disputed throw-in and one of their players was shown a straight red card, following a yellow about 10 minutes earlier. It was a pity that most of the Holywell Bay team saw fit to leave the field after refusing to shake hands with their opponents. Congratulations to those few of them who managed to take not winning like men.

Squad

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

Goals

Ford G (90)

Man of the Match

Matt Fletcher

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

f the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards