Saturday 12 April

Grampound Res.7-0 Plymouth University XI

(Friendly)
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A weakened Grampound Reserves face a Plymouth University XI which contained Grampound Reserves player Kev Toms. Manager Topham decided to experiment with a 3-4-3 formation with next week's cup game against St Dominick in mind as the side need to score at least 3 goals to have any chance of going through.
 
The game started off at a frantic place with very little between the teams. Grampound opened the scoring half way through the half when Bawden's quick free-kick found Fryer who roasted the full-back before crossing for Gunn to head home from 6 yards. Fryer, who was giving the away defence a torrid time, soon got on the scoresheet himself when he collected a Topham through ball to find the corner of the net. Gunn added his third before half time from close range after some neat passing on the edge of the area. Bennett-Glew pulled off two good stops to keep the opposition out through the half, one from a Toms drive from the edge of the area and one from close range following a corner. Topham almost made it four on the stroke of half-time but his free-kick was headed off the line by Toms.
 
Topham asked for more of the same in the second half with the side becoming increasingly dominant as the half progressed.
 
Topham had two efforts cleared off the line, both times by Toms, Yeo fired just over the bar and Bawden headed just wide, as Grampound Reserves, playing some their best ever football, cut the away defence open at will. Fryer grabbed the fourth goal with a thumping header following a superb whipped in free-kick from Topham. Gunn then grabbed the fifth and his hat-trick after rounding the keeper after latching on to a long clearance from Bennett-Glew. Berry grabbed the sixth after a Topham through ball.
 
Plymouth, who had a couple of lively forwards, always looked a threat on the break but man markers Woodman and Al Berry gave the danger men a rare sniff of the ball, although Bennett-Glew did make two impressive stops to keep out a Plymouth midfield player who twice broke on goal.
 
Grampound made it seven in the last 10 minutes when Gunn's shot was saved only for substitute Jenkin to roll the ball into the unguarded net from 6 yards, his first goal in a Grampound shirt.
 
Overall this was an excellent team performance, the fact it was a friendly seemed to relax most players and meant that some excellent football was played. It would be impossible to pick a man of the match as every player had a good game. The returning Varnell probably covered more distance alongside Mike Berry in the middle of midfield and they controlled the game throughout; going forward the front three of Gunn, Bawden (and later Jenkin) and Fryer caused the defence endless problems. Yeo and Joe Dunn out wide played with plenty of confidence, defended well when required and produced some dangerous crosses. The back three of Al Berry, Topham and Woodman looked solid through-out and when required Bennett-Glew produced some good saves.
 
The team know that next week's game will be a lot tougher and the players won't have as much time on the ball, but this performance and result has given the team some confidence going into what will be a very difficult game. Topham will also have some selection headaches with several players to come back into the squad.

Squad

1.  Bennett-Glew
2.  Berry A
3.   Topham
4.  Woodman
5.  Dunn J
6.   Varnell I
7.   Berry M
8.   Yeo
9.   Fryer
10. Bawden (sub Jenkin 60)
11.  Gunn

Goals

Gunn (22, 40, 65), Fryer (30, 57), Berry M (70), Jenkin 80

Man of the Match

Yellow Cards

None

Red Cards

Nonen of the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards