Saturday 15 September

Premier Sixes 7-2 Grampound Res.

(Duchy league Division 5)

Back to Fixtures 2007-8

Grampound’s Reserves eventually got their season underway against the strong favourites for Duchy 5 in Premier Sixes. Manager Topham had a squad of 15 to choose from despite having Jo Dunn, Al Berry, Gunn and Gadsby missing.

Premier Sixes drew first blood inside the opening 15 minutes when a long ball found Neil Currah who created havoc down the Grampound right all game and although the ball should have been cleared Currah smashed the ball into the roof of the net from an angle just inside the penalty area. Martyn Probert made it two when he outpaced Topham before finding the corner of the net and Tom Currah volleyed home from a corner after the Grampound defence were caught sleeping to make it three. All the goals were soft from a Grampound point-of-view. Probert side-footed wide from 6 yards out when he should have made it four after another quick break from Premier Sixes.

Grampound were given a lifeline 5 minutes from the break when the referee adjudged that Dan Jones had upended Ryan Orchard in the penalty area much to the surprise of both teams. Grampound however accepted the gift when Topham stroked home the spot kick finding the corner of the net past Ringrose’s despairing dive. Kev Toms had a good chance to grab a second Grampound goal right on half time following a delightful chipped through-ball from Ian Varnell with the outside of his right boot but Toms fired over with just Ringrose to beat.

The goal just before half-time seemed to have given Grampound some renewed confidence with the opening period of the half evenly matched. The first goal of the second half was now going to be the crucial one and it came from Premier Sixes with the goal of the game when Sam Leamy found the top corner from just outside the penalty area with a great strike – not really a lot the Grampound defence could do about this goal. Probert then side-footed home number five from close range. Skipper Toms left the field for Chip Varnell who was called into action straight away clearing Tony Cock’s header off the line. Dan Parsonage made it six bundling home a loose ball from close range despite the Grampound defence having several chances to clear the danger.

Paul Noonan and Anthony “Mouse” Leaney came on for Orchard and Berry as Topham made further changes. Woodman then met Bawden’s delightful corner to find the roof of the net with a header from close range after a flap from Ringrose in the home goal to make the score 6-2. Dan Code and Probert were then denied by fantastic saves from Bennett-Glew as they both wasted good 1-on-1 chances, it looked as if the scoring was over until Tom Currah drilled home number seven from the edge of the penalty area.

Grampound can take heart from the fact the never stopped battling all game but will need to tighten up at the back in the next series of winnable games as the team gifted Premier Sixes several chances. Varnell and man-of-the-match James battled hard in midfield but the side lacked creativity in midfield that will be needed to break down the weaker sides in the division. Premier Sixes however on this showing will surely be the team to beat in the division this season.

Squad

1. Bennett-Glew

2. Berry M (sub Leaney A, 75)

3. Woodman

4. Topham

5. Yeo

6. Ward

7. Toms (sub Varnell C, 60)

8. James R

9. Varnell I

10. Orchard R (sub Noonan, 70)

11. Bawden

Goals

Topham (pen, 40), Woodman (80)

Man of the Match

Richie James

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

n of the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards