A member of the St Piran Football League  

Match Report

Grampound 3-2 North Petherwin Res.

15th January 2022

Duchy League Division 2

Grampound welcomed a strong North Petherwin team who were sitting second in the division and who had inflicted a very convincing 4-0 defeat on Grampound a few weeks back.  However, this was a Grampound team that looked a little stronger after a few new signings  and the home management was looking for a decent result, with a strong bench to call on as the game progressed.
Grampound have not been great starters in matches but today took the lead on just before 5 minutes on the clock as Dylan Fox slotted home following a fine through ball.  Fox remained a sharp thorn in the side of the visitors throughout the game with his running, pressing and sheer aggression with and without the ball.  The away team seemed to settle  after that first goal against and Grampound defenders had to work hard to keep them out.  With 35 minutes gone, however, Grampound extended their lead when Sam Blount, having only his third start of the season, ran onto another through ball and neatly volleyed a lob over the advancing keeper into the net to put Grampound two goals up.
The second half seemed to follow a similar  pattern, Grampound looking reasonably comfortable in defence with the away side apparently becoming more and more frustrated with the game and a few refereeing decisions that they did not like.  A NP player, upon being given offside decided to smash the ball away in frustration and was shown a yellow card. Soon after, he was shown  a second yellow (I think) and he had his marching orders with a red.  The away team now, however, shortened their passing with 10 men and looked the more dangerous side for it. Eventually, with Grampound's defenders marking poorly they pulled a goal back and that was the signal for them to throw even more men forward. Grampound, unused to the winning position against a top side, did not look as comfortable as earlier and eventually more poor marking gave the opportunity to reduce the arrears.  Grampound now expected an even bigger onslaught but it was they who scored next.  A corner from the right was not well hit but found its way to Dan Smith who made no mistake from close range to put Grampound 3-1 ahead.  With time running out, NP continued to throw players forward but it took a free kick from near the corner flag for them to reduce the arrears again, a striker somehow finding space to head home from 3 yards.  The remaining 7 minutes saw Grampound hanging on and NP missing some half chances.  The final whistle was welcomed by the home side, as were the 3 points gained by the win.