THE Clyst Rovers report said that if play was not the best then supporters could lean over the fence and do a bit of plane spotting, Cullompton has the same benefit but to train spotters, the High Speed 125s thunder down one touchline at over a ton, bound for London and the North.

Hopes were high for the final away league game at distant Cullompton, after the previous week's midweek win, relegation was no longer an issue so confidence should have been high, no fear factor and a fluent performance was expected.

Sadly it all went wrong and the Magpies were simply not at the races, second best for the whole of the game which had all the attributes of an end of season, no issues, bore draw (except they lost), writes Alistair Clements.

A hint of things to come came early on in the fifth minute, Cullompton clattered Holsworthy's bar although the Magpies then showed a short spell of bright endeavour but Cullompton responded with much pressure, four or five corners on the trot.

The game then subsided into half an hour of not very much at all , but hopes were raised when Lee Rundle headed past Cullompton's goalkeeper Chris Garnsworthy, only to be ruled offside. Jase Cisneros then had a fine long run before shooting just over the bar to go into half time with the score at 0-0.

The second half started with a Cullompton free kick from Matt Dawson which the Holsworthy defence stood and watched as it went into the corner of the net to commence the scoring at 1-0 .

Straight from the kick off, a second goal in less than 30 seconds was scored when Cullompton's Harry Taylor sped through the centre of the defence to shoot past emergency 'keeper Ian Rowe, playing in place of Dean Chidley who had dislocated a finger in the previous game. Rowe, out for many weeks with injury himself was seriously immobile and could hardly kick the ball, although it was perhaps creditable that he played at all. Another Taylor shot then rapped the crossbar.

At 65 minutes Lee Rundle brought down Taylor, who was causing all sorts of problems, on the edge of the box and the resultant penalty was put away, needless to say, by Mr Taylor 0-3.

Holsworthy substitutions resulted in the ball being played high into the Cullompton box with Levi Landricombe outjumping the 'keeper to claw a goal back. It was a fine goal which the 'keeper should have dealt with better but that was hardly Landricombe's problem.

Ty Lavis was badly brought down by a heavy tackle and a stretcher had to be called though fortunately, he was ultimately able to hobble off. Two of the younger players, Sam Cameron and Cameron Colquhoun came on only for a 30 yard shot from Danny Burwood to split the Holsworthy defence to record Cullompton's fourth goal.

Holsworthy's reliance on the long ball upfield paid no dividends and the score at the final whistle remained at 4-1. There were no grounds for complaint.

A disappointing result but Wednesday's Bodmin Town game (Bodmin have already been crowned champions and rumoured to have one player alone paid more than the whole Holsworthy squad put together) should be fun, followed by the Torridge Cup Final to bring the season to an end.