UNUSUALLY this late in the season, Saturday's away match was the first time the two sides had met, the game at Holsworthy having been a victim of the snow. Torpoint being comfortable in mid-table won't be promoted but not relegated either. Holsworthy certainly won't to be doing the former and are desperately seeking league points to avoid the prospect of the latter, writes Alistair Clements.

Holsworthy have had a "decentish" run lately with a succession of encouraging performances but converting these to wins and three points has eluded them. Torpoint conversely were looking for their seventh consecutive win.

What happened? An unmitigated disaster for Holsworthy despite going a goal ahead after 13 minutes when Alan Clark went off on a mazy run and coolly shot past Torpoint's 'keeper Martin Piper.

The travelling Holsworthy faithful, well into double figures, who undertook the lengthy drive, really believed that the team were in with a serious chance of producing a good performance and a positive result, and the first few minutes were proving them right. Sadly those encouraging thoughts were quickly diminished.

Torpoint, who produce possibly the best programme in the league with over 50 pages for no more than a quid, had other ideas, especially in the form of centre forward Adam Carter, tall, strong and with a surprisingly deft touch for such a big chap, created havoc in the Holsworthy defence. His first goal on 20 minutes equalised the score after a diagonal run from well outside the box which should have been unloaded by two or three defenders, and was played past Holsworthy 'keeper Dean Chidley.

Ten minutes later Lee Rundle brought Carter down inside the box and he took the resultant penalty himself for his second. No complaints about the penalty which was absolutely plum.

Virgil Igalawuye, who played for Holsworthy last season, was having a fine game at the centre of Torpoint's defence easily dealing with a lacklustre Holsworthy attack. Mr Carter looking for his hat- trick, achieved it on 30 minutes scoring from a position which the faithful felt to be grossly offside but frankly it was all the defence deserved.

On the 40th minute Carter scored his fourth with a fine header which should have been cleared by the defender standing in front of him but poor defending was hardly his problem. By now the defence was in disarray, wide open and getting grumpy with one another.

After half time with a 4-1 deficit two substitutions were made by Holsworthy, one player substituted being Sam Cameron who, at least looked if he wanted to make the effort, but to no avail with Marc Bonney heading Torpoint's fifth, Darren Hicks then ran through, shot whilst Dean Chidley stood and watched, presumably because he thought Hicks would be blown-up for being offside. He wasn't and a lesson to play to the whistle. Torpoint 6 Holsworthy 1.

In the last 20 minutes or so Holsworthy began to get their act together with a couple of close chances. Giordani came on and made a fair account of himself but by then the damage was done.

Joint manager Keith Rickard walked off the pitch looking like thunder, a fly on the wall in the dressing room would doubtless have a tale to tell.

As usual Holsworthy worked hard but were simply not at the races!

Launceston lost 3-1 at bottom of the table Elburton Villa with their consolation goal coming on 71 minutes through Dominic Richardson. Villa's goals came in the first half through Steve Sims 2 and Lee Harvey.