Saturday, February 8

Kitchen Kit South West Peninsula League

Premier West

Callington Town 4

LAUNCESTON came out on the wrong end of a pulsating affair at Callington on Saturday, eventually going down 4-2 to their local rivals, writes David Harrison.

The Marshfield survived a morning inspection and was playable, despite a few sodden patches. Launceston were unchanged from the side that triumphed at Wadebridge a week earlier, while Callington were looking to bounce back from their controversial 2-1 defeat at Porthleven.

The game was an attritional affair right from the start, with two well-matched sides keen to establish territorial superiority on a pitch that soon cut up badly. The first chance fell to the Clarets, with Marius Pislaru firing just wide from 20 yards, but Lee Robinson should have opened the scoring for the hosts, only to drag a clear opportunity inches wide. Callington broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when winger John Wyatt fired in a fierce 12-yard half-volley which gave Clarets keeper Archie Walsh no chance.

Without being at their best, Launceston created a series of chances. Tom Ellacott, Pat Riddell, Sam Watts and Matt Bartlett all went close but the sides reached the break separated by just the single goal.

The game opened up in the second period as conditions took their toll and, as a result, goals soon flowed.

Callington doubled their lead after 49 minutes when a free-kick from the right was flicked home by big defender Josh Freeman-Wright. However the Clarets responded within three minutes. Pislaru was brought down and top scorer Ellacott thrashed the resultant penalty past home keeper Sam Borthwick to register his 15th goal of a prolific season.

Five minutes later and lively winger Tommy Norton drove an accurate 18-yard effort past Walsh and into the far corner. Once again the Clarets bounced back and the busy Andrew Elcock brought the score back to 3-2 when he fired home a superb 25-yard free-kick. That made it four goals in 16 minutes and put Launceston right back in the game.

However it was Callington who scored what proved the game’s final goal, in the 68th minute. Home striker Billy Coton took advantage of defensive hesitancy and was able to roll his shot past the helpless Walsh.

Still chances came and the Clarets were agonisingly close to scoring for a third time. Substitute Arnold Rumbete crashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar and Ellacott was only stopped from converting the rebound by a desperate last-ditch challenge.

All three substitutes were used as the Clarets fought to the end, but they were unable to fashion another clear opportunity and, after a grim battle on a very heavy surface, had to accept defeat. Launceston travel to Mount Wise tomorrow (3pm) to face another top six club in Newquay.