Tuesday, November 26

Cornwall Charity Cup (quarter-final)

Newquay 4

THE Clarets’ first game since the resignation of manager Gary Jeffery saw them knocked out of the Cornwall Charity Cup at Mount Wise on Tuesday night, but only after a tempestuous quarter-final, writes David Harrison.

Having driven through torrential rain, the Clarets arrived to find Newquay dry and the surface perfectly playable.

Launceston made the perfect start, moving in front after eight minutes. Denham Guild’s 18-yard shot was too hot for home keeper Dan Peters. The Newquay man could only parry the midfielder’s effort and Ruben Kane was fastest to react, gleefully ramming home the rebound.

Frustratingly the Clarets were unable to consolidate the lead and allowed the home side to level inside a minute. Danny Carne cut in from the left and fired past Josh Colwill.

Newquay settled into the game and were beginning to create dangerous chances, only for the Clarets to regain the lead after 25 minutes. Tom Ellacott forced his way through and beat Peters from 15 yards.

However once again Launceston were pegged back and the 33rd minute. Phil Lowry’s equaliser heralded an unfortunate spell that ultimately cost the Clarets the game. 

In the aftermath of the goal Clarets full-back Charlie Hardcastle was sent to the sin-bin for a dissent offence spotted by referee James Gallagher.

With his side already short-handed, Clarets skipper Josh McCabe was forced to leave the game following a bone-jarring challenge. Newquay were quick to take advantage as the Clarets looked to regroup at the back. Aaron Dilley put his side ahead with an 18-yard drive into the corner of Colwill’s net.

Home defender Connor Jamison could easily have seen more severe punishment than the yellow card he received following a strong midfield challenge on Mike Steele, who was fortunate to escape injury.

As Hardcastle was allowed to resume his place, Launceston completed a disastrous period by conceding a penalty. Guild was adjudged to have fouled Lowry but, in a rare moment of good fortune for the Clarets, the former Godolphin striker sprung to his feet, only to drive the resultant penalty well over the bar and into a neighbouring garden.

The second-half, by comparison, was relatively uneventful. Carne scored the best goal of the game to put his side 4-2 in front and hard though Launceston tried, they were unable to break through again.

The most controversial moment of the second half once again centred around Mr Gallagher.

The referee was forced to show a yellow card to Newquay manager Tony Mckeller following a barrage of abusive language directed at the hapless official. The home bench appeared to believe Guild should have received a second yellow card.

The Peppermints saw the game out to take their place in the semi-finals, having just about deserved to progress.

However the Clarets, who are now left to concentrate on the league for the rest of the season, had contributed in full to a rousing cup-tie that was certainly not for the faint-hearted.