Football round-up Saturday, February 2

UNSURPRISINGLY, the weekend’s football programme was decimated due to last Thursday’s snow with just six games being played involving Post teams.

Launceston were easily beaten by fellow South West Peninsula League Premier Division rivals Falmouth Town in their big Conrwall Senior Cup tie, while in the JJ Jones and Sons Duchy League, Gunnislake and Bude Town Reserves eased to convincing victories, although Boscastle fell to a 3-2 defeat at Veryan in the Premier Division despite the best efforts of James Bosley, who grabbed two.

Bridgerule reached the North Devon League’s Arlington Cup final after winning a classic at Bideford Community AFC Reserves while Bridgerule’s Intermediate One rivals Holsworthy Reserves were 3-1 losers at Combe Martin in the league.

Post area teams in the the Mortgage Advice Bureau East Cornwall League and Macron Devon and Exeter League saw their fixtures cancelled and will hope to get back out on the pitch this weekend.

RGB Cornwall Senior Cup (quarter-final)

Falmouth Town 4

Launceston 0

LAUNCESTON remain in just one of the two cup competitions after losing 4-0 at Falmouth Town in their RGB Cornwall Senior Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

On arrival at Bickland Park they found a spring-like afternoon, with not a trace of snow. The pitch, which had survived a morning inspection, was heavy but playable.

The Clarets were hit once again by a combination of injury, unavailability and suspension but were able to call on the services of their two dual-registered players — striker Mike Smith (Plymouth Parkway) and central defender Mike Landricombe (Tiverton Town).

Looking to upset the formbook, Launceston started confidently, stroking the ball around well on the heavy surface. Jordan Walton, Rhys Walton and Smith all had speculative 20-yard shots comfortably saved before the home side took the lead with a simple 13th-minute goal, slightly against the run of play.

A long clearance from Falmouth goalkeeper Ryan Barnes posed no obvious threat, but Landricombe’s unfortunate slip allowed Luke Brabyn to advance on goal and his fierce 15-yard shot flew past Launceston’s unprotected custodian Josh Colwill.

The game developed into a scrappy, bad-tempered affair, mostly played out in midfield with both SWPL Premier Division sides struggling to build any meaningful possession.

Rhys Walton had a 35th minute shot comfortably saved by the under-employed Barnes before Jordan Walton broke clear down the left wing. However his cross was scrambled clear by the Falmouth defence.

Launceston were still right in the game at this stage but as the tie moved into added time at the end of the first-half, the Clarets were hit by a questionable decision that effectively settled the result.

A left-wing corner looked to be headed firmly over the crossbar by Brabyn but, to the apparent surprise of both sides, another corner was awarded. This time Tim Nixon’s kick was headed firmly home, from very close range, by defender James Ward.

The Clarets had a second-half mountain to climb and within seconds of the restart a tough task became impossible. Defensive hesitancy allowed Brabyn a half-chance that the striker finished impressively.

Unsurprisingly, Claret heads dropped and in the 51st minute winger Tim Nixon jinked into the penalty area and rammed a 15-yard shot past Colwill to make it 4-0.

The Clarets battled on, with substitute Mike Steele and Jordan Walton both firing over the bar, but this was not to be Launceston’s day and the home side cruised into the semi-final.

Mike Walton’s men have one remaining chance of taking some silverware back to Pennygillam, when they travel to face Saltash in the last eight of the Walter C Parson Funeral Directors South West Peninsula League Cup next Wednesday (February 13). Their battle for league points resumes on Saturday at in-form St Austell (3pm).

Launceston —

Josh Colwill; Pat Riddell (Mike Steele, 45), Dan Metherell, Mike Landricombe, Charlie Hardcastle; Tallan Mitchell ( Sam Hepworth, 82), Tom Savigar, Jack Lee; Rhys Walton (Cameron Webb, 75), Mike Smith, Jordan Walton

JJ Jones and Sons Duchy League

Premier Division

Veryan 3

Boscastle 2

(J Bosley 2)

Division One

Gunnislake 3

(Kelly 2, Beman)

Saltash United 0

Division Four

Bude Town 8

(Hales 3, Leverton 2, Hopgood 3)

St Cleer 1

North Devon League

Intermediate One

Combe Martin 3

Holsworthy 1

(Sharpe)