Saturday, January 11

St Piran League East round-up

LAUNCESTON Reserves are up to second in St Piran League East after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Saltash Borough at Pennygillam.

The visitors arrived having inflicted a first home defeat of the season on league leaders St Austell Reserves last Saturday, while the incentive for the Clarets was the chance of moving into the top two.

On a wet and windy afternoon both sides struggled to overcome the conditions on an increasingly heavy surface.

After a goalless first-half the deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute. Substitute Marius Pislaru reacted fastest in a crowded penalty area to score from close range and give the Clarets a lead they just about deserved.

The visitors were still dangerous however and equalised in the 77th minute when forward Mike Moorish scored with a well-struck 20-yard drive.

Just when the points appeared likely to be shared, up stepped Pislaru again. His 88th minute shot from the edge of the penalty area looked to be heading for the keeper, until a defender intervened and headed firmly into his own net.

Launceston, with club stalwart Joe Smith putting in a typically energetic shift in defence, then held on for the win.

Next Saturday, when the South West Peninsula League side entertain Bodmin Town (3pm), the St Piran team make the short trip to Bude Town (2.30pm) looking to cement their league position.

Morwenstow extended their winning run to five matches after a comfortable 4-1 win at Lanreath.

A hat-trick from Gavin Carter and a brilliant strike from Aidan Davis saw them over the line, with Lanreath only managing a single consolation goal.

Carter’s first two strikes were scrappy, as a header and a piece of fortune following a fumble by the home goalkeeper — both from inside the six-yard-box — put the Greens firmly in control in South East Cornwall.

Soon after the prolific Norman Foster uncharacteristically missed from the spot, Carter ran the ball down the right-wing, skipping past two defenders in the process before teeing up Davis who fired it into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The second-half saw the North Cornwall outfit miss a handful of opportunities, giving the home team a slender chance to get back into the game, especially after they converted a penalty due to keeper, Matthew Mansbridge committing a foul inside his own box. 

Despite playing against the wind and the rain, Morwenstow re-established their dominance and were rewarded with a fourth goal, as Carter completed this hat-trick by heading in Gary Walter’s inswinging free-kick at the back-post.

Their win saw them move up to sixth in the table, as they prepare to travel to fourth-placed Polperro on Saturday (2.30pm).  

Bude Town’s clash at Millbrook Reserves was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, as was Callington Town Reserves’ home clash with their Saltash United counterparts.