Launceston Cup (quarter-final)

LC?Phoenix 1

Southgate 3

SOUTHGATE produced one of the biggest shocks in the recent history of the Launceston Cup with a 3-1 victory over local rivals LC Phoenix in a controversial encounter at the Launceston College playing fields.

Situated five leagues above Southgate, many would have expected Duchy Premier League high-flyers LC Phoenix to win comfortably. However, the Duchy Five promotion hopefuls, who also play at the college playing fields, put in an excellent display to run out deserved winners.

The game started slowly, but it didn’t take long to spark into life as Brandon Ambrose put Southgate in front on six minutes.

A long ball was played over the top for the in-form Liam Cairns. Realising he was offside, Cairns left the ball for Ambrose who took advantage of some hesitant defending from Darren Webber to slot in past the stranded Josh Chalk.

Phoenix protested the decision, with linesman Jack Rich signalling that both players were offside, but after being consulted by referee Alan Stokes, the goal was allowed to stand.

The rest of the first-half was fairly uneventful, although brothers – Nathan and Ryan Cox – were both booked for dissent.

Phoenix brought on Jowan Knights for Jed Parnell at half-time and it made an immediate difference as Nathan Cox shot wide when well placed and Knights had a shot turned around the post by Matt Smale.

Phoenix continued to pile forward and Josh Barron missed a guilt-edged chance from six-yards when he failed to get a proper connection on Nathan Cox’s excellent cross from the right.

Despite being forced to defend for long spells, Southgate were always a threat, and they went 2-0 up on 71 minutes when stand-in skipper Craig Charnock fired the ball into the top corner from 30-yards.

The Knights were given a lifeline moments later as Webber, who was pushed up front, was fouled by right-back Jack Burnley.

However, Smale easily saved Nathan Cox’s poor penalty before Southgate went 3-0 up.

From a throw-in, Cairns flicked the ball around the corner for Charnock to run on to, his excellent pass across from the six-yard box was put into his own net by Leon Fowler under pressure from Ambrose.

At 3-0 down the home side continued to plug away, and with ten minutes to go they were left fuming with the referee once more.

After a scramble in the box, Smale could only knock Webber’s shot backwards. And although he managed to recover and grab the ball, the home side were convinced that it had crossed the line.

Phoenix grabbed a consolation a couple of minutes later when Knights reacted quickest to fire in after Smale parried Ryan Hancock’s shot.

As the game became increasingly stretched, Southgate could, and perhaps should, have scored more before the end.

Cairns fired wide with just Chalk to beat after the impressive Ambrose played him in before missing an almost open goal after getting the better of Fowler and the keeper.

Phoenix were reduced to 10-men when player/manager Ryan Cox was given his second yellow card for abusive language after Jay Webber seemed to handle the ball.

In the end it didn’t matter as Southgate celebrated one of their best wins in recent years and set up a semi-final with either Dobwalls or St Cleer.

LC Phoenix (4-5-1)

Chalk; Fowler, R Cox, D Webber, Deeble; Parnell (J Knights 46), N Cox, Simmons, R Hancock, Aldridge (Barron 22); Hatch

Subs: Astles, Castle, Barron, J Knights

Southgate (4-4-1-1)

Smale; Burnley, Farrer, T Knights, Stephens (Holden 64); G Charnock, C Charnock, J Webber, Ambrose; T Hancock; Cairns

Subs: Holden, Swanson, Heynes, Parnell

The week’s other scheduled quarter-final between Boscastle and Morwenstow never got started as Morwenstow conceded the tie.

Boscastle will take on the winners of Bridgerule and Altarnun, who clash on Sunday, April 2, in the second semi final.