REECE Brown’s superb 96th minute winner sent Elburton Villa to the top of the table following a 2-1 victory at previously unbeaten Holsworthy.

After a cagey opening 70 minutes, Adam MacPherson poked home from close-range before sub Craig Duff equalised from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining.

The visitors saw George Photiou red-carded in injury-time, but Villa still went up the other end to take three points back to Plymouth.

Holsworthy boss Kevin Squire made three changes from the side that thrashed Truro City Reserves 8-0 on Saturday.

Influential midfielder Jay Thomas missed out due to work, which gave a first start to Josh Down, while striker Chris Wildern and left-back Kieran Jollow also came in for Duff and Will Harris.

Villa arrived having struck a remarkable 44 goals in their opening nine games and from the off looked a threat.

On six minutes the talismanic Sam Hughes shot over at the near post when well-placed, before the visitors went even closer three minutes later when Sam Leary’s header from a corner went over Ryan Chadwick, but crucially not centre-half Callum Martyn who had got back on to the line.

Holsworthy’s first shot came on 11 minutes when Gavin Carter’s free-kick from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Jamie Dudley.

The hosts were coming into the game and had half-hearted appeals waved away for a penalty, but it was soon Elburton dominating the ball with Steve Colwell and MacPherson bossing the middle of the park.

Elburton saw Connor Rush have a shot deflected over and moments before the whistle, Hughes glanced a header wide of the far post.

Duff was introduced for Wildern at the interval, and immediately his commanding presence gave the Devonians a focal point as he flicked a long ball on for Ben Sharpe who could only drag his shot wide.

On 48 minutes, left-winger Charlie Patrick shot narrowly over from the right side of the area before a ball in from the same side went across the six-yard box without anybody getting a crucial touch.

Holsworthy looked to find Duff when possible, while on the hour a superb piece of skill by the lively Patrick ended with him shooting over from 20 yards.

Villa went close three times in the space of 60 seconds just after the hour. First Hughes looked destined to score but was denied by a fine block, before home keeper Ryan Chadwick had to twice tip the ball around the post, the second a header from winger Connor Rush.

The visitors were looking dangerous and got their goal on 71 minutes. A 20-yard free-kick from Calum Merrin was deflected upwards and MacPherson was their first to poke in from close-range.

Playing down the hill in the second half, Holsworthy’s route one style was causing problems, and from a corner, a Duff header was adjudged by referee Amith Gunaranthna to have hit a hand. Up stepped Duff to fire into the bottom corner.

Tensions threatened to boil over when Aiden Slade was booked for a poor lunge after Jedd Peschke should have been awarded a free-kick, while both teams emptied their benches.

Duff was sin-binned in the second minute of injury-time for something said to the referee, who within 60 seconds sent Photiou off for a wild lunge on Sharpe after he had misjudged a long ball forward and the home striker was about to race clear down the left.

But that despair turned to delight when after a crisp passing move, Brown fired into the bottom corner from 15 yards to spark wild delight in the away bench as they moved level on points with Liskeard Athletic having played a game more.

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Sam Hill, Jedd Peschke (capt), Kieran Jollow; Aiden Slade, Josh Down (Joe Barker, 65); Gavin Carter, Elis Aldrich (Todd Peschke, 86), Ben Sharpe; Chris Wildern (Craig Duff, HT). Subs not used: Will Harris.

Magpies’ man-of-the-match: Jedd Peschke.