Saturday, October 12

Kit Kitchen South West Peninsula League Premier West

Godolphin Atlantic (Newquay) 2

LAUNCESTON somehow returned pointless from Saturday’s game against a struggling Godolphin side, on a run of eight consecutive league defeats, writes David Harrison.

The Clarets enjoyed the bulk of possession, made a succession of clear chances, hit the crossbar from their first attack and played the final 25 minutes against ten men. But remarkably all three points stayed with the home team.

As early as the fourth minute Launceston won a free-kick 20 yards out, in a dangerous position on the right. Charlie Hardcastle’s well-struck effort crashed against the crossbar with home keeper Chase Wilson powerless to intervene.

Godolphin were looking to gain a foothold in the game and the lively debutant Josh Harris posed a constant threat. It was Harris, against the run of play, who put the home side in front after 15 minutes. The former Newquay striker found space inside the penalty area and his fierce ten-yard drive gave Josh Colwill no chance.

Launceston saw plenty of the ball but were unable to find an accurate finish. Harris again showed them how, punishing the Clarets a second time in the 28th minute, spinning and placing a precise shot into the far corner.

However Godolphin’s flattering two-goal lead lasted barely five minutes. Andrew Elcock’s well-struck corner was turned in by Ruben Kane from close range. The travelling Launceston contingent hoped Kane’s effort would open the floodgates, but the second-half continued in a similar vein.

The officials had made a series of seemingly eccentric decisions, causing frustration for both teams, but there was no debate when the escaping Tom Ellacott was comprehensively taken out by Wilson, 30 yards from goal. The home keeper barely waited to receive the inevitable red card. With no sub keeper on the Godolphin bench, full-back Dan Soley took over between the posts.

Denham Guild was twice just inches away from finding an equaliser, but despite camping out in the Godolphin penalty area and enduring some tactical time-wasting, the Clarets were unable to benefit from their numerical advantage and fashion the clear chance they needed.

This was another game Launceston could easily have won and certainly should not have lost. Launceston make the long trip to Penzance on Saturday (October 19, 3pm).

Launceston —

Colwill; Guild, Metherell, McCabe (captain), Hardcastle; Elcock, Steele (Johnson, 90), Kane; Ellacott (Afieri, 74), Parsonage, Watts (Lee, 65).

Substitutes: Lee, Alfieri Johnson.