Saints put on five-star display to see off in-form Holsworthy

TITLE favourites St Austell returned to winning ways in style on Saturday as they cruised to three points against a strangely out of sorts Holsworthy at Poltair.

After being held to a 3-3 draw at Wadebridge in midweek, the Lillywhites were back to something like their best with five goals and another clean sheet.

Influential skipper Neil Slateford scored twice, including a penalty, and other goals came from Liam Eddy, Callum McGhee and substitute Haiden Chapman.

Holsworthy, who went into the game on the back of five successive wins with only one goal conceded, doubled their goals conceded tally for the season in a 90 minutes they will want to forget pretty quickly as they failed to build on Tuesday night’s 1-0 success at Dobwalls.

Manager Kevin Squire told the club’s website: “I’m massively disappointed, I don’t like these kind of games. I was bang up for this game but I question whether the players were up for it.

“Four of the five goals we conceded were horrific defensive mistakes. We were too nice to play against, once we went two down we huffed and puffed around the box but never really tested their keeper.

“I can’t question the attitude of my players – I have known most of them a long time and they are good people. But is there a mentality that halfway in the league is where Holsworthy should be?

“That’s not my attitude. Why can’t we challenge at the top of the league? Today’s game probably showed why.”

St Austell joint manager Chris Knight said: “I thought to a man yesterday we gave a performance that was dominant. We knew they were five from five and I can guarantee that everyone else in the league would have been looking at that and thinking ‘we fancy Holsworthy today’ – especially after midweek – but we were fantastic.

“We totally dominated every area of the game and although they had some tidy periods I thought we never looked troubled at all and were ruthless when we got a chance. I thought we were good defensively and very good on the counter attack which was pleasing.

“As I’ve said many times, it’s a new team and we are finding out ways to play every week; we are getting there.”

There was a surprise name on the teamsheet in St Austell’s goal – Mac Dewsnap, who is normally plying his trade along the road at rivals St Blazey, competing with Kyle Moore for the number one shirt.

Knight said: “We are really grateful to Dan Hart at St Blazey for his help with Mac. Our keeper is injured, so for them to help us out was very much appreciated.”

On a mild and wet afternoon, the home side swept ahead in the 11th minute with an excellent left foot finish from Eddy. Had he missed he would have had to answer to Ryan Richards, who was standing unmarked waiting for a pass – but he didn’t miss.

Slateford doubled the lead after 24 minutes with a close range shot which took a heavy deflection off a defender and the Holsworthy response was toothless – plenty of possession and no lack of effort but little to worry Dewsnap.

McGhee finished off an excellent team move to make it 3-1 six minutes into the second half, Slateford added a fourth from the penalty spot after Eddy was bundled over in the 64th minute, and substitute Chapman got in on the act by making it 5-0 14 minutes from time.

The story might have been different had Jay Thomas’s superb 20-yard left foot shot gone in instead of racing inches wide when it was only 2-0 three minutes into the second half.

But in the end St Austell were comfortable winners and remain the team to beat for any promotion hopefuls.

AFC ST AUSTELL: Mac Dewsnap; Jude Tripconey, Martyn Duff, Kieran Powell (Aaron Dilley, 77), Josh Bragg (Jake Warman, 68), James Ward (Alfie Flack, 77), Neil Slateford (capt), Henry Wilson, Liam Eddy (Haiden Chapman, 68), Callum McGhee, Ryan Richards. Sub not used: Ed Timmons.

Goals: Neil Slateford 2 (25, 64 pen), Liam Eddy (11), Callum McGhee (51), Haiden Chapman (76).

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Gabe Rutter, George Plumb, Callum Martyn, Jedd Peschke (capt), Rory Simmons, Jay Thomas, Josh Down (Jeff Anglia, 60), Luke Potter, Aaron Hart (Chris Wildern, 70), Gavin Carter (Owen Lauderdale, 46). Sub not used: Kevin Squire.

Yellow card: Rory Simmons (20).

Referee: Tim Burley.

Attendance: 181.

Men-of-the-match: St Austell – Liam Eddy; Holsworthy – Jay Thomas.