NEWQUAY 2 LAUNCESTON 3: match report by THE MOWDOG...

Peppermints Suckered As Clarets Taste Victory At Mount Wise

Newquay AFC 2 Launceston FC 3

It rained. Heavily. The wind hauled the long showers about the Newquay ground, upon which wood-shavings had been sprinkled on one small area, as if the local carpenter had lost his way and would return, er, dreckley… The players put on a brave display between them, passing the ball whenever possible and the visitors probably earned their victory because they possessed more offensive threat. The home forwards were more isolated from their playmakers, whilst the Clarets attacked with more pace and more personnel, yet a quiet, thoughtful opening half brought no goals at all. Perhaps the bright, brief, sunny interval energised the offenses however, for the game offered more goalscoring opportunities after the interval, and although the hosts struck first, a couple of errors by home goalie Sam Trudgeon handed the guests the initiative, which was added to with a correctly awarded penalty. A late strike by home skipper Luke Weldhen wasn’t enough for the Peppermints and the goalscorer’s non-celebration said it all.

Launceston attack in the sunshine...

Launceston passed the ball more quickly from the start, using left-back Chris Saunders and winger Chris Head most usefully but in left-footed defender Chris Menhenick, the Clarets were blessed with a calm and confident individual. Midfielder Andy Elcock was busy and thoughtful from the outset and Newquay’s central defenders, Tom Bartlett and Leighton Carhart were constantly forced to be alert. Incidents were few however, until Weldhen slipped a pass left for Cameron Bidgood, whose low 18 yard shot was saved at the second attempt by Clarets’ goalie Paul Hider. Head then raced away on the break for Launceston but was denied in the home penalty-area by Carhart’s timely tackle, before home defender Alex Cole sliced the ball into his own net, following a quickly taken Clarets free-kick but an offside-flag had already flapped in the breeze, nearly lifting the linesman up for a spot of parasailing. Ollie Gibson’s shot drifted wide for the Peppermints from 21 yards and at the opposite end, Sam Davey’s drive curled past the right upright from about the same distance, following a neat passing move.

Crabbe, 10, moves sideways...

Davey made a strong run, when a Newquay corner was cleared by the visitors but like Head’s break earlier, the opportunity was scorned. Home forward Matt Drummond did well to control the ball on his chest in the penalty-box but as he attempted to turn inside from the left byeline but he lost his footing on the slippery, rain-sodden surface and the visitors breathed again. Another fine Carhart challenge wrecked Lance Easton’s aspirations, as the Clarets threatened again, then Davey forced Trudgeon to fall and gather a low drive and as half-time neared, more passing by Launceston led to another Davey shot, which bounced at Trudgeon from 22 yards. The referee blew his whistle to end the opening half, which had produced little goalmouth action and I took a stroll in the uncertain sunshine, soon to be rudely awoken by some second period attacking by both crews.

Newquay attacking...

A lively Head run, well, on his feet, obviously, ended with a wayward centre from the left, which dropped behind the goal-frame, then Hider was forced to make two hurried kicks away from his zone, as Newquay knocked hopeful balls forward. Cole was replaced by Connor Jamison for the hosts and finally, one of the custodians was forced into real action; a fine pass forward by Menhenick led to Head cutting inside and firing a 16 yard shot, which Trudgeon beat away, falling left and from the second phase of attack, the impish but clever-footed Elcock clipped a 24 yarder just too high. Certainly the visitors had upped the offensive side of their game but after Liam Tilley had fired a sliced shot wide from 25 yards, Drummond and Weldhen combined in the Newquay attack for the latter to shoot wide of the left upright from the inside-left channel, 17 yards out. And then the hosts opened the scoring; the ball was moved left to Bidgood by Weldhen and the winger crossed well, his delivery evading all but Drummond, lurking at the back post, who poked the ball high into the net from a yard or two.

The increasingly effective Easton was then hauled down by Bidgood, 21 yards from goal, inside-right channel, perfect for the left boot of Menhenick, whose curling free-kick dropped only just over the Newquay crossbar. Incredibly, from nearly conceding a second goal from a left-wing centre, the visitors regained parity with a somewhat fortunate goal. Hider had been left scrambling across his goal-line as Callum McConie’s left-flank centre dropped beyond the far stick but Weldhen just couldn’t reach the ball, then the play was switched left by the Clarets. Tilley crossed the ball towards Davey by Head but as the striker jumped, Trudgeon missed the ball completely and it dropped, untouched into the far corner of the net.

Launceston have equalised...

Moments later, the visitors were ahead, when Tilley’s right-foot drive from 20 yards was stopped but patted down by the frustrated Trudgeon and there was Davey, the only player following in, to convert, as the ‘keeper attempted to recover the ball.

Davey has snapped up a rebound and the Clarets lead 1-2...

Trudgeon made a fine save low to his right from Elcock’s 19 yard effort but Tilley then headed a right-wing corner over the crossbar from a few yards out, as the Clarets asserted themselves more fully, then he drove in a great right-foot shot from 20 yards, which swung away against the right upright, with Trudgeon a spectator, although the goalie did really well to dive right and turn aside the 15 yard rebound effort by Head. Well on top, Launceston went close again, when Tilley passed from the right and Head’s first-time effort from 12 yards passed just outside the near post. Newquay were straining to stay in the game but might have equalised when Weldhen’s low drive was saved to his right by the slithering Hider, who scrambled to block Bidgood’s rebound shot with flailing legs, a chance which the winger would feel really ought to have been converted.

Smart footwork took Davey inside from the right but his worthy left-footer curled just beyond the left upright, before Launceston effectively won the match. Defender Gavin Welsh began the move, Easton, livelier by the minute it seemed, tricked his way into the penalty-box but a clumsy foul by McConie floored him, earning a just penalty, which Davey slotted into the bottom right corner of the net, as Trudgeon fell the opposite way. 

Davey takes the penalty responsibility...

...and is successful, taking the applause of er, the crowd?

Matt Sanders replaced Bidgood for the hosts but they received a conciliatory reward for their efforts, when a deep cross from the left was stretched for on the volley at the far post by Weldhen and the ball somehow flew up into the right side of the net from 7 yards or so. Too late though, for Launceston held on easily for the final moments, to earn a deserved victory against their really plucky opponents.

Weldhen has netted a second goal for the hosts...

I had originally planned to watch Truro v Burnham on the day but Godolphin Atlantic’s lack of rain cover had actually taken me to Newquay’s Mount Wise for the first time and I was not only welcomed warmly but I was dry, I was entertained and saw five goals. I returned to the Merrymoor in Mawgan Porth for a hot cuppa, then drove to Truro for a meal…

It’s what you do…

Handshakes at the end...

...and more heavy rain...

Teams:

Newquay:  Sam Trudgeon, Alex Cole, Callum McConie; Shaun Middleton, Tom Bartlett, Leighton Carhart; Ollie Gibson, Paul Hampshire, Luke Weldhen (Capt), Matt Drummond, Cameron Bidgood.

Subs: James Avery, Matt Sanders, Connor Jamison.

Launceston:  Paul Hider, Adam Jenkin, Chris Saunders; Chris Menhenick, Gavin Welsh, Andy Elcock; Chris Head, Liam Tilley, Lance Easton, Adam Crabb, Sam Davey.

Subs: Dan Jefferis, Rob Blake, Mike Burke.