WENDRON 7 LUDGAVAN 1

NOT expecting to have a Jolly's Combination League game, but a free Saturday instead, Wendron were missing several first choice players for this clash at Underlane.

Nick Seviour and Dominic Pullen had booked to see Liverpool play and two other players were in the county youth squad that played in Gwent.

However, skipper for the day Steve Opie had the pleasure of leading the side to one of their most emphatic victories of the season. The team also contained eight players under the age of 20.

Ludgvan began brightly, but despite their possession never really troubled the home defence and once they had settled Wendron started to play some of the best football seen at the ground for several seasons.

The opening goal came after 20 minutes when good work involving Adam Toy and Anthony Williams saw Williams cut inside and find Mike O'Neill. O'Neill slid a perfect pass to Duncan Gillett who saw his shot beaten away by the 'keeper only for O'Neill to follow up and score.

Five minutes later Wendron scored a second goal when O'Neill went on a delightful run that took him past four players before rounding the 'keeper for a brilliant finish.

Ludgvan had no answer to Wendron's football and following a concerted spell of pressure Wendron snapped up a third goal when O'Neill cut inside and from 35 yards, spotting the 'keeper off his line, executed a superb chip which sailed into the net for another amazing finish.

Gillett's interest in the game was curtailed before the break when he was injured in a challenge and that brought on 15-year-old Chris James for his senior debut.

The second half was much the same as the first 45 minutes with Wendron applying heavy pressure and Ludgvan relying on isolated breakaways.

The stemmed the tide until the hour mark when Wendron grabbed a fourth goal with O'Neill completing his hat-trick following good movement in midfield.

Good work by Andy Miles set up Anthony Williams to curl a great shot round the 'keeper for the fifth goal after 70 minutes and then Craig Martin completed a great performance by beating the 'keeper with a well-placed shot from outside the box.

Nineteen-year-old Neil Philpotts, making his debut, scored Wendron's seventh with a cheeky back heel from a corner and Ludgvan's consolation goal came from the penalty spot through Wayne Edwards.

"I was delighted with the performance of such a very, very young team," said manager Stuart Wilkes.

"It was the best display I had seen from anyone since being at the club and it will make competition for places from now until the end of the season very interesting indeed.

"It was a fantastic performance by such a young team."

Wendron: B Scoffin, S Williams, S Opie, A Toy, S Hurst, M Davis, A Miles, D Gillett, A Williams, M O'Neill, C Martin. Subs: N Philpott, C James, S Wilkes.