THIS was a crucial win for Illogan who took all three points against fellow Jolly's Combination League title challengers St Just.

The Oxland Park club will be delighted with the result, but will reflect on how much their squad has been decimated leading up to and because of the clash with St Just.

Justin Miles has moved to Penryn Athletic and striker Paul Wolstencroft has been persuaded to rejoin Truro City. On top of that Matt Calloway suffered his second unfortunate injury in a couple of months when he had to go to hospital to have stitches inserted in a cheek wound following a clash of heads and Jamie Condon aggravated a hamstring injury.

In fact, Condon was the first of the players to be booked when referee Steve Rose cautioned him following a couple of awkward challenges, but as the game wore on it was the physical approach of the visitors that made the game difficult for the home side.

Illogan went in front after 11 minutes when Kevin Lawrence fed Wayne Brown who took the ball in his stride and ran on a few paces before cracking a terrific 30-yard shot into the roof of the net, giving goalkeeper Andy Angove no chance.

Angove saved well from Lawrence, but after 21 minutes the visitors were back on level terms when a long clearance by Angove found May who crossed into the box for Pope to head home.

It was the start of a sustained period of pressure from the visitors, but despite their domination they were never able to create any real clear-cut openings.

Four minutes into the second half Illogan were back in the driving seat when Simon Ridge and Gary Sturmey worked a one-two before Sturmey crossed into the box for Dean Topliss to score from close range.

With 16 minutes to go Illogan strengthened their grip on the game with a third goal when Lawrence got into the box and after feinting to go one way turned the other and beat a defender before drilling his shot past Angove.

The chances began to open up, but eight minutes from time St Just pulled a goal back after Teuton was beaten by a header by Curnow following a corner.

St Just tried to up the tempo in their bid to snatch an equaliser, but that disappeared just three minutes later when John McCullam was sent off for a chest-high challenge on the goalkeeper.

Illogan held on for a deserved win with new skipper Gareth Pitt showing up well backed by solid performances from Lawrence, Hill, and Brown.