Injury-hit Town made to suffer

Hat-trick hero Ross Saint ensured a victory at Bickland Park that saw the Tamarside club complete a Carlsberg SW League double over Falmouth Town.

Injury plagued Town had nine players unavailable 24 hours prior to this league match ,the penultimate at Bickland this season. Manager Neil Phillips was bouyed, however, by the return of Wayne Brown, Steve Coggin and Wayne Hughes for the match. This back-fired, however, with Coggin coming off at half-time and Brown, suffering the effects of the knock suffered in the Charity Cup semi-final, going into goal when Spike White was unable to complete his stint between the posts.

Andrew Westgarth, top scorer with Town's Combination side, made his first full start and impressed throughout the 90 minutes, staking a claim for further SWL opportunities at Bickland.

Town fell behind after just eight minutes with Ross Saint looping a header over White from a Jake Benney right flank cross. Seven minutes later Coggin, skipper for the day, put Darren Burchell through on the left side of the area, but he hit his shot wide of the post.

After 24 minutes Falmouth equalised from a corner, Jake Ash connectng with the flag-kick and his firm header finding the back of the net from the edge of the six yard box.

Town took the lead after 32 minutes when Westgarth's run through the middle enabled the forward to put a ball across to his left where Leon Massie was on hand to hit it firmly past Saltash 'keeper Richard Keith.

Direct from the restart the visitors attacked in numbers, swarming forward, and the ball fell to Gareth Jones who netted from ten yards.

Ian Grant was introduced at half-time for Coggin and Saltash keeper Keith was subbed for Eddie Shapland following a first half injury.

Two Ashes' goals in four minutes sealed the game with Saint netting both of them. Saltash restored their lead in the 70th minute with Saint firing home from the edge of the area after Benney had set the striker up and Saint stretched the lead further four minutes later when Spike White made a good block, injuring himself in the process, but Saint nettng in the ensuing scramble.

Town: G. White (J. Wilcock 74m), J. Ash, S. Coggin (I. Grant 45m), D. Holsey, W. Brown, R. Pope, D. Burchell, W. Hughes, A. Westgarth, S. Proctor, L. Massie. Sub not used: A.Morris.

Falmouth Town 1

Plymouth Parkway 2

Town took to the Bickland Park pitch on Sunday even further depleted than the previous day, with Coggin, Brown and White all unavailable with injuries suffered 24 hours earlier against Parkway.

Reserve 'keeper Sam Clark was called into action for his SWL debut and Ian Grant was drafted into the starting 11 alongside Hughes and Burchell in the centre of midfield. Stuart Wilkes rolled back the years coming on as a second half sub and Chris Earle was another player to make his SWL debut for Town as a late substitute.

Falmouth's depleted side put in a good effort and accounted for themselves well and can feel justified in thinking they could have taken something from this game but for some slack defending on occasions.

The opening half hour was typical end of season fare with neither side causing the other too much trouble in front of goal. Parkway strode into the lead on the half hour mark with Shaun Sullivan's firmly struck 30 yard effort seemingly passing through the hands of debutante Clark, when the young 'keeper appeared to have it covered.

Town half worked hard in the first period with Rob Troon and Darren Burchell going close. Eight minutes into the second period Town nearly equalised, a long clearance from Darren Holsey found the run of Steve Proctor who was half blocked by the Parkway keeper.

The ball spun loose and fell to Jake Ash some 20 yards out. With the 'keeper stranded off his line Ash elected to lift the ball over him and into the net, but a defender headed the ball off the goal-line.

Five minutes later Falmouth deservedly equalised.A curling left wing cross from Leon Massie found Burchell who placed the ball beyond the reach of Dungey with a rare headed effort.

This goal seemed to spur Parkway back into life and 11 minutes after Town had levelled matters they were in front once more with a lead they would not vanquish a second time. The ball was laid back to Tony Ginter who rammed home a 20 yard shot.

Town: S. Clark, J. Ash, I. Grant (C. Earle 70m), D. Holsey, R. Troon, R. Pope, D. Burchell, W. Hughes, A. Westgarth, S. Proctor (S. Wilkes 58m), L. Massie. Sub not used: A.Morris.

NEWQUAY 2 FALMOUTH TOWN 0

Wth frst calls depletng their squad, Falmouth Town's makeshift sde dd well at Mount Wse to hold the recently crowned Jolly's Combnaton League Cup wnners to a 2-0 defct.

After a goalless first half Newquay took the lead when Sheridan Sefton set up Jake Hartiigan to fire in a terrific shot.

Another well-worked move by Alan Lee and James Piiilling set up Tommy Hunter for the second.

Both players had a player sent off, Chris Earl for Town and Newquay's Jody Dean who were both red carded after an incident in the 70th minute.