DEVON 2 CORNWALL 1

CORNWALL finished their South West Counties Championship campaign as they began it - by going down to a surprise defeat.

This time the disappointment was even greater because it came in the final against old rivals Devon and it was a match that the Duchy really should have won.

Perhaps it was one game too many for those who were involved with the St Blazey and Liskeard, the players turning out for the third time in six days.

Barnstaple's ground also came in for criticism for such an important occasion and it did not enhance the competition's status by holding it at such a poorly prepared ground.

For Ray Nicholls and his assistant Trevor Mewton, a defeat was not what they expected or what they thought they deserved.

"We're both very disappointed by the result," said Ray. "I thought it was going to be our day, but give credit to Devon they battled hard and took their chances.

"We had more than enough chances to have won the game and on another day there is no doubt we would have won it, but on this occasion it wasn't to be.

"I really am baffled why we can't make this final hurdle. It can't be a mental thing because we haven't been in the final for a few years and, of course, the players are good enough to win it."

Nicholls refused to blame the poor surface or the preparation. "We took a little longer than normal to get there, but we were at the ground when I wanted to be there and our preparation was exactly as planned. The ground wasn't conducive to good football, but we had to get on with it and we did."

On the balance of play Cornwall certainly did not deserve to lose the game. They played the better football and looked the better side for most of the match.

The first half ended goalless, but Cornwall had two good chances with Jamie Morrison-Hill having his shot cleared off the line and Luke Hodge thumping in a header from Glyn Hooper's cross only to see the 'keeper get his fingertips to the ball and deflect it on to the post and then rebound back into his arms.

Ten minutes into the second half Devon took the lead when Lee Underhay scored a spectacular own goal when he dived full-length to head clear, but only succeeded in putting the ball past Steve Taylor just inside the post.

Cornwall hit back and Morrison-Hill was unlucky when he just failed to connect when well placed and Luke Hodge burst through and lobbed the goalkeeper, but saw his effort go just wide of the post.

Cornwall had one of those days when little would go right for them in front of goal with Adrian Street having a well-struck shot deflected off a defender for a corner.

It was agaiinst the run of play that Devon increased their lead when defender Lee Cockram reacted quickly to a loose ball from a corner and drilled his shot into the roof of the net.

Within a minute substitute Andy Watkins was brought down in the box, but surprisingly no penalty was given. However, shortly afterwards Watkins was tripped after playing a one-two with Hodge, an innocuous-looking foul, but this time the penalty was given and Hodge dispatched the spotkick with authority past the 'keeper, but it was all over for another year for Cornwall.

The campaign began and ended in disappointment, but Nicholls only had praise for his players: "The players in the squad, including those from the first game in Jersey to this one, has been a credit not only to the SWL and their clubs, but to themselves. I could not have asked for more than they have given, but on the day we did not get the rub of the green."

From the outset Nicholls expressed his delight at being asked to take over the job at short notice from the then unwell Steve Massey and although he is keen to continue the work he has started he will have to wait and see whether he is invited by the CCFA to manage the side again next season.

Judging by the response he received from the players and the professional manner in which he has gone about his business - many a time he has been seen quietly slipping into games up and down the county looking at players - he is obviously dedicated to getting the best he can for Cornwall. It would be a strange decision by the ruling body if they chose to go in another direction.

Cornwall: S Taylor, L Underhay, N Pugh, A Roberts, I Gosling, J Morrison-Hill, A Street, F Gilbert, P Madden, L Hodge, G Hooper. Subs: D Annear (gk), D Sweet, R Troon, M Penry, A Watkins.