Both Sides of the Tamar

My favourite local footballer - Ryan Richard’s - signs for Buckland. Fantastic for Bucks if Lewington on board too. Very happy with that news!

Their tweeted response and dig at SWPL AGM being held in Lanson pretty unimpressive and lacking any class! Give me Uni of Exeter and/or Dartmouth in SWPL East - the sensible option, but then this is the FA we are talking about!

No problem - just a different opinion. I'm not going to die on a hill over a website!!!

The former option working pretty well for Cally and Lanson. Local youngsters also builds links with the local community in a way a team of 'imports' won't! Good luck in turning things around.

There can't be another Ian Foster - please! An interesting appointment and I wish him well. This stuff about a 'playing identity' is manager-speak. Fans like winning football, with pretty football an add-on. Jake Ash at Mousehole combines both these facets pretty well ATM! As long as CM wins some games and is not a 'spreadsheet manager' ala Ian Foster at Argyle then all will be OK. Will he be given a competitive budget though? A period of transition perhaps?

A strange priority - previous incarnation was fine.

Dylan Jones is an exciting prospect. Let’s see him establish himself more fully at Step 3. The potential to go higher is there and plain to see. I think, generally, many under-estimate how big a gulf in standard there is between each part of the NLS pyramid. Another interesting watch will be Jack Bray-Evan’s. Great at each step to date, but is he Southern League Premier standard? I hope so once fit again.

Hayden Turner is a player who could play higher than Step 4 I’d not be sure of any other prospects from the clubs you mentioned.

Bodmin looking at the wrong end of the table and battling with Sticker and St Dennis these days…… no sign of things improving anytime soon.

Nothing, surely, would be more appropriate than a Cornishman, ex City player, a man with a proven track record to lead City on their new era back home? A good communicator and his Mousehole side reknowned for playing easy-on-the-eye football. i’m not out to rile Seagulls fans. I’m just saying if it were possible this is the calibre of manager I’d like to see appointed at Langarth!

Thanks Dave - much appreciated!

When is the Cup Final and what is the k.o time? I assume the final is at Lanson AFC?

Can't beat a bit of green on a football shirt, especially Argyle's 2022/23 Hibernian-like shirt! Look forward to catching up again soon and seeing that Bude card collection grow further 😉

Wayne did really well at the now defunct Mount Gould before that. Ivies are good to watch and offer a pleasant place to watch football too. I hope they do well. What was the gate last night Dave?

Impossible to say with St A. Like their neighbours Blazey 12 months ago, quite a few won’t step up to WL due to time / travel demands of Step 5’. The Ivies will be no Millvrook, but can’t see them challenging either, unless squad strengthened, but I doubt they have the money for that. Geographically (for me) and for many in Cornwall two ‘helpful’ additions to the WL travel wise.

I knew you’d bite SB. As always you live up to your CFF moniker!

A fabulous game tonight. Free flowing, see-saw game with both teams having periods of dominance. An even first half, Snozzle edged the second, with the Ivies coming on strong in the closing minutes. No surprise there as they were chasing the game! 18 minutes in and it was 1-1. Ivies took the lead after a defensive mix up involving the St A keeper allowed Owen Pritchard to score. Very quickly Snozzle were level. Henry Wilson dispossessed a defender and comfortably score from about 10 yards. From there on the game ebbed and flowed with both sides having opportunities. An even first half. The second period saw St Austell start strongly and they were firmly on top. Deservedly, a beautiful Jake Miller strike from about 20 yards on 55 minutes had the Lilywhites in front. They continued to have the upper hand but couldn’t finish the game off. As the game entered its later stages St Austell were warned. The Devonians saw an effort roll along the line. It looked certain to go in off the far post but somehow didn’t. Close! 95 minutes and the ball is forced home in dramatic fashion from close in. No idea of the scorer. Maybe an own goal? The Cornishmen were 60 seconds from a second trophy, but at no point did Ivybridge give up. Their late probing and strong team spirit got them a last gasp draw…… and then a 5-4 win on penalties! A superb game. A real credit to the SWPL. Another well organised and hosted game by Lanson. The only disappointment was the crowd. I’d guess at about 180. That is well down on the two previous such finals I’ve been to. Always have this game on a Saturday, especially in view of where the proceeds go. Gate money matters for this fixture! 3 games left for me now this season. The Les Phillips Cup Final on Sunday and St Piran League games at Saltash Borough and Looe Town. Around 80 live games seen this season and tonight was one of the best. I look forward to seeing who Liskeard play in next years Champions Bowl 😉

I think I’d want to see the new ownership signs and sealed and see what the TUFC budget is. Certainly putative owners have spoken of the Gulls going P/T.

Calling yourself a ‘floodlights pervert’ was a memorable turn of phrase Rappo!

I went regularly to home games in Plymouth. Ed Palmer my Player of the Season!

Observations from Liskeard v St Austell CSC Semi Final. Firstly, excellent staging of the game by Lanson, as ever. Game, set and match to St Austell. Four meetings with the Blues and three wins and a draw in their favour this season. No arguing with that. For all their attractive football Liskeard fall short again. Overall it was a tight game which could have gone either way, but once they went in front I rarely thought the Blues would turn it around. When on around the hour mark Cal Merrin earns himself a daft sending off, I always felt St Austell had the know how to see the game out. To beat St Austell from a goal and player downs was always going to be really tough ask. St Austell denied Liskeard space and were a model of organisation, whilst breaking quickly. Liskeard edged chances created, although these were few, but lacked any conviction in the final third - very strange in view of the number of goals they have scored. Max Gilbert was a huge miss from their line-up. Strange too, when tactically, St Austell were doing a number on them, the Blues playing style or temp didn’t change much. More of the same just didn’t work. Jam Tart was with me at the game. He said, like I’ve often said, the Blues are the best footballing side in the SWPL-W, but falling short in the biggest games is becoming an unwanted habit, this time to a deft headed Eddy finish. Yesterday reminded me of the number St Blazey had on the Blues n the league game at Lux Park last year. The free flowing style was nullified by experienced heads, disciplined organisation, denying space and being able to take an opportunity when it presents itself. Overall a very impressive, albeit few frills or thrills, from the Poltair boys. I think they just about deserved it. Good luck in the Final.

For clubs that remain in the SWPL West their best players are always going to be picked off. Some of them do lack ambition so they are more vulnerable. Newquay were typically Newquay this season. As ever, capable of beating anyone, but prone to surprising mishaps against lesser teams. Any club with any kind of profile needs to be aiming for the WL. The ‘ Mints clearly in that category.

Ty, Rocky and Hamon all essential for the White Tigers.

On a serious note, IMO Max is the best player in SWPL West. Surely he *should* be wanted by a WL or SL South Div One club. If he’s not the best then who is in your opinion? Of course, more than happy for him to stay in the Liskeard Blue!

Harmon needs to be desperately retained. As good as any ‘keeper in the NL South. I feel Melhado a little unlucky, but no qualms with the departees. I’d not be too bothered about Bude. Ports will be a loss but understandable that he wants to return up north. Think continuity is wise. It’ll be interesting to see what this group can do now City will have a proper home base.