Dobwalls 2 Foxhole 0

[Darin Morse]

Dobwalls 2 Foxhole 0

Saturday 29th August 2009

Since a famous victory at Porthleven on March 17th, Foxhole have now gone thirteen games without winning, gaining only four points from a possible 39, and never looked capable of ending this miserable run in this poor advert for Peninsula League football at windswept Lantoom Park. The dubious tactic of thumping high balls up to an out of touch Griffin proved meat and drink for Dillon and Davey, as the lack of creativity or energy throughout the side becomes more conspicuous by the week. Although Pinhammer almost netted Nicholls' low cross on seven minutes, Castle's clean sheet was never seriously to be threatened again as the altogether livelier Dobwalls outfit adapted better to the conditions and opened the scoring on 27 when Bartlett was allowed to turn in the box before firing low into the corner. Martin was only denied an immediate second by the legs of Ryan Holland, who was soon grateful to see Lindsay's corner cannon off the far post.

The hobbling Rowe did not reappear after the break, but the switch to 4-4-2 prompted by the introduction of Grose did not, alas, herald any tangible improvement, although hopes were briefly raised when one of a succession of corners struck a post before being cleared. However, McKellar was required to head Caers' effort off the line and Holland smartly saved from Dunn, so it was no surprise when Caers latched on to Lindsay's pass to add the second with twenty-five minutes remaining. As the gale increased, the standard of football dropped still further, but Dobwalls were ultimately able to comfortably contain the predictable visiting attacks and a late revival was never likely. For the record, Carpenter was booked for a foul on Martin, and Griffin for kicking the ball away, while Mr Johns also cautioned Souness for a late challenge on Kenny, and Bartlett for dissent.

Foxhole (4-3-3): Ryan Holland; Daniel Meens, Dexter Lawrence, Adam Holland, Tony McKellar (sub. Richard Faircloth); Nick Carpenter, Scott Ansell, Mark Rowe (sub. Chris Grose); Ross Pinhammer, Liam Nicholls (sub. Sam Kenny), Richard Griffin.

Dobwalls (4-4-2): Jamie Castle; Nick Souness, Joe Smith, Andrew Davey, Jeff Dillon; Matt Lindsay, Jack Bartlett (sub. Barry Crane), Alex Martin, Spencer Wilson (sub. Jake Benney); Stewart Dunn (sub. Adrian Walton), Lee Caers.

Referee: Mr Allen Johns (Plympton).