Callington 2 Foxhole 2

[Darin Morse]

Callington 2 Foxhole 2

Saturday 5th September 2009

Adam Holland's controversial strike deep into stoppage time earned Foxhole a point their industry just about warranted in a match that rarely rose above the mediocre. Callington started the more brightly, with the largely unmarked outside-right Green especially dangerous, but the visiting rearguard stood up well to the string of crosses aimed at Dan Stevens, although Holland had to smartly tip over Clarke's fierce effort. However, on 18, Meens' long ball found a suspiciously offside-looking Pinhammer to calmly slot home but, with the influence of the tenacious Hazeldine restricted by an early booking for a foul on Beer, the lead only lasted ten minutes as Jamie Pook's drive crept in at the near post. Stevens was then denied by Holland following a scramble, before he planted a free header over the bar, while moments before the break Crawford flashed a drive inches too high.

Within seconds of the restart an unchallenged Holland dropped Jefferies' cross at the feet of Stevens who could hardly miss, and more poor defending almost allowed first Beer and then Clarke a killer third before Green blazed wide after Holland's legs had prevented Pook his second goal. Carpenter and Pook were both cautioned for fouls but, for all their honest endeavour, the Foxes' lack of quality was self-evident and the game appeared to be petering out as an equaliser seemed unlikely, particularly once Murphy had beaten away Rowe's backheader from Pinhammer's long throw. However, at the death, substitute Brown's fine shot on the run flashed across goal, only for the referee to award a dubious corner. From this, Holland forced home the leveller from close-range, much to the chagrin of, amongst others, Ashley Pook, who joined his brother in the book for dissent.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Holland, Daniel Meens, Dexter Lawrence (sub. Richard Faircloth); Chris Grose (sub. Liam Nicholls), Sam Kenny, Lee Hazeldine (sub. Chris Brown), Scott Ansell, Nick Carpenter; Mark Rowe, Ross Pinhammer.

Callington (4-4-2): Nathan Murphy; James Crawford, Lee Purdy (sub. Joe Partridge), Dan Jefferies, Ashley Pook; Matt Green, Chris Clarke, Jamie Pook (sub. Alex Gard), Lee Beer; Dan Stevens, Ryan McShane (sub. Rob Stephens).

Referee: Mr Andy Tickner.