FOXHOLE V PROBUS

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole play their first pre-season friendly at Goverseth on Tuesday, 12th July, when they welcome Probus from the East Cornwall Premier League. The kick off is around 6.30pm. Match report and full team line-ups to follow, a service many of us hope will be provided by other clubs throughout the season.

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 3 Probus 3

Tuesday 12th July 2011

Two goals in the last six minutes salvaged a draw for the new-look Foxes, but this was the least they deserved after squandering a host of second-half chances. The main culprit was the otherwise impressive Upton, who looked well worth persevering with and who provided debutant strike partner Moore with an easy header to open the scoring inside five minutes with a fine centre from the right. Johns' dalliance was ruthlessly punished by Bullen five minutes later, but Bird almost immediately restored the lead but his weak shot after a mazy dribble was bundled away by Cope. Shortly after Moore had failed to double his tally from another pinpoint Upton cross, exciting newcomer Ford was harshly adjudged to have fouled Vincent, allowing Trebilcock to confidently despatch his 28th-minute penalty. Probus were to enjoy the best of the remainder of the half, although Richards was forced into diving action to deny Upton's twenty-five yard thunderbolt.

The Foxes failed to adjust quickly to a raft of half-time substitutions and fell further behind within ninety seconds of the restart when Bullen again capitalised on lazy defending. Bullen's hopes of a hat-trick were thwarted by Grose's last-ditch clearance, while Vincent robbed Adam Holland inside the area only to fire at Ryan Holland's legs as the visitors threatened to embarrass their hosts, but Foxhole gained confidence when Ralph was unlucky to see his firm header from Bird's outswinging corner deflected by Trebilcock on to the underside of the bar from where it ricocheted to safety. Upton soon displayed a great turn of speed to burst past Davey and to round the keeper, but delayed his shot sufficiently for Cope to hack away. Within moments Upton was unable to direct his close range effort beyond the grateful Richards, before the striker blazed over from only six yards. Following a clever one-two, Upton then chose to try to tee up Bird instead of shooting as Foxhole turned the screw, Probus' sole opportunity during this period coming via Shackler's drive which flew just too high. On 84, Kempthorne's deep free kick was headed back by Ralph for Upton to plant a half-volley into the corner, and, in stoppage time, the excellent Upton supplied a centre for Hill to equalise from twelve yards.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Ryan Holland; Jaydon Gotthardt, Bobbylee Johns, Dave Grose, Adam Holland; Adam Gamble, CJ Bird, Bradley Ralph, Jordan Ford; Duane Upton, Dave Moore.

Subs: Richard Faircloth, Scott Hill, Daniel Allen, Michael Kempthorne, Joe Stone.

Probus (4-4-2): Fabian Richards; Justin Trebilcock, Dean Humby, Peter Davey, Liam Cope; Zac Mitchell, Tom Rescorl, Ben Ringrose, Andy Pearce; Sam Bullen, Dan Vincent.

Subs: Martin Lloyd, Chris Shackler, Ben Keevil.

Referee: Mr Mark Ashley (Penwithick).