Ivybridge Town 2 - 3 AFC St Austell Sat 29th Oct 2011

[AFC ST AUSTELL]

Ivybridge Town 2 – 3 AFC St Austell

The lights certainly came on in the second half at Erme Valley, in the shape of Ivybridge Town’s newly installed impressive floodlights, but it was only the away side putting on a show under them to take all 3 points back over the bridge.

After a first half which saw the home side take a two goal lead, all be it one of them being a gift from Gary Penhaligon the lilywhites were left with an uphill battle as had been the case in the same fixture last term. The home side threatened early in the second half to extend their lead but failed and it was clear after chances for both sides that the next goal would clearly decide it. Town thought that had arrived in the shape of a Ben Douglas strike but it rebounded off the foot of the post with no one to following up.

Cue the entrance of Chris Phillips for Jordan Dingle. Being played out of position on the left hand side of midfield, Phillips scored a wonderfully paced goal and with plenty of time left on the clock the game was turned on its head. Though not before a somewhat controversial late decision by the linesman to rule out what looked like the equaliser.

However after great pressure Mike Body broke free of the last defender and placed a great shot into the back of the net, a timely reminder of what the striker is capable of and a much needed goal for the normally prolific striker. The game was there for the taking and it was somewhat fitting that centre back Lee Whetter provided the winning goal scoring an unmarked header from a corner. The centre back had been pushed up into a makeshift striker position for large parts of the second half and certainly unsettled the Ivybridge back line.

So it is now three games unbeaten for the lilywhites since the arrival of Tom Smith and Nick Campbell and proof that they can pick points up over the bridge, perhaps a good thing with Bovey Tracey up next at The Recreation Ground.

AFC ST A – Penhaligon, Lean, Whetter, Smith, Mulready, Douglas, Campbell, Dingle (Phillips), Slateford, Nancarrow © (Hill), Body.

MOM – Ben Douglas – Forced his way back into the side following the absence of Will Tinsley. Great hard working display and unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

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