Duchy League results - 17th December

[Michael Rabone]

Godolphin 1 - 3 St. Columb Major

St. Columb's final game of 2011 ended with a hard-fought victory over local rivals Godolphin in tough conditions at Godolphin Way, having encountered a typical local derby effort from the home side that defied their current league position.

The result reinforced the incredible turnaround that St. Columb Major have experienced in 2011; having been ranked the 237th and lowest performing league club in the county after a disastrous run of relegation form over the past three seasons, Andy Bicknell has inspired his team to an unbeaten start to the league season and the team spirit was clear to see as Bicknell's men came from behind to steal three points with two second half goals amidst tough conditions.

The Godophin Way pitch looked remarkably good given the recent poor weather and Major found it difficult playing with the strong wind at their backs as Godolphin made a bright start to the game; Anton Lake, returning to the side, made a smart stop from the lively looking Dan O'Callaghan early on. Tom Berry in the Godolphin goal was also called upon in a fairly open start to the game, making a smart low save from Dom Roberts after smart interplay with fellow striker David Rabone and Adam Weller also tested Berry from range, with the home goalkeeper equal to his effort.

Godophin were using the seemingly adverse conditions to their advantage and a series of long balls appeared to cause Major a few problems; O'Callaghan was able to capitalise twenty minutes in, latching on to a swirling clearance, outpacing his marker and turning the last defender to slot home into the bottom corner past the helpless goalkeeper for a fine opening goal. Although O'Callaghan wasted a further opportunity to add to the Godolphin lead, the slender advantage always looked under threat and Berry was forced to make a smart save from Shaun Lawrence's free kick, tipping the ball wide of the goal. Further pressure from St. Columb resulted in an equaliser late in the first half; a poor lunge from Lee Pascoe on Shaun Lawrence resulted in a free-kick that Dom Roberts drove at the goal from thirty yards. With the ferocious pace of the ball assisted by the wind, Berry could only palm the ball up into the air, straight into the path of Ali Bicknell who calmly headed the ball over the stranded keeper to restore parity.

There was still enough time in the first half for a key moment in the game; a tight offside call on the half-way line was overruled by the referee as O'Callaghan was able to bear down on goal, tucking away a neat finish, only for the referee to consult his assistant and adjudge that offside was in fact the correct call, much to the dismay of the home bench.

As so often is the case, the strong end to end wind proved to be more of a burden as Major fought against the conditions in the second half with some much improved football. Rabone should have done better when his misplaced pass failed to find Roberts in acres of space and Berry was on hand to thwart Ali Bicknell, who had another outstanding game for Major. The resulting corner from the right appeared to be heading towards the goal and with Berry only able to palm the ball up into the air, Ali Bicknell was on hand to capitalise once again, calmly collecting the ball on his chest in the crowded area to smash home from ten yards to put Major in front for the first time with a fine finish.

The second half certainly didn't go all in the favour of the visitors; Godolphin looked sharp on the break with their quick counter attacking style and Major had Aaron Bicknell and Adam Weller to thank for smart interventions that prevented a couple of threatening attacks from the home side. Anton Lake continued his impressive form, intervening twice in the second half to deny Godolphin any chance of getting back into the game. A crucial turning point then occurred as former St. Columb Major player Matt Boylan entered the equation, quickly finding himself in an incredible position only to fluff his lines, with his clumsy strike on goal dropping wide of the target when it appeared easier to score.

Dom Roberts continued to threaten the vulnerable Godolphin defensive line and forced Berry into a fine stop with a powerful strike from a narrow angle, although Roberts can consider himself lucky to have stayed on the pitch after a disappointing reaction could have resulted in a second yellow card. A bizarre set of circumstances then resulted in the home assistant referee being replaced after comments to the referee about his performance.

In typical circumstances Roberts was then able to capitalise late on when smart play between substitutes Scott Weaden and Jason Rid allowed space for Roberts to turn his marker to smash a low drive into the bottom corner via the post to seal an impressive win for a St. Columb Major side that has grown in confidence in recent months. A late hail storm plunged Godolphin way into near darkness as the referee concluded a well fought local derby.

Newquay Logs and Coal man of the match - Ali Bicknell; a vital two goal contribution from the impressive youngster.

[get in]

boscastle 4-0 st dennis !! good game in very windy conditions st dennis started brightly into the wind and had the best of it in the opening 20 mins and had a couple of half chance then boscastle start to get a foot hold in the game and scored a good goal from some good passing though the middle for paul smith to tuck to ball past the keeper 1-0 boscastle then had a free kick about 5 mins before half time 40 yrds out which was sent in by matt pethick and a challenge from boscastle forward on keeper looks as if it could of been a foul, but ref said no and ball went striaght in for 2-0 in 2nd half boscastle started brightly and put good pressure on st dennis not giving them any time on the ball and harassed them all over the park which from a back pass the keeper went to clear and ball bobbled just infront of him and ball was going in but paul smith made sure to make it 3-0 then with about 20 mins to go boscastle hit st dennis on the break and tom harris went clear and had a shot which hit keeper but fell nicely for him to go round the keeper and slot home 4-0 , to be fair st dennis did miss to sitters in 2nd half and 4-0 could have been 4-2 but am happy with clean sheet and solid performance. good luck to st dennis for rest of season and nice to see you come back pub after !!! merry xmas all have a good break !!!

[Dave Deacon]

Thanks to Keith Franks

Fixtures Secretary Duchy League

No fixtures on Saturday 24th December 2011 and 31st December 2011.....................

 

 Saturday 17th December

KMD Developments Duchy Knockout Cup Round 1

Bere Alston United P - P Gunnislake

Pelynt P - P Lamerton

KMD Developments Duchy Knockout Cup Round 2

St. Newlyn East H - W Bodmin Saints

Bodmin Sports Trophies Duchy League Cup Round 2

Lewdown Rovers P - P Biscovey

Southgate P - P St. Stephen

Premier Division

Altarnun P - P Fowey United

Probus P - P St. Mawgan

Saltash United P - P Calstock

Torpoint Athletic P - P St. Cleer

First Division

Boscastle 4 - 0 St. Dennis

Foxhole Stars P - P Week St. Mary

Godolphin Atlantic 1 - 3 St. Columb Major

Grampound P - P Looe Town

Polperro P - P AFC St. Austell

Second Division

Maker with Rame P - P Lanreath

Pensilva P - P St. Breward

Premier Sixes 2 - 1 Queens Rangers

Gerrans & St. Mawes United 3 - 1 Holywell & Cubert

Third Division

Delabole United P - P Callington Town

Mount Charles P - P Roche

Padstow United P - P North Petherwin

St. Minver 1 - 1 AFC Bodmin

Tintagel 5 - 4 Gunnislake Reserves

Fourth Division

Calstock Reserves N / R Wadebridge Town

Charlestown Saints P - P Lanivet Inn

Gorran P - P LC Phoenix

St. Mawgan Reserves 2 - 3 Pelynt Reserves

Stoke Climsland P - P St. Teath

Fifth Division

Duke of Cornwall P - P Grampound Reserves

Mevagissey Reserves P - P Lifton

St. Cleer Reserves P - P RAF St. Mawgan

St. Merryn P - P Boscastle Reserves

St. Neot 0 - 4 Torpoint Comrades

[goosefish]

boscastle 4-0 st dennis !! good game in very windy conditions st dennis started brightly into the wind and had the best of it in the opening 20 mins and had a couple of half chance then boscastle start to get a foot hold in the game and scored a good goal from some good passing though the middle for paul smith to tuck to ball past the keeper 1-0 boscastle then had a free kick about 5 mins before half time 40 yrds out which was sent in by matt pethick and a challenge from boscastle forward on keeper looks as if it could of been a foul, but ref said no and ball went striaght in for 2-0 in 2nd half boscastle started brightly and put good pressure on st dennis not giving them any time on the ball and harassed them all over the park which from a back pass the keeper went to clear and ball bobbled just infront of him and ball was going in but paul smith made sure to make it 3-0 then with about 20 mins to go boscastle hit st dennis on the break and tom harris went clear and had a shot which hit keeper but fell nicely for him to go round the keeper and slot home 4-0 , to be fair st dennis did miss to sitters in 2nd half and 4-0 could have been 4-2 but am happy with clean sheet and solid performance. good luck to st dennis for rest of season and nice to see you come back pub after !!! merry xmas all have a good break !!!

fair write up,we wernt at the races yesterday but its been like this most of the season 4 us and theres no way 1 of ur boys is claiming my goal tho lol

[get in]

got a picture showing our striker just toeing it over the line from man who did team photos saturday got a good one but if u want it mate you can have it bud ! Good luck think our teams are both having up and down seasons we play well one week then following week were awful !

[goosefish]

ideal if the pic shows ur guy scoring-even better 4 me ill just claim the assist lol

our season hopefully will pick up after xmas just been 1 really bad start after a really good season of last

have a good xmas cheers