Callington 3 Foxhole 0

[Darin Morse]

Callington 3 Foxhole 0

Saturday 9th February 2008

In our most abysmal performance of this disappointing season, the Foxes displayed a staggering level of ineptitude so gruesome even Al-Jazeera declined the TV rights. Second best in all departments and routinely unable to accomplish the most basic of skills, the embarrassing lack of speed caused the referee three times to clear the pitch of the tortoises that were following the Foxhole players around.

Although Hill's 20-yard drive had to be pushed away by Drinka on the quarter hour, there was little else to suggest the lightweight forward line, missing the unavailable Rickard, was ever likely to unduly worry the uncompromising home defence. Worryingly, Callington's 4-man midfield dominated our quintet, and looked to exploit our square defence at every opportunity, so it was no surprise when they took the lead on 25 minutes. As Morris, the logical replacement for the perenially injured Bullock, was left to kick his heels on the bench, the plainly out of position Rowe failed to cut out Vanstone's hopeful ball, allowing the impressive Pethick to race clear only to be upended by Grose. Discombe's converted penalty was at least followed by Foxhole's best spell (although that isn't saying much) as Warne saw a free kick saved, Drinka clawed away Vanstone's misdirected backheader and Nicholls' close range effort was saved by the keeper's legs, but it was pretty unconvincing stuff.

The second half, alas, was just plain shocking. Within three minutes, Moore had doubled the advantage with a fine strike on the run with the Foxes rearguard nowhere, while, on 54, more statuesque defending permitted Woolley to coolly sidefoot past the exposed Holland from ten yards. Nicholls then struck the outside of the post after a goalmouth scramble, but any hopes of an unlikely fightback were soon dashed as our play deteriorated still further. As tempers frayed, the referee busily handed out cautions to Dillon

(dissent), Grose (foul on Woolley) and Rowe (foul on Pethick), while both Giles and Speare saw yellow after an altercation, as did Pethick for kicking the ball away once too often. Near the end, Drinka denied Rowe but frankly, not even a consolation goal was deserved.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland 6; Mark Rowe 4, Richard Fairclough 5, David Grose 5; Jason Warne 4, Martin Giles 4, Adam Bromley 4, Jeff Dillon 4 (sub. Steve Panter 5), Adam Holland 5; Liam Nicholls 5, Scott Hill 4 (sub. Colin Morris 5).

Callington (4-4-2): Tomas Drinka; Mark Channing, Mike Vanstone, Chris Canham, Seb Justel; Kenny Speare (sub. Dan Alderton), Dan Moore, Jake Benney (sub. Chris Holt), Dan Discombe; Dan Pethick, Darren Woolley (sub. Richard Channing).

Referee: Mr Mann 6.

[Guest]

Nice to see you back to form, but I bet your manager loves you!!!