Foxhole 1 Launceston 4

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 1 Launceston 4

Tuesday 22nd July 2008

Football can be a strange game. Despite such a heavy defeat, Foxhole arguably played better than in last Saturday's 5-0 victory, looking more solid in defence while Friendship was again outstanding in central midfield. Ryan Holland was certainly less busy but was powerless to prevent Launceston finishing off some slick play three times by the break.

After the Foxes had started brightly, the visitors took control after quarter of an hour and proceeded to move and retain the ball impressively. Sargent hit the post from close range and then volleyed over, while Yeo sidefooted wide before Ahearn headed a deep cross back across goal for James to score comfortably on 25. Nine minutes later, James unselfishly teed up Sargent to slot past the stranded Holland from 12 yards, while Scott added the third on 40 with a 20-yard drive after May had missed his tackle. Although Foxhole were largely being given the runaround, they dug in, kept their shape and carved out a good chance when Warne cleverly released the excellent Butler, who was foiled by the legs of Hider.

The game got entertainingly feisty after the restart, with the aggressive Grose in the thick of it, while Sargent and Rowe had to be separated - Launceston's incessant whingeing at anything resembling a challenge did them no credit. Foxhole continued to work hard amid a host of substitutions and Nicholls, who had little change out of O'Brien and Ahearn, saw a shot deflected past the upright before the returning Stoneman nodded home from a few inches on 70 after Nicholls had headed back Bromley's centre. Bromley then burst through only to finish weakly before player-manager Smith set up Sargent to cheekily find the corner 14 minutes from time to banish hopes of an unlikely revival.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Ryan Holland 6; David Grose 6, Matt May 6, Jamie Bullock 6, Mark Rowe 7; Andrew Butler 7, Jason Warne 6, Steve Allen 6, Kyle Friendship 8; Scott Hill 6, Liam Nicholls 6.

Subs: Richard Faircloth 6, Richard Stoneman 6, Ryan Hayhurst 6, Tom Watson 6, Lewis Prince 6, Adam Bromley 6.

Launceston (4-4-2): Paul Hider; Sam Scott, John Harrison, Matt Hutchings, Jamie Ahearn; Matt Andrews, Liam Tilley, Darren Garner, Adam Yeo; John James, Andy Sargent.

Subs: Josh Colwill (gk), Jason O'Brien, John Dawe, Paul Smith.

Referee: Mr Jon Harris (Nanpean) 6.