Marine Academy Plymouth end Truro's unbeaten run to take over at the top of the table

SOUTH WEST WOMEN'S LEAGUE WESTERN DIVISION ONE Marine Academy...3 Truro ...2

MARINE Academy went to the top of the South West League Western Division One with a hard-fought but deserved victory over previously unbeaten Truro.

It was the home side who started the stronger and dominated the early exchanges and were awarded a penalty after 15 minutes when top scorer Kate Nicholls was brought down by the goalkeeper.

Sam Drewery stepped up to smash the kick into the top corner.

Truro responded and were level 10 minutes later when a long free-kick evaded the MAP defence for the winger to lob keeper Natalie Liggert.

MAP then had their best spell of the match and it was no surprise when they re-took the lead as a free-kick was deflected off a Truro head to nestle in the far corner.

Five minutes later it was 3-1 when a Drewery corner was stabbed home at the far post by Stacey Arthur.

MAP had opportunities to increase their lead, but on the stroke of half-time Truro grabbed a lifeline as another long ball caught out the MAP backline and the centre forward made no mistake.

The second half proved to be a competitive and often ill-tempered affair which resulted in MAP centre-back Chelsea Easton being badly injured as both teams battled to regain superiority.

But it was the MAP who came closest to scoring again, hitting the woodwork twice.

With no further goals, it was the hosts who emerged with the three points.

Marine Academy manager Dave Burns said: "We went into this game knowing only three points would suffice to maintain a title challenge – and we were made to work for them by a determined Truro side.

"We travel to Truro next week for the rematch and again we must gain the maximum to keep the title hopes alive.

"Judging by this match it will be another tough encounter, but one that the girls will relish and be confident we can get the result."

Marine are four points ahead of Truro, who lie third, but the Cornish side do have three games in hand.

Bay sit second, one point behind Marine, however, the Torquay side have played one game more than MAP.

In the same division, Torpoint lost 2-1 away at Charlestown.

WESTWARD DEVELOPMENTS DEVON LEAGUE

AFC PLYMPTON booked their place in the final of the Devon League Cup with a comfortable 5-0 win on their travels at Ashmoor.

The first half was an even contest with Taylor Mathews making some fine saves in the Plympton goal to keep out the couple of chances Ashmoor created.

The only goal of the opening period went to Samantha Metters who scored after Chelsea Robinson found her strike partner with a cross from the left, that the goalkeeper spilled leaving a simple tap-in.

The second half saw Plympton playing down the slope and they dominated from the first whistle with solid defending and fast attacking play.

Their second goal came early after the break when Robinson's ball over the top found Metters breaking clear of the Ashmoor defence to beat the goalkeeper to the ball and make it 2-0.

Plympton were now playing the game at their own pace and totally dominating the midfield.

It was central midfielder Becky Pepperell who scored the third and best goal of the game.

She produced a snap shot from the edge of the box which went straight in the corner of the net allowing the Ashmoor goalkeeper no chance.

Goals four and five followed in quick succession.

Stacey Gill wove her way around two defenders in the penalty box before firing the ball in the net.

Plympton's final goal, and Gill's second, was a break from the halfway line, with all the Ashmoor players pushing for a consolation effort.

Gill ran through from the halfway line to beat the keeper at the second attempt to round off a great team performance.