Cooper bemoans mistakes as Blues lose thriller
Liskeard Athletic...2 Falmouth Town...3
LISKEARD manager Leigh Cooper was convinced his young Blues side contributed towards their own downfall in an entertaining encounter at Lux Park.
"The one downside was that we conceded needless free-kicks in the final third and that ultimately cost us," said the former Argyle skipper (pictured right) .
"Overall, I'm pleased with the performance as the lads provided a good reaction against a Falmouth side expected to be challenging for honours at the end of the season."
Even Town boss Alan Carey had kind words for his hosts.
He said: "It was a reasonably good game as Liskeard closed us down and didn't allow us to play, but I was pleased to get the three points."
Town were gifted their eighth-minute opener when Blues goalkeeper Rob Brown's hurried clearance found Nigel Thwaites showing all his years of experience as he hit a dipping volley over the embarrassed custodian from 25 yards.
Liskeard were deservedly level, 11 minutes before the break, when Jason King's corner found midfielder Demitri Kanakh, who fired home at the near post.
Falmouth were rocked back on their heels when their midfielder, Adam Trudgian, made the most of 'keeper Richard Kellow's poor clearance to score from 25 yards and give Liskeard a 65th-minute lead.
Unfortunately poor marking allowed Falmouth to level the scores, eight minutes later, when Danny O'Hagan's downward header flew into the net from substitute Jimmy Alexander's corner.
The visitor's winner came six minutes later when another substitute, Bobby Bryant, swung over a free-kick and as O'Hagan challenged it was Liskeard's Carl Pender who deflected the ball into his own net.
DEVON WEDNESDAY LEAGUE
DESPITE the inclement weather, six matches were played in the Devon Wednesday League yesterday.
Two of those went ahead thanks to the admirable co-operation of HM Naval Base and HMS Raleigh, who happily switched their games to the excellent facilities at HMS Drake and Spickernell respectively after council pitches at Staddiscombe had been put out of bounds. Naval Base had a good reward for their efforts but needed a penalty shoot out to see off stout resistance from Division One side University V.
The sailors eventually winning the George Lang Cup second round tie 6-5 on penalties.
Extra-time had not been able to separate the sides, with the game finishing 1-1. Andy Dymont on target for the students.
Raleigh, on the other hand, lost their Premier Division game 7-3 to Plymouth Dukes A, who led 4-3 at the end of an enthralling first half.
Dukes made a blistering start by taking the lead after just 30 seconds – the Raleigh goalkeeper dropping the ball to allow an easy tap in.
Undeterred Raleigh hit back to go in front with two quick goals from Drake and Bell, only then to be caught twice on the break to then trail 3-2.
Back came Raleigh with Morgan levelling from the penalty spot, but Dukes regained the lead with a 30 yards screamer to the top corner.
Raleigh made changes in the second half as they chased an equaliser but bad defending was to be their downfall as Dukes took full advantage to run in a further three goals.
Plymouth Argyle Development A moved up to third position in the league by inflicting the second defeat of the season on leaders Hoppy's Sports.
The much-awaited Division One clash between Devonport High Boys A and B teams attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd of fellow pupils who took advantage of the lunchtime kick-off to witness a fine and sporting encounter that was a credit to the school.
The A team started the brighter and had two shots cleared off the goal line but in their first genuine attack the B team opened the scoring with a fine strike by Josh Clarke.
Clarke then went close with a fierce drive, while at the other end the A team wasted several scoring opportunities before on the half hour they eventually found the net through Alex Pearce-Jones.
With Dale Branton and Clarke to the fore, the B team gave as good as they got.
But, despite the valiant efforts of Joe Rees, who had an outstanding game in goal, they fell behind when Dan Squires latched on to a loose ball in the box to shoot past Rees.
Squires sealed the points on 80 minutes with a fine dipping shot that went in off the crossbar.
After a goalless first half, Matt Thackeray found the bottom corner with a crisp drive to give City College Plymouth the lead at Roborough over Star Cars.
College doubled the lead when Tom Payne brilliantly brought the ball under control with the use of a knee before cracking a volley past the home keeper.
Star Cars, to their credit, rallied superbly and after Connor Phillips had pulled a goal back with a header the same player squared matters with a neat 20 yards floater that went in at the far post.
With both sides striving for a winner it fell to City College on 80 minutes when Gary Mann atoned for earlier misses by smashing home a superb 25 yards rocket.
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