CSWPL Premier Division: Plymouth Parkway miss chance to go level with leaders Bodmin

Plymouth Parkway...1 Bodmin Tn...1

PARKWAY missed a golden opportunity to move level on points with their visitors at the top of the table as they conceded a last-minute goal in front of a large crowd at Bolitho Park.

In most circumstances a draw with the champions, who have tasted defeat only once in the league this season, would be met with satisfaction.

But the fact the visitors played almost an hour with 10 men means Parkway will feel they should have claimed all three points.

Had they done so, Wayne Hillson's side would now be level on points with Bodmin and, although they have played a game more than the reigning champions, they are still to face each other in the return fixture at Priory Park, making the title a realistic possibility for Parkway.

This was Parkway's opportunity to announce themselves as serious title contenders.

In a hard-fought encounter, they matched their visitors in a scrappy first-half that saw few chances for either side.

The most significant moment of the game came seven minutes before the break when former Parkway striker Glyn Hobbs was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident that left home midfielder Jamie Bass on the floor.

With the departure of such an influential player the door seemed to have swung open for Parkway.

However, they found their visitors in resolute mood in the second half and struggled to create any openings until a moment of magic from defender Will Stringer.

Stringer, and fellow centre-half John Heveran, had put in outstanding performances in the Parkway defence to largely shackle the prolific pairing of Chris Luxton and Adam Carter. But, in the 72nd minute, Stringer showed his attacking prowess as he burst forward, evading several challenges, before squaring the ball across the area where a gleeful Ryan Richards was on hand to slot his shot past Kevin Miller.

The goal prompted a reaction from the visitors and their late pressure was rewarded when, in the final minute, a quickly taken free-kick, from out to the left, found Luke Rundle and his cross was flicked on by Luxton for Carter to nod home at the far post.

The final whistle was met with cheers from the Bodmin contingent aware they remain in the box seat for the title going into the season's run-in.

Camelford...2 Elburton Villa...3

VILLA had to come from behind at Trefrew Park in a game that left the home side with just nine men on the pitch.

But Martin Haynes' second caution did not occur until the final minutes of the game and 10 minutes after Villa had notched their winning goal.

A defensive mix-up between goalkeeper Simon May and Lee Rundle let in Mark Gusterson to give the Camels a fifth minute lead

Villa took 30 minutes to find their equaliser when debutant Robbie Almond set up Ray Spear to fire low pasts Camels' keeper Josh Colwill.

The visitors were unlucky not to have taken the lead when Jordan Trott's 20-yard free-kick crashed back off Colwill's crossbar, but they had better luck on the stroke of half time as Spear's 20-yard thunderbolt flew into the home goal.

The Camels were level on 50 minutes when Kevin Murt's shot from distance flew into the far corner of Simon May's goal, but five minutes later they were reduced to 10 men when Ryan Pooley picked up his second caution.

Villa took advantage by notching their third goal, 15 minutes from time, when Trott's free-kick found Sam Stevens rising at the far post to head home.

Camelford's day of misery was completed, five minutes from time, when Martin Haynes also tasted the early bath after picking up his second caution of the game.

Torpoint Ath...1 Saltash Utd...0

THE smiles were back on Torpoint faces after watching their team bounce back from Wednesday's cup defeat at Bodmin with a hard-earned victory at The Mill.

This was a game in which both sides had chances to score and both hit the woodwork in a goalless first period.

Paul Baker fired against the Ashes post from 10 yards after 10 minutes with the Ashes reciprocating 14 minutes later, with Demitri Kanaki's low, 15-yard drive coming back off the base of Sam Borthwick's upright.

Ashes had Lee Carew playing in goal, replacing the unavailable Nathan Murphy, and he made a great save from Liam Thornton before Borthwick followed suit from Kanaki's curling drive.

The goal came on 63 minutes when Dan Chapman threaded the ball through to Thornton, who curled a fine 15-yard drive around Carew and inside the far post.

St Austell...3 Tavistock...3

THE LAMBS showed great tenacity in coming back from 3-1 down to leave Poltair Park with a well-earned point.

The home side took a sixth-minute lead through Mike Body's 20-yard strike, but Tavvy came back to level just two minutes later when Sam Chitty got on the end of Dave Hallett's cross to score at the far post.

This proved to be Chitty's final act as he was forced off the field in the 12th minute with a bad knee injury, but despite this blow Tavvy almost took the lead on the half hour when John Wyatt was denied by a fine save from home goalkeeper Jason Peters.

Despite their good play, Tavvy once again found themselves behind, in the 39th minute, courtesy of Lee Whetter's header.

And when Body notched his second of the match just past the hour mark, it looked like the Cornish side would be claiming all three points.

However, the Lambs put in a storming finale to the game after pulling a goal back in the 68th minute when Wyatt's corner found Lyle Johnson's heading home.

Six minutes later Johnson netted his second goal of the match when he crashed the ball home from inside the box to complete the comeback.

St Blazey...1 Ivybridge Town...0

IVYBRIDGE remain without a league win in 2013 as they went down to a solitary goal at Blaise Park.

Seb Broomfield's seventh-minute strike for Blazey proved to be the difference between the sides, although Ivybridge can have few complaints about the final outcome.

Broomfield had two further clear cut chances to double Blazey's lead, while George Swain hit the base of the Bridgers' post with a well-struck 25-yard effort in the 78th minute.

Despite these Blazey chances, the Bridgers perhaps should have left with a point when, with two minutes remaining, captain Stuart Morgan went clean through on goal only to be thwarted by a fine save from Blazey goalkeeper Dave Painter.

Liskeard Ath...1 Newquay...2

THE Blues came mighty close to claiming their first league point in 12 games – but the loss of top scorer Robbie Almond to Elburton proved too much for them as they failed to find the back of the Peppermints' net in the second half.

Newquay took a 26th-minute lead at Lux Park as Jamie Devine sent Josh Sims clear to fire a low drive past the advancing Rob Brown, who was replacing goalkeeper Brice Shields, back playing for Elburton seconds.

Liskeard were still reeling as they lost possession and Danny Brook sent in Luke Weldhen to fire a left-foot drive across Brown and inside the far post from 12 yards.

Liskeard hit back, four minutes before the break, when the ball was pulled back from the line for Alex Martin to hit a 10-yard drive low into the corner of the visitors' net.

Although Liskeard battled hard after the break it was Newquay who enjoyed the majority of the possession, making the better scoring chances only for Brown to pull off several fine saves.