Wendron Ud 2, Ludgvan 4

WENDRON traded blows with title-chasing Ludgvan before falling to their first home defeat of the season at Underlane on Saturday.

A scarcely believable first quarter of an hour saw four goals were scored, but in the second half the newly-promoted visitors showed why they have lost just one of their 12 matches so far this campaign.

Jack Stocker, the home side’s brightest attacking threat, gave his side a seventh minute lead.

First he tried to roll the ball into the path of Charlie Clarke, who was bearing down on goal, but the ball was cleared as far as Chris Mulroy.

He found Luke Appleton on the left hand side of the penalty area and his measured cross was glanced in off the back post by Stocker.

Six minutes later Ludgvan were level. They pieced together one of the best passing moves of the match, with Shaun Roberts eventually releasing Max Davies in the inside left channel. His shot appeared to take an awkward bounce in front of keeper Dan Stedman, who looked bemused as the ball nestled into the net.

A minute later Wendron were behind when Ross Duncan sprung the offside trap and reached a long ball over the top ahead of Stedman. He calmly rolled the ball into the path of Craig Wilcox who tucked it into an empty net.

As the season of giving approaches, it was then Ludgvan’s turn to offer a gesture of goodwill.

This time Clarke wriggled free down the right and his cross found Stocker in oceans of space to head home his second of the match. Four goals, 15 minutes played.

The industrious Joe Chapman then fizzed a 20-yard effort just over the bar for the hosts, before Clarke’s fierce low drive flew just the wrong side of the right hand post.

Stedman then blocked Gerans James’ shot at the other end as half time arrived with honours even.

Wendron started the second half on the front foot, with Cameron Wheat opting to pass when a shot would have been a better option, before Ryan Tresidder’s delightful low cross almost reached Mulroy at the far post before a Ludgvan defender cleared the danger.

A moment of indecision cost Wendron a third goal. Stedman advanced from his line despite having no prospect of reaching the ball before Duncan, who hoisted the ball over him and into the unguarded goal on 51 minutes.

The young keeper redeemed himself with a fine diving save from James’ header, but the visitors scored a crucial fourth goal with 12 minutes to go when Roberts’ lofted shot from the edge of the area sailed beyond Stedman’s despairing dive.

Roberts almost scored a breathtaking goal when his beautifully struck 25-yard volley hit the outside of the left hand post, as Wendron finished the match on the back foot.

Wendron: D Stedman, T Martin, R Tresidder, J Webb, A Peters (S Palmer 77m), L Appleton, J Chapman (A Calleja-Stayne 65m), J Stocker, C Clarke, C Wheat (R Carroll 65m), C Mulroy. Sub not used: M Larcombe.