ELBURTON VILLA 0

FALMOUTH TOWN 1

A Cusack

With both teams having made five changes to their line-ups by comparison to when they met at Bickland Park back in December it never looked likely that a repeat of the scoreline that day, 8-2 to Falmouth, was on the cards in this Carlsberg SW Peninsula League premier division clash.

Elburton put up a strong defensive display that belied their lowly league position and with Roger Bonaparte and Darren Edwards up front Town's defence could never afford to relax.

Falmouth had the unusual starting line-up of skipper and defender Rob Francis playing up front alongside Andy Bowker whilst Adam Carter, one of the league's leading scorers, spending most of the game on the bench.

Elburton skipper Justin Crowley had the first attempt at goal when he hit a shot from just inside the area which Nathan Murphy gathered comfortably.

They then forced a corner but Brinton Nute cleared under pressure from Bonaparte. The ball found its way to Aaron Cusack on the right but his atteampted through ball was intercepted and the home side launched a counter attack which ended with Edwards cutting in from the right and hitting a fierce shot which Nathan Murphy pushed around the post.

Town had a free kick on the quarter hour following what was to be the first of many fouls on Jamie Morrison-Hill who was a constant thorn in Elburton's side. The free kick was taken by new signing from Clyst Rovers, Lloyd Gardner, a young midfielder who showed a few nice touches during the game.

Neil Bettis was having a good game looking after Bonaparte, as the lively, veteran striker was looking hungry for a goal and seemed to be the target of most of Elburton's attacking moves.

Chris Kiely brought down Aaron Cusack on the half hour to give Town another free kick, Gardner hit it and Simon May in the Elburton goal just turned it round the post for a corner.

A couple of minutes into the second half, Matt Godfree put a good ball through to Bowker who closed in on goal but May was out quickly and smothered his shot well.

Town finally broke the deadlock after 55 minutes; Fergus Nevin went on an all too rare break down the left wing and hit a low cross in towards the near post where Aaron Cusack shot home from six yards.

By this time the rain had reached Elburton and the strong cross wind increased making it difficult to produce any good moves and clear cut chances were few and far between.

Both teams made substitutions with Matt Cusack coming on for Dominic Rivans and Elburton brought on their leading scorer Lee Johnson and his brother Marc to increase the pressure on Town's defence.

Both sides were getting bogged down in midfield and there were a lot of stoppages for free kicks, but neither side looked capable of troubling the 'keepers as all too often the final ball was overhit or just blown off course.

Town forced a corner midway through the half and Nute's header was pushed out by May as far as Gardner who hit a good low shot back in at goal but May made a good save.

Ben Goldring and Carter were brought on to replace the hard working Bowker and Francis up front but there wasn't enough time for them to get into the game and only once did Matt Cusack have the chance to get a cross into Carter, but he couldn't get a clear view of the goal and it came to nothing.

Town have finally ended their barren run of results and on Saturday face a tough game when they entertain a Torpoint Athletic team who have lost only once on their travels this season. Kick off is 2.45 pm.

Villa: S. May; J. Winters, M. Lucas, G. Welsh, K. Yetton, C. Kiely, J. Crowley, D. Edwards, R. Bonaparte, J. Trott, M. Green. Subs used: L. Johnson, M. Johnson and C. Errington. Unused: D. Trott and M. Bowden.

Town: N. Murphy; R. Francis (A. Carter 83m), F. Nevin, N. Bettis, B. Nute, A. Cusack, J. Morrison-Hill, M. Godfree, L. Gardner, A. Bowker (B. Goldring 80m), D. Rivans (M. Cusack 63m).

(Plymouth)