Wendron United 0 Illogan RBL 2

Illogan RBL dealt a potentially fatal blow to Wendron United's hopes of clinching the Combination League title by taking all three points at Underlane.

Both goals came in the second half, with James Martin's beautifully struck free kick (51), and a fierce drive from Illogan's Jason Roberts (85) sealing victory for the defending champions.

But an often bad-tempered game was not without its moments of controversy, with 'dron boss Paul Murray bemoaning several refereeing decisions he felt went against his side.

Chief among them was Luke Wort's disallowed goal just before the hour mark.

With Wendron trailing by a goal to nil Wort looked to have bundled the ball over the line to draw the home side level, but his header from a yard out was ruled out for handball.

Wendron also ended the game with ten men after forward Jason Roberts was sent off for a second bookable offence late on.

The result means Wendron face an uphill struggle to catch league leaders Illogan, who look odds on favourites to retain their title and clinch promotion to division one west of the South West Peninsula League.

Both sides started well, but Illogan had the first sniff of goal in the 18th minute when Danny Richards' effort came back off the upright.

Illogan hit the outside of the post again as Wendron continued to look shaky at the back, but neither side could break the deadlock and the game remained goalless at half time.

The opener came six minutes after the restart, Mike Newberry giving away a free kick on the edge of the box which allowed James Martin to step up and curl a sublime effort over the wall and into the top corner.

Wendron pressed hard for an equaliser, and just after the hour mark they though they had it.

A goalmouth scramble resulted in Wendron top-scorer Wort bundling the ball over the line, only for linesman Lester Thomas to flag for handball in the buildup - a decision greetd by howls of protest from the home dugout.

Illogan keeper Shaun Carter made a string of superb saves to keep the home side at bay as Wendron continued to apply pressure.

The Illogan keeper touched Wort's low drive just wide of the upright, and palmed away a Newberry header which looked destined for the top corner.

But as Wendron pushed forward gaps appeared at the back, and Illogan sealed a vital win in the 85th minute when captain Luke Abbot-Smith's reverse through ball picked out Jason Roberts, and he broke clear of his marker to hammer a shot high into the back of the net.

Wendron: J Brown, M Brewer, K Davies, C Madeley, M Newberry, M Rose (c), S Brewer, J Searle (M Roberts 89), S Care (J Moseley 65), J Roberts, L Wort.

Illogan RBL: S Carter, P Wolstencroft (S Emery 65), S Fenton, S Abbot-Smith, J Martin, L Johnson, D Richards, L Abbott-Smith (c), S Waters (J Coleman 80), J Carlyon, J Roberts.