WENDRON 0

RNAS CULDROSE 2

Wendron: B Scoffin, M Newberry, J Till, C James, S Johnston, S Gillett, S Hodson, J Searle, L Gribble, M O'Neill, M Pope.

RNAS Culdrose: S De'Ath, D Rowe, G Pattison, M McBeath, M Bulgin, J Thompson, C O'Hare, J Adam, C James, S Parker, C Morris. Subs: S Woodhouse, N Rudkin.

WITH just two Jolly's Combination League defeats since November, RNAS Culdrose moved into the top half of the table with a hard-earned 2-0 win at Wendron.

Playing with a strong wind at their backs, the servicemen held the upper hand in the first half although Wendron had to make an early change in the eighth minute following an injury to Chris James.

The visitors took the lead in the 15th minute. A far post corner was overhit, but the unmarked George Pattison, on the side of the penalty area, was given time and space to cross the ball back in for Sean Parker to head in through a crowd of players from close range.

Although Wendron generally struggled to make headway against the strong wind, they attempted to play their way out with football and went close when Sean Johnston shot wide after a good pass by Steve Gillett.

Culdrose tried to thread passes through the home defence, but all too often overhit them and the game developed in to a dogged midfield battle.

Just before half time Culdrose tightened their grip on the game when they snapped up a second goal. Jamie Adam found Jamie Thompson who laid the ball into the path of Chris Morris to neatly flick the ball under Bryan Scoffin for a well-taken goal.

The second half was much the same as the first with Wendron opting to play their way through Culdrose rather than use the more direct route offered by the wind.

Gillett almost got Wendron back into the game with a raking shot that hit the post from a short corner and then they missed their best chance of the game when Glynn Hobbs shot straight at Steve De'Ath from ten yards following a good run by Johnston.

Culdrose were content to hold on to what they had and defended solidly, but they still threatened the visiting goal with Thompson sending one shot whistling over the bar.

Culdrose assistant manager Neil Rudkin said their victory was a reward for hard work: "We have now only lost twice since the end of November and much of that can be put down to the fact that we are fielding virtually the same side every week.

"The back four has been together for quite a while and that is showing in our performances.

"The win at Wendron may not have been pretty, but it was effective and sometimes that's what you have to do."

"All in all I think everyone at Wendron is disappointed with the result," said manager Steve Webber. "Culdrose knocked us out of our rhythm and didn't allow us to play our normal fluid football.

"What couldn't be faulted was the remarkable accuracy of our players' passing. They found George Pattison's head every time!"