FOXHOLE STARS 0

C Rickard (2), J Warne (pen),

A Bromley (3), A Butler (2)

WENDRON UNITED 1

M Pope

Wendron: J Grey, J Till, D Blatch, B Andrew, J Barber, D Thompson, S Hodson, J Searle, H Vague, M Pope, P Weaver. Subs: E Timmins, S Retchford.

A WET and miserable afternoon at Foxhole is not the most desirable of places to visit in the Carlsberg SW Peninsula League, but Wendron United had far more reasons other than the weather to blame for an afternoon they will quickly want to forget.

With Marcus Smith, Kirk Davis, Mike Newbury and Phil Black unavailable, Wendron were always going to find this fixture difficult, but even they couldn’t have envisaged the events that were about to unfold and leave them nursing a demoralising 8-1 defeat.

Goalkeeper Jamie Grey was sent off after 20 minutes for conceding a penalty with midfielder David Thompson taking over between the posts.

Unfortunately Thompson was injured in a collision and the game was held up while they awaited the arrival an ambulance to take him to hospital. He was detained overnight with a suspected broken leg.

That mean Dean Blatch became United’s third goalkeeper in the opening half which must be some sort of record.

Before all that drama unfolded during the early part of the match Wendron looked in good shape as they took the game to the home side, but instead of finding themselves a goal up in the 14th minute from a Paul Weaver free kick following a bad miss, they found themselves a goal down.

Within 30 seconds Carl Rickard picked up the goalkeeper’s clearance and scored with a terrific 30-yard screamer that gave Jamie Grey no chance.

Five minutes later both Dean Blatch and Grey clattered into Steve Capeling and as a result referee Steve Rose decided that Grey was culpable and sent him off. Jason Warne netted with the spot kick.

On the half hour United’s problems mounted when Thompson had to be substituted, but by then Adam Bromley and Andrew Butler had both scored to make it 4-0.

Wendron’s defending became sloppy in the second half with Foxhole stretching their lead to 7-0 with goals from Butler and Bromley (2) before the visitors pulled a goal back through Mark Pope after a good one two with Howard Vague.

Pope eventually had his marching orders for dissent and to complete their afternoon of misery Rickard completed what he started in the first half when he notched the eighth goal five minutes from time.

Wendron’s assistant manager Richard Full said it wasn’t a good day, but he was far from despondent.

“The small things are conspiring against to become big things,” said Full. “We started well at Foxhole, but the pivotal moment was the sending off of Jamie Grey. That changed the entire complexion of the game.

“I thought it was difficult to decide who was to blame for the foul because Dean Blatch and Grey were also in collision with each other, but the referee made his decision and we have to accept it. That only compounded what was to happen later with three goalkeepers being needed.

“So with no goalkeeper and then finishing the match with nine men, the 8-1 scoreline suggests a thrashing – and I suppose in that context it was – but we are still very upbeat. I’m confident that when we get our full side back we will start picking up points and we will be pushing onwards and upwards.”

On Saturday Wendron are home to Callington Town, kick off 2.30 pm.