Falmouth Town moved up to sixth in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League premier division on Saturday after they put five goals past Witheridge.

Falmouth Town had to do without goalkeeper Jason Chapman, Jamie defender Devine and young midfielder Joe Lugg all suffering from various injuries. Marc Rose once again took over between the sticks and Tom Barwell took on the left back role.

Both teams struggled to get any positive moves going early on, with the exception of a stinging shot from Dan Green that home keeper John Wannell just managed to turn around the post for a corner.

Falmouth were trying a long ball game down the incline, but all too often the passes were over hit and Matt Drummond and Ian Hodges were having to fall back deeper and drift wide in an attempt to get any possession that could threaten the Witheridge defence, which included former Town player Jamie Dirrane.

Richard Blake made a good run on the left flank and passed the ball into the path of Jordan Charran who aimed a high ball in to Tony Radford, but Falmouth’s Lee Rundle got up well to head the ball clear.

Mark Vercesi and Hodges combined well with some close passing as the home defence closed in on them, but Hodges managed to squeeze the ball to Drummond on the left side of the penalty area where he hit a first time shot that went just wide of the far post.

The second half saw Witheridge bring on Dave Rowe to replace Dirrane and they went straight onto the attack when Charran burst through the Town defence, but Marc Rose was out quickly to close him down forcing him to hit his shot over the bar.

Falmouth took the lead after 50 minutes when Karl Turner’s free-kick was blocked by a hand in the Witheridge defensive wall and he curled the second kick around the wall and into the corner of the net. Three minutes later Steve Winnan had the ball played out to him on the right wing by Dan Magee and he sent over a long searching cross which was headed home from close in by Hodges.

A few minutes later Dan Green and Dan Magee combined well to set up Hodges, who hit a rising shot from the edge of the area which Wannell just managed to tip over the bar for a corner.

The kick was headed away by Chris Ibbeson, but Hodges managed to play it into Green who smashed a first time shot against the foot of the post.

Falmouth forced another corner in the 63rd minute and Turner curled the ball in to the middle where Mark Vercesi rose unchallenged to power it home from close range.

Two minutes later, Witheridge pulled a goal back when a ball in to the Town area was headed down by Sam Box who had only just come on as a substitute and home skipper Steve Ebdy shot past Rose from close range.

Falmouth were three goals clear again in the 68th minute when Dave Rowe tripped Hodges in the penalty area and referee J Haywood awarded a penalty kick that was hammered home by Vercesi hard and low to the keepers left. Six minutes later the home side scored their second goal when after Charran’s shot was blocked, Tony Radford shot home with the Town defence looking on.

A few minutes later, Ross Pope came on to replace Karl Turner in midfield and Magee went out wide on a good run past a home defender before putting the ball in to Hodges, but his header went wide with only Wannell to beat.

Dan Magee got his reward for a great second half display when he cut in from the right, past a couple of defenders and played the ball to Hodges who tried a cheeky back-heel shot, but the ball hit the keeper’s legs and rebounded to Magee who cleverly chipped the ball in to the net from six yards.

Sam Box headed home Witheridge’s third goal in the last minute of the game as Town’s defence were caught flat- footed by a right wing cross.

Falmouth: Marc Rose, Steve Winnan, Tom Barwell, Shane White, Lee Rundle, Karl Turner (Ross Pope), Dan Magee, Dan Green, Ian Hodges, Matt Drummond, Mark Vercesi. Substitute: Jamie Devine.