FALMOUTH Town boss Andrew Westgarth pulled no punches when he described his side’s performance in their 3-0 defeat at home to Plymouth Argyle as their worst of the season.
Town were outclassed as South West Peninsula League Premier leaders Argyle made light work of their opponents, with Alex Fletcher scoring two first-half goals before Alex Battle’s superb free-kick clinched all three points after the break.
Indeed it was a very poor performance from the home side, with Westgarth labelling it as a “very un-Falmouth performance”. Argyle were good, but Town made them look even better.
The transition between defence and attack was slow and very unlike the swashbuckling strides into opposition territory of which we have come to expect from this Town side over the last 16 months.
When the passing to feet wasn’t working, they reverted to the direct long ball forward, which has also proved successful for Town in recent times when they had Jordan Annear racing on to meet them, but they rarely found their target on Saturday and were meat and drink for the two experienced professional centre-backs in Scott Wootton and Peter Grant.
In fairness, it is a bit more difficult to find a target at the moment when Town are currently strikerless. The only recognised Falmouth striker available to play against Argyle was Westgarth himself.
Marcello Jones made a welcome return from the USA to play 90 minutes but he isn’t an out-and-out striker, and neither is Luke Brabyn who was also playing further forward than usual.
Add central midfielder Jack Webber playing at left back to that list and there were plenty of square pegs in round holes on show on Saturday, with Tim Nixon, Ollie Moody, Jack Bowyer and Matt Buchan all unavailable for the game.
Bowyer should be free to make a much-needed return to the frontline for Town on Boxing Day after serving a one-game suspension in Saturday’s defeat.
Town are now without a win in their last five league games and have scored just two points from those games, with their last league victory coming on October 24 at Bodmin Town.
It doesn’t get much easier for Westgarth’s boys as they prepare for a high-stakes Boxing Day trip to local rivals Helston Athletic before welcoming Saltash United – who currently sit level on points and goal difference with Town – to Bickland Park on Saturday.
Failure to win either of those games would make it very difficult to see Town emulating last season’s third place finish, given that every other side in the leading group of teams – apart from leaders Argyle – have at least one game in hand on Town.
It’s not quite time to be ringing the alarm bells just yet, but Town need a win and they need it soon.
VIDEO: Highlights of Falmouth Town's 3-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle
GALLERY: Pictures from Falmouth Town's defeat to Plymouth Argyle
INTERVIEW: Town boss Andrew Westgarth bemoans "worst performance" of the season
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