Falmouth Town 1- Callington Town 1
FALMOUTH Town Reserves were finally back at Bickland Park after being on their travels for their last four matches when they entertained Callington Town, one of this season’s outside bets for the title.
A win for either team would have meant moving up into third place in the Premier Division (West) of the Walter C Parsons' South West Peninsula League, but the teams couldn’t be separated after a keenly fought match ended in a 1-1 draw.
With Town’s manager Jon Perrow unavailable due to work commitments, Town legend Tommy Matthews took the reins in his absence.
Starting for Town was "first teamer" Kian Thomas, who dropped down for some valuable game time, and he replaced Sam Buckley, who had been ill during the week.
For the first half, Town played towards the Packet End against a strong wind and found it tough going.
However, Town midfielder Taylor Packenas found himself free on the edge of the box but couldn’t get enough power into his shot to trouble the goalkeeper.
Both sides found it difficult to create clear-cut openings, but Ethan Fearn made a great save with his hand at his near post from a point-blank shot to deny Callington a goal.
The game changed in the 25th minute when the league’s top goal scorer, Callington’s Finn Harrison, turned quickly from 25 yards around the corner of the box and with no back lift smashed a half volley into the top corner of the net.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, the game was still there to be won, but at halftime, Buckley replaced the injured Jak Davies, and he quickly got into his stride, creating numerous problems for Callington.
Town were in complete control with the defence of Levi Hilling, Tom Fisher, skipper Reece Carroll and Oliver Perrow snuffing out anything the visitors had to offer, and it was almost one-way traffic.
Man-of-the-match Ryan Townson was making everything tick in the midfield, and from one of his passes, Thomas cut in from the right and from 35 yards smashed a screamer that thudded so hard against the crossbar, it almost rebounded to the 18-yard line.
A great pass from Evan Tresidder found Buckley, and with a chance to lob the ’keeper from 25 yards, agonisingly saw it go just over the bar.
Town’s superior fitness was really showing, and from another great pass, this time from Hilling, Buckley chipped a beautiful 30-yard lob over the ’keeper only to see it bounce back off the post.
Town maintained the pressure as they continually sought the equaliser, and in the 82nd minute, from a superb corner from Hilling, Aaron Hicks, who has been a superb signing for Town, scored with a bullet of a header.
Incredibly, in the dying minutes, Buckley was through again after a fine pass from substitute Will Harding, but from another 30-yard lob, he hit the crossbar.
After the match had finished, Town manager Jon Perrow said: "Town never stopped pressing for a goal, but just couldn’t break down Callington’s defence, and it finished 1-1.
"Although very disappointed not to win, the second half performance shows what this squad is capable of.
"On another day, they could have won 5-1, which is such a credit to the lads."
Town: E Fearn, L Hilling, O Perrow, R Townson, R Carroll, T Fisher, J Davies, T Packenas, E Tresidder, A Hicks, K Thomas.
Subs: D Davey, W Harding, W Perrow, S Buckley, S Yendle.
Ref: A Bassett; asst refs: A Green and J Green.
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