Falmouth Town’s hopes of finishing third in the CSWPL premier division were dealt a blow on Saturday as they lost 3-1 away at Elburton Villa.

Town, who have one game left to play, are still in third but they must now win away at Bovey Tracey on Wednesday to be sure of staying there. Saltash, who are just one point behind Town, could overtake them if they beat Plymouth Parkway on Tuesday.

Parkway themselves could also overtake Town, but they would need to win their last two games against Saltash and away at champions Bodmin. A combination of Elburton’s spoiling tactics, some strange refereeing decisions and a general lack of cohesion in the Falmouth side led to them going down to their biggest defeat against their hosts since the start of the Peninsula League.

Both sides forced early corners, but a lot of the play was confined to the midfield area, with Steve Winnan and Jamie Devine often waiting in vain for a ball out to the flanks, which was needed to stretch the strong Elburton back line.

Levi Landricombe and his brother, Mike, were a constant threat for the home side and Chris Menhenick and Wayne Quinn were kept on their toes as they strived to contain them.

Sam Stevens ran on to a ball from Chris Clarke before hitting a strong shot that Jason Chapman did well to hold and shortly after this, Levi Landricombe headed over the bar when well placed. Falmouth hit back as Mark Vercesi, who was playing in a more forward role than usual due to Matt Drummond being unavailable, played a good ball over to Jamie Mudge, but his header went straight at the keeper as Lewis Day closed in on him. Elburton took the lead after 26 minutes.

Menhenick was penalised for a foul on Clarke 20 yards from goal and Landricombe smashed the free-kick past Chapman into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Falmouth responded well and Vercesi brought a great one-handed save out of Simon May as he turned his 15 yard shot around the post for a corner.

Shortly after this, Quinn hit a 25 yard free-kick just over the crossbar.

Neither side could really get any flow to their game with both sides questioning almost every decision the referee gave, and Elburton appealing for free-kicks after most tackles. Falmouth finally equalised two minutes before half-time when Dan Green played a great through ball to Mudge and he held off a challenge as he lobbed the keeper from just inside the area. Elburton regained the lead five minutes into the second half when former Town player, Justin Crowley, hit a free-kick into the middle from out on the left and Michael Landricombe rose above everyone to head home past a static Chapman.

Things got worse for Falmouth after 55 minutes when Kevin Hill was sent off for a remark made to the referee after yet another decision that had baffled the Town players and supporters alike. Dan Green was desperately unlucky not to equalise ten minutes later when, spotting the keeper off his line he hit a thirty yard shot that hit the crossbar and went over.

Elburton pushed forward and Jason Chapman made a great one-handed save from Landricombe as he tipped the ball over the bar.

Falmouth hit back with Dan Magee making an all too rare break down the flank, before firing in a shot that Simon May did well to smother. Elburton wrapped up the points a few minutes from time when Jordan Walton headed home Chris Clarke’s cross at the far post.