St Newlyn East continued their good start to 2019 with a fine win at home to a Sticker side looking to duplicate their emphatic victory over the Saints in October. Extensive preparations saw the teams face off on a great playing surface and the support pitch-side rivalled many senior fixtures in both numbers and noise.

The opening exchanges saw Newlyn pass the ball well though it was the visitors who had the better of the chances; and their pressure forced the hosts into an early mistake as Steve Harris misjudged a clearing header which saw the ball loop over home ‘keeper Ian Brooks for an unfortunate own goal just 6 minutes in. Sticker continued to press and 10 minutes later a long-range drive nearly found the net.

Changes mid-way through the half with Chris Hall replacing Chris Ballett stabilised the Saints and they began to exert increasing pressure on Sticker who found themselves on the back foot as the half progressed – Jack Thompson had several efforts and Sam Lawrence found himself through but to no avail. Newlyn rode their luck on 41 minutes when a goalmouth scramble saw the Sticker striker somehow miss an open goal from less than 6 yards. However this was against the tide of increasing Newlyn forays and chances.

Two minutes later a Sticker goal-kick was immediately returned to Will Perry who slotted a sweet pass of 30 yards to Lewis Dodd who slammed home the equalizer from the edge of the penalty area to the delight of the home fans.

Management team Grigg and Thompson used their halftime team-talk to good effect with Lucas Moses coming on for fellow teenager Callum Edgcumbe, and a confident Saints started the 2nd half in high spirits. Dodd had an early strike well saved on 49 minutes, his brother Elliott firing just left of the uprights 2 minutes later.

Saints pressure increased as they began to control the game on all fronts. The most intense five minutes of the game was to be started with Sticker yet again missing an open goal from close range as a shot cannoned off the crossbar into the safe hands of Brooks after 57 minutes. Then on the hour came the goal of the game as Sam Lawrence produced a deft nutmeg, rounding his marker and surging down the left wing – his pinpoint cross found Lewis Dodd leaping like the proverbial salmon, having moved into space between the two centre halves, to drive his header home over the flaying ‘keeper. Two minutes later Perry gained a birthday card; from the official for a late challenge that saw him cautioned but Brooks bravely saved the resultant freekick diving low at the striker's feet.

Sticker lost their shape and were down to 10 men following a sin-binning, however this merely increased the home sides control of the match. In the final 15 minutes Dodd had a shot that hit the left post whilst the impressive Elliott Powell forced a fine save. Aaron Thompson came close twice and Lewis Dodd headed agonisingly past the right post and Powell just missed connecting a header at point-blank range by centimetres.

It was by far the best team performance the Saints have produced this season and one that saw them close in on the top-5 in the Division. Credit must be given to Mr. Ian Spurling who refereed the game extremely well and to the supporters of both sides who produced such a great atmosphere at the ground.

After, Saints' Manager Martin Grigg said he was delighted with the overall performance of his side "I thought we controlled the game well and our passing was especially good today. We haven't got the size of squad that the majority of clubs who are above us in the division have so missing 5 key players today who have all been starting for us recently makes it even harder to deal with but today I thought every player was outstanding"

This Saturday the Saints are again at home entertaining North Petherwin 2:30pm kick off

THE PHEASANT INN MAN OF THE MATCH; CHRIS HALL