St Newlyn East came into this game buoyed by 2 straight wins and a season-best performance last week. Unfortunately they failed to live up to their recent form producing a disjointed display against a stoic North Petherwin side.

The recent rain produced a soft surface which soon cut up and made heavy going in the field. The Saints came out of the blocks and produced a succession of surging runs, capped off after just 6 minutes when an Ian Brooks delivery found the head of Louis Dodd who met the run of Elliott Powell; his pass drilled to Sam Lawrence who produced a clinical left-foot drive into the back of the net.

Newlyn continued to dominate for the opening half hour, but failed to convert any of their numerous chances. The visitors fired 3 warning shots in quick succession in the last 15 minutes which should have set alarm bells ringing at Cargoll Rd. Lawrence almost doubled the lead just on half-time as he saw a fierce shot saved well by the visitors keeper.

Whether it was a lack of concentration or just complacency the Saints managed to self-destruct over a crazy three minute spell right after the re-start to the dismay and anger of their management team. Normally-solid Elliott Dodd swung a leg at a tame cross on 47 minutes which saw the ball balloon over his head, Brooks failed to stop the two attackers and the ball found the net to bring the visitors level. Just three minutes later a very soft cross was not dealt with and Petherwin gained the lead as an open net bulged.

Newlyn looked a pale imitation of the side that gelled so well just seven days previously and the visitors had the better of the play. However Newlyn could count themselves unlucky with twenty minutes to go when a disputed handball on the goal line was not seen by the official - whose view was blocked by so many players in the box - who could only give a corner. Just four minutes after this the Saints conceded a very soft free-kick which saw the normally-reliable Brooks wrong-footed as it nestled into the right corner of the net taking a step to his left as the ball was placed into the opposite corner.

Newlyn pressed forwards at this stage but the chances were not taken and the effort was too little too late as the side failed to capitalise on last week’s excellent performance. Petherwin fully deserved the win on the day, and it is hoped that the Saints players can rebound from this disappointment as the tough fixtures build up through the coming weeks.

THE PHEASANT INN MAN OF THE MATCH – WILL PERRY