St Newlyn East AFC were knocked out of the Junior Cup on Saturday by Foxhole Stars. The previous weekend had these two Duchy Premier rivals face off in a competitive game which saw the visitors - short of regular players and drafting in more experience - take the points. This fixture had Foxhole back to their regular line-up but the hosts were depleted by the loss of five regular starters.

Extensive pitch preparations meant the surface was outstanding and a large crowd were hoping for a great game.

Zefran Counter in the Newlyn goal pulled off his first save of his Man-of-the-Match performance just 5 minutes in. The visitors dominated the early exchanges and it took the Saints 16 minutes to get fired up when a great move down the left saw Ross London pass to Elliot Powell who smashed home from 6 yards. Powell forced a fine save just 3 minutes later, closely followed by Martyn Probert whose fierce shot was well saved but oddly saw the official adjudge a goal-kick.

Newlyn's woes began on 24 minutes when Chris Ballet attempted a goal-line clearance only for his feet to betray him as he bundled into his own net for an own goal. Seven minutes from the break returning Ollie Downing was brought down by a crude lunge on the touchline which the home side felt should have been punished with a caution but again the referee chose not to. Two minutes later a cross in front of the visitor's goal was clearly headed into touch by their defender and yet again a goal-kick was awarded to the horror of the hosts.

Any half-time plans went out of the window just 30 seconds after the break when a simple through ball saw the Saints defence freeze and they conceded possibly their worst goal for two seasons to see the visitors go one-up. Counter was then forced into two fine saves in close succession and Probert was adjudged offside when clean through on goal before Sam Lawrence was cynically hacked down on the right wing in another unpunished challenge.

A prolonged period of sustained pressure from Foxhole was capped by the Saints' second own goal of the game by Steve Harris on 65 minutes who saw his attempted clearance come off his knee to cannon past Counter.

With 20 minutes left a Jack Thompson shot rebounded off the crossbar only for Lucas Moses to blaze his parry high. Changes in the last 15 minutes saw the introduction into adult football for debuting teenagers Callum Edgcombe and Harry Owen as Newlyn pushed forwards.

Although the hosts can consider themselves at the wrong end of some decisions through the game, it goes without saying that – as it was last week and at this level chances need to be taken and mistakes are harshly punished.

This weekend the Saints face long-time rivals Godolphin Atlantic Reserves in a hotly-anticipated local derby where Newlyn will look to see an improvement in their recent form and results.

The Pheasant Inn Man of the Match; Zefran Counter