St Newlyn East progressed in to the last eight of the Cornwall Junior Cup following a hard-fought victory over Holmans SC – who are currently top of the Trelawny Premier Division and were many people’s favourites to win the trophy.

The visitors' started brighter and their passing was sharper than the hosts who took time to find their feet but Newlyn gradually grew into the game and were rewarded on 18 minutes when Brodie Mitchell met a fine cross and placed a downward header in to the net past the stranded keeper.

Newlyn should have added to their tally before the interval. Jamie Seery placed a header inches wide from Al Titterinton’s free-kick and had another identical opportunity minutes later that also flashed by the post. As the game progressed Newlyn started to win the midfield duel with their central pairing of Harry Mugford and Callum Faulkner a ‘blue wall’ that Holmans couldn’t break through.

Martyn Probert danced by three defenders on the half hour mark, bursting into the penalty area only to see his shot strike the base of the post and rebound out. The interval saw Newlyn make three changes introducing Lee Paxton, Will Perry and Ross London. Paxton showed why he will prove to be a great signing for the Saints holding the team’s shape, orgainising and marshalling the players around him.

A soft free kick on 64 minutes drew the visitors level with Saints' stopper Ian Brooks beaten low into the corner by a well struck shot from Kyle Marks. Newlyn thought they should have restored the lead on 71 minutes when Mitchell ran past the full-back to collect a pass and his sublime finish over the keeper should have been worthy of winning the match but Newlyn’s celebrations were cut short by a very dubious offside flag from the visiting linesman.

With neither team able to add to the scoring the game then entered extra time. Another strange and debatable offside decision from the linesman saw Probert sin binned for his reaction but this only spurred the Saints on, and they deservedly scored their second when the excellent Callum Faulkner hammered home 9 minutes into the first period of extra time. Holmans continued to throw men forward but found Seery a colossus in defence, ably supported by the experienced Titterington and dynamic Josh Dingle, and robust Ross Emery.

Holmans pressure finally told and they equalized three minutes in to the second period of extra time when a low corner was not dealt with and the ball found its way to the far post where Adam Selley had a simple finish.

However, Newlyn were not to be denied and with the game seemingly heading towards penalties they dug deep and produced the finish their efforts deserved when Mitchell struck again with just four minutes remaining to score his second of the game, finishing from close range.

The final whistle saw Newlyn’s players and supporters celebrate as they moved into the quarter finals of a competition they have underachieved in over recent years. They now await the draw to find out who they will face.

This Saturday Newlyn are again at home in cup action – this time in the Duchy Knockout Cup when the face AFC Bodmin in a 2.30KO.

The Pheasant Inn Man-of-the-Match: Jamie “Bambi” Seery