St Newlyn East ended the festive period with their third straight win in a row – this time in the George Evely Cup against high-flying and previously unbeaten Lanivet Inn. Already missing key players in influential midfielders Harry Mugford and Russell Brooker along with central defender Sam Eglinton, Newlyn were also without Ben Lawrence, Max Smith and Sonny Summers-Evans.

Newlyn started brightly again and were able to use the conditions to their advantage. It only took the home side jus 1 minute to register their first attempt on target when Dan Woodgate went close with a shot that flashed just wide.

On 7 minutes Owen London pounced on a loose ball that wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and he struck a low right foot drive across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net. Four minutes later and the younger London brother linked up well with his brother Ross to shoot inches wide.

On 19 mutes a deep Ash Bradshaw corner was headed back across the goal by the outstanding Jake Watson for Owen London to double Newlyn’s advantage when he reacted quickest to fire home from just outside the six-yard box.

Newly were then forced to re shuffle their team with Chris Sturgess and goal scorer London both having to leave the field to injuries and be replaced by Jackson Roshford and Simon Baulch. A free kick was well struck by Bradshaw and as the home crowd were set to celebrate a third goal the Lanivet keeper leapt to his right to parry the goal bound shot away.

Woodgate then saw his shot from just outside the penalty area go close before Baulch met a cross only to mis-time his header when he seemed certain to score. Ross London was next to count himself unlucky not to score when he smashed a shout into the side netting and as the half drew to a close Bradshaw’s slip saw the ball strike his arm on the half way line that saw the official produce a tallow card that was to prove ultimately costly for the defender in the second half.

In the second half Newlyn again went close to adding to their tally on numerous occasions – Ross London again fired into the side netting before Baulch saw his shot well saved by the visiting keeper.

Just after the hour a strong – but fair – tackle by Bradshaw saw the referee produce a second yellow card and reduce the Saints to 10 min for the remaining 30 minutes. Newlyn continued to attack and were then on the receiving end of challenges that seemed on a par with the offence that saw Bradshaw dismissed but went without further punishment.

With 10 minutes remaining a foul on Rochford saw him forced to be substituted and from the resulting free kick Jadon Gotthardt stepped up and cracked a ferocious shot off the crossbar for the final opportunity of the match.

The result sees Newlyn into the draw for the third round and finish their recent run of games building up to Christmas with three wins, scoring 17 goals and only conceding 2 - having found a level of consistency that had been missing from their earlier games in the season.

Newquay Health Man of the Match: Jake Watson