St Newlyn East progressed into the second round of the CCFA Intermediate Cup thanks in the main to a scintillating first half performance that saw them blow the visitors away – scoring four goals inside the opening 30 minutes.

Newlyn opened the scoring after just 6 minutes after the ball was won on the halfway line by Ash Bradshaw who passed to the left wing for Ross London to cut back inside and deliver a pinpoint cross with his right foot for Jake Watson to powerfully head home.

London then doubled Newlyn’s lead 5 minutes later when he headed home himself from a group of players, meeting Sonny Summers-Evans in swinging corner. Ross London then scored his second goal on the half hour mark pressing a defender when the visitors tried playing out from a goal kick and forcing an error that Harry Mugford pounced on, winning the ball back and immediately passing to London on the edge of the penalty area. London turned his marker and smashed home across the diving goalkeeper into the far corner.

The Saints quickly added a fourth goal just a minute later with arguably the best move of the match. Sean Kinsella, who was enjoying an excellent game at right back drove forward and found Watson who produced a clever turn, playing the ball forward to the onrushing Jay Manning who arrowed a low cross to the far post that evaded the defenders and was smashed into the net by Summers-Evans.

Just before half time London then produced one of the misses of the season (and probably any season) ever witnessed at Cargoll Road. Clipping the ball over the advancing keeper and racing around him but with an empty goal in front of him he somehow contrived to miss from 2 yards to audible gasps of disbelief from his teammates and watching supporters.

The second half should have been much of the same for the home side but a crazy 10-minute spell after the re start saw them press the self-destruct button to allow Millbrook back into the game with two goals. The first from a corner that followed a long kick from the Millbrook goalkeeper that wasn’t cleared and was bundled home and the second from a penalty that saw Brooker booked although replays later showed that both Brooker’s and the Visiting payer both had high boots in the clash. Just minutes after conceding the penalty the unfortunate Brooker was then shown a second yellow card and dismissed for a reckless challenge leaving Newlyn to play the remaining third of teh game with just 10 men.

Millbrook were able to pull another goal back on 70 minutes when Payn scored his third by reacting quickest to a low cross to beat Prentice at the near post.

Newlyn fought valiantly against the visitors’ extra man advantage, defending resolutely and putting their bodies on the line. Ross London in particular worked tirelessly as the lone striker and was rewarded for his efforts with a hat trick in the dying minutes that sealed Newlyn’s deserved win. A long clearance by Prentice was brought down by Watson and Mugford won the loose ball using his strength to fend of a challenge. Mugford’s pass set London racing clear and he fired home under the advancing keeper to send Newlyn into the next round from this thrilling encounter.

Referee: Dan Bennetts

Newquay Osteopaths Man of the Match: Ross London