St Newlyn East AFC finally started their first ever campaign in the newly extended St Piran Football League and came away with all three points after a testing game at Looe Town, on one of the hottest days of the year – in September!

The club has seen some new faces join in the off season and fielded a strong squad, despite a losing regular goalkeeper Nathan Prentice to injury in the build-up and cover keeper Cody Hill the day before that left centre half Ross Emery agree to don the gloves for the game.

The visitors had the better chances in the opening exchanges as well as being on the receiving end of several industrial challenges. Ross London forced a good save from the home ‘keeper three minutes in with a left foot shot that was going in until the keepers low one-handed save, and two minutes later the marauding Dan Ball was barged over in the penalty area by three players for what the Saints thought was a blatant penalty somehow adjudged a fair challenge by the official.

The first ‘water break’ refreshed the Saints more and just one minute after the re start saw Ball pouncing on a Thompson deflected free kick to fire home. The home side were resilient in midfield but were finding it increasing hard to close Newlyn’s trio of Thompson, Mugford and Brooker but their only threat in the half came from a long-range shot that bounced off the crossbar but never crossed the line.

With ten minutes left in the half Jackson Rochford was forced to leave the field - with Ben Lawrence coming on - due to the excessive temperature, then Dan Ball also switching for Owen London. The changes meant more trouble for Looe who were quickly tiring. Two more close shots nearly improved things for Newlyn but the halftime break saw the visitors narrowly ahead but ruing their missed opportunities.

The interval saw Newlyn introduce new signing Dom Roberts and the evergreen Martyn Probert to replace Harry Mugford and Ross London as the temperature increased further. Playing down the slope Looe seemed to gain momentum and Newlyn were indebted to stand-in goalkeeper Emery making fine saves to keep them in the game.

Looe’s pressure finally told when Sweeney capitalised on a loose ball to find the net and bring the hosts level on sixty-two minutes. However the visitors were quickly able to restore their lead when Roberts powered past two defenders before firing high into the roof of the net.

Newlyn again thought they should have had another penalty when Owen London had his shirt almost ripped off his back before being hauled to the ground only for the referee to again wave play on. Looe’s keeper Cooke was again called into action late on saving well from another Roberts shot.

As the referee brought the game to a close Newlyn were able to celebrate a hard-fought win over a resilient and hard-working Looe team. Next up for the Saints is another away fixture at St Minver.

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