Facing the only undefeated Division One team, Newlyn knew they would need to put a performance in and did just that as they totally outclassed St Minver in testing conditions. The recent rain made the Cargoll Rd pitch soft and heavy, but the Saints adapted well as was proven by the result.

The opening half hour was all Newlyn who started as they meant to go on with a goal inside 2 minutes from Jake Watson who slotted home in front of goal from Ash Bradshaw’s pinpoint corner kick. 2 minutes later Russell Brooker unleashed a curling shot that rattled the crossbar from 20 yards. The opening 10 minutes saw Newlyn force 5 corners – testament to their attacking mentality – and this pressure was topped off with another long-range strike by Brooker which forced the keeper to a scrambling parry.

Mugford had a strong low strike well saved on 18 minutes and Newlyn’s captain - in the absence of suspended Jack Thompson - followed up with another saved effort on 25 minutes when he reacted to another parried block from a third Brooker shot. It took St Minver half an hour to produce any real issues of concern the home defence – and this was a corner well dealt with by the back line.

Chris Sturgess troubled the visiting defence with a good free kick that led to an intense final few minutes of the half as another accurate Bradshaw corner found Dan Woodgate who attempted an audacious back-heel shot which was well stopped on the line and Brooker again forced a save from the home keeper. The marauding Dan Ball burst into the penalty area but shot across the face of the goal before Bradshaw stopped a possible late counter attack by the visitors with a great challenge just before the interval.

Newlyn came running out for the second half evidently up for the expected reaction from St Minver, but it was the Saints who started the strongest. A fantastic move saw Watson latch onto a flicked header from Woodgate just 2 minutes in, running past the defence and rounding the keeper – but the celebrations were cut short as the visiting linesman raised his flag and after a check by the ever-impressive official Alan Howells the goal was chalked off.

This let off saw St Minver come back into the game with sturdy challenges and more ball in the centre of the rapidly cutting up pitch. On the hour mark Chris Sturgess was replaced by young Sonny Summers-Evans. He immediately made an impact with a great pass to Watson who saw his goalbound shot well saved. They again linked up 10 minutes later following a fine through ball by Mugford when Summers-Evans delivered a superb ball to Watson who doubled his tally with a close-range tap-in.

Brooker saw a card for repeated infringements with 15 minutes left on the clock. Mugford was replaced by Martyn Probert 5 minutes later and then St Minver produced their only real shot on target as they hit the upright from a direct free kick on the edge of the box.

The last 10 minutes was all-action. Dan Woodgate was replaced by Simon Baulch, Sean Kinsella by Sturgess and Bradshaw by Ben Hawken. A backpass from a St Minver defender on the touchline somehow beat his own keeper who agonisingly watched the ball roll over the line from an absurdly narrow angle for the own-goal of the season and to put the game out of reach of the visitors. Summers-Evans was brought down in the box but denied a penalty and as the visitors became more frustrated with Newlyn’s iron grip on the game they were forced to play out the game with 10 men after a late red card.

A truly dominant performance by Newlyn – one of the best of their season so far – that was well-received by the home supporters. Next week it’s a break from League action as they travel to Boscastle in the postponed Evely cup tie hoping to continue their cup run.

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