Newlyn started the game brightly and after just 3 minutes a collision in the penalty area saw Dan Ball barged to the ground leaving referee Duncan Stevenson no option but to point to the spot. Jake Watson took responsibility for the home side but saw his penalty kick that was hit low to the keeper’s right well saved by Cooke in the visitors’ goal.

Newlyn continued to drive forward looking for the opening goal and just a minute later Russell Brooker saw his shot go over the crossbar from a Sonny Summers-Evans corner. Not to be denied The Saints finally scored their first goal of the game when on 8 minutes Martyn Probert won the ball out wide and glided past two defenders to slot home through the goalkeeper’s legs.

The outstanding Dan Ball shot from the edge of penalty area but it was parried by Cooke on 12 minutes before Probert somehow missed the ball with an attempted diving header at the far post and Jackson Rochford also just missed a simple toe poke with the goal at his mercy.

Newlyn would rue their missed chances when on 18 minutes some sloppy play from Newlyn saw Looe’s Boxall win a tackle with Summers-Evans that gave him the chance to break forward to the edge of Newlyn’s penalty area before hitting a rocket of a shot into the top corner that gave 18 year old debutant Ethan Vickers in Newlyn’s goal no chance to bring the visitors’ level.

Looe again went close almost immediately after the re start when they struck the Newlyn crossbar before Rochford again went close for Newlyn when another home shot went over the bar. Rochford was then scythed down on the edge of the penalty area that allowed Chris Sturgess to try his luck from the resulting free kick but his curling shot flew inches wide of the far post.

The Looe keeper was proving a match for Newlyn’s numerous efforts and Ball, Rochford and Probert were all denied again before the interval.

Half-time saw Newlyn’s management team make three changes – Mugford and Woodgate replacing Rochford and Probert whilst club captain Jack Thompson - who has been absent from Newlyn’s midfield since the middle of January - returned to action in place of Cam Burt.

Woodgate made an immediate impact seeing his goal bound effort deflect over for another Saints corner. Mugford also was making his presence known and the dynamic midfielder saw his shot saved only for Ball to react quickest and score by smashing home to restore Newlyn’s advantage on 52 minutes.

Newlyn were now enjoying long periods of possession and were able to bring on Will Perry who made his much-anticipated return to the club he enjoyed many successful years with. Dan Ball saw another shot go close when on 60 minutes he chipped just over the bar. Looe were still a threat on counter attacks and Vickers made a great save low to his left to keep Newlyn’s lead. Brooker then had another shot saved only for Mugford’s follow up to be cleared off the line by a defender.

Brooker made the scoreline more comfortable for Newlyn when his lobbed shot on 67 minutes saw the keeper unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line. Newlyn made sure of all the points their play, especially in the second half deserved when with just 3 minutes remaining a fine move down the right saw a pass played into Mugford who let the ball run across his body, swivelled and fired a low, curling left foot shot low into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of the keeper.

Newlyn knew this was a game they had to win and will be pleased to secure all of the points but know that realistically they should have won it more comfortably.

Newquay Osteopaths Man of the Match: Dan Ball