Ian Pethick

Shows how competitive this league is, and that points can easily be dropped on the road in midweek. Huge win for Parkway at North Leigh, the last 3 long Tuesday night trips have brought 7 points from a possible 9. Says a lot regarding the preparedness of the coaching staff, plus the attitude and togetherness amongst the squad. See that Weston could only manage a goalless draw at the Met Police. Race for play off spots is super tight, with even 12th placed Tiverton thinking they can get involved. As Parkway gradually eat away at their games in hand, they are only 2 points behind them..

Somewhat naively, I thought that the events at Blazey v Bude might have caused a few to reflect on their own behaviour.

Brislington FC Twitter retweeting comments made by people suggesting that Western Prem clubs will now be "queuing up" to take voluntary relegation. What a mess.

Pretty sure Hanwell players aren't on wages. My workmates (some of whom are involved in non league football around the London area) are amazed when I tell them what step 5/6 players in Cornwall (allegedly) get as "expenses."

Many of the Truro players will be on contracts, and several of the Parkway players are (the money from this is meant as some compensation for having to take unpaid leave), some will have to take it out of their annual leave entitlement and others will have understanding bosses who let them move their hours around. If you're self employed, you just lose money I guess. Make no mistake though, non league football at this level is a huge commitment. Not just the playing, but also the twice a week training sessions. I currently work with someone who has refereed at various levels up to step 1, and has been an assistant in the Football League. That required similar levels of dedication , especially for midweek games.

Very tough looking Tuesday night trip to Oxfordshire for Parkway against a North Leigh side that, despite being bottom of the table, have won 3 of their last 5 league matches. It will be a case of "big hearts and strong minds being needed" (to quote Alan Hansen) if Parkway are going to come back home in the early hours of Wednesday morning with anything. Memories of the 4,0 reverse against then bottom side Yate when they went there on a Tuesday night back in October will still be fresh in the minds, and a reminder of what happens if you aren't totally tuned in mentally and physically. Not any easier for Truro either, 5th placed Poole are unbeaten at home in the league since they lost to Salisbury at their place back in August.

Would be interesting if the minutes from the meetings held were ever made public. Could see what was discussed, what the points of disagreement were and when it started to go wrong.

Wow. (Not altogether surprising though).

From listening to Andy Westgarth on the CS Podcast (recorded immediately after the home defeat to Saltash), it sounded like he had a seriously depleted squad due to player unavailability in school half term week (and didn't sound best pleased about it). Would guess that this carried on into the Millbrook game. 4 games, 4 losses, 0 goals scored is quite a crash in form though (regardless of playing strength), especially after the previous run of 6 wins in 6 league games they were on.

Read that the average price of a pint in the UK is now £5.99 (£3.96 in Cornwall though), was wondering what the best value pint is to be had in a Cornish football clubhouse. I would imagine that St Austell Tribute is a good benchmark ale, with a pint of Fosters or Carling being the most likely comparison on the draught lager side.

This from Ireland last November. https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/dublin-soccer-referees-to-strike-following-recent-alleged-assault-incidents-42118842.html

Fear that it's only a matter of time before a referee is assaulted during or after the game. Agree with CupFootballBlogger about it being a sad state of affairs that body cams for officials are now being openly proposed, and the reasons normalised. What next, stab vests as part of a ref's kit?

People talk about Parkway's spending but, from what I gather, Lee Hobbs works within pretty well defined budgets (and sticks to them). They do also have decent gates at Bolitho, and the commercial and sponsorship revenues do seem to be developing all the time under a full time commercial manager.

You can find plenty of similar stories over the years right through the NLS pyramid. In Cornwall you have the examples of Falmouth Town and Truro City. Too many clubs flying too close to the sun, with many enjoying the experience while it lasted.

And people still scratch their heads and wonder why players, officials, volunteers and supporters are walking away from grassroots football.

Really good interview with Penzance media man, James Wright, on the CS Podcast last week. Sounds like good things are starting to happen at Penlee Parc, a really good story to counter what seems to have went on between Blazey and Bude yesterday.

Losing to Winchester and the goalless draw at home against Hartley (who also took a point off Truro yesterday), shows that you have be at your best in this league to get anything from teams fighting to stay up. Parkway's next games are away to basement side North Leigh on Tuesday, and back at Boltho against 4th from bottom Yate on Saturday. Lee Hobbs will be well aware of the potential for slipping up here, and the risk of getting dragged back into the relegation dog fight.

You'd need to be on a Premier League player's salary to eat or drink at the new Tottenham Stadium. Battered sausage and chips will get you a few coins change from a tenner (£9.79). Or ,for the bargain price of £4.29,you can enjoy a sausage roll.

Thanks Both Sides. I am a believer that clubs do eventually reach their ceiling, perhaps Tavi have reached this point. Maybe because he isn't at a Cornish club, but I don't think that Stuart Henderson gets the recognition he deserves for what he has achieved (and continues to achieve). He does have a real knack of discovering and polishing gems rather than bringing in the finished articles, but this can only go on for so long. With Lewis Daw, Dave Hallett, Watson and Robins all moving away over the last year or so (and mainstay players such as Dan Evans, Josh Oak and Josh Grant also possibly reaching the end of the line) it does feel a bit like we might be reaching the end of this particular (golden) era for the club. I find it significant that Shane Krac is now on the coaching staff there, possible future manager?

If The Ashes aren't very careful here, they could accidentally get promoted. Won their last 4, now 10 pts clear of 3rd placed Bridgwater (although they've played 3 more games). 3 defeats on the bounce now for Falmouth, and no goals scored in those matches. Need to get back to winning (and scoring) ways at Bickland on Saturday against a Millbrook side that hasn't won away in the league since October.

Tavistock 0 Bashley 2 The thing that caught my eye though was the attendance at Langsford Park for this, a mere 119. Looked like it was a nice evening for it (by February standards), half term week, not much other football in the area, Tavi in play off contention, yet a pretty meagre turn out. Still a lot better though than the paltry 78 that paid to watch Willand v Bishops Cleeve up the road. Truro's gates have been discussed at length on here, but 135 to watch a bang in form side potentially going top of their league is terrible Is the return of Champions League football on TV (and Arsenal v Man City last night) a factor across all these clubs, a case of people being skint or just plain apathy?

Again, not been a frequent visitor to grounds on the scene for years, but (based on past visits) going to go for Lux Park, Liskeard. Although Beryl and Tracey at Parkway ran a very good operation. To me, Buckland is exempt from the discussions as to call it a "tea hut" does it a disservice. More of a cafe or diner. Wonder if the "Pasty League" thread from many years ago is still in the archive somewhere? Certainly divided opinions, and got one or two hot under the collar.

At least they fulfilled the fixture I guess. Seems like "no shows" in the Peninsula League haven't been as much of an issue this season (hope I haven't spoken too soon).

From my past days following Plymouth Parkway in the Peninsula League. Best Lux Park, Liskeard- Great food and drink in the tea hut, plenty of cover and hard standing. Penlee Parc, Penzance- Loved the trip down on the train, lovely old stand and the best spectator entrance in Cornwall. Edge Down, Witheridge - Not the best spectator facilities, but good and drink and a nice group of people that seemed genuinely pleased you had made the long journey to the back of beyond (or North Devon as it's sometimes called). Worst (just my personal opinion) Priory Park, Bodmin- A large, but decrepit stand, that (when not hosting football) served as a location for the towns undesirables doing God knows what at night. Very small, but unpleasant, group of supporters. Erme Valley, Ivybridge (before the pitch was moved and ground developed, floodlights added)- Always bloody waterlogged, got drenched there as no cover or hard standing available and had the misfortune of standing next to someone who, mid conversation, unzipped this trousers and urinated against the back of the subs bench. Charming. Kimberley Stadium, Saltash- Felt like it was stuck in the 70's. Lack of hard standing, miserable supporters who had a superiority complex (even in the times when the team was poor, they still lived on past glories), crap food and difficult to park. Something about the place just always felt unpleasant ( I'm from Liskeard, so it is in my DNA to hate the place).

Still a huge achievement though. This sort of injury used to finish careers, and plenty of players were never quite the same afterwards. Needs games now to get match sharpness (and confidence) back.