Foxhole 2 Mousehole 0

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 2 Mousehole 0

Saturday 17th April 2010

Foxhole made hard work of beating their lowly opponents and had stand-in keeper Michael Barrett to thank to ensure the points, his handling from long-range efforts and a full-length save from Ivanov's late drive being especially impressive. Generally, the match was of disappointing quality, although not without chances for both sides from the start, Trevail trying his luck from distance within seconds. Rowe and Griffin should each have done better with close-range headers, and Kempthorne's determination in the tackle was unfortunately not matched with his subsequent shot, before the Foxes took the lead on 37 minutes when a high bounce on the firm surface struck Thomas on the arm, leaving the referee little option but to award a penalty which was confidently despatched by Rowe. Crosses from Pinhammer created opportunities for both Ansell and Rowe before the break, raising optimistic hopes of a second-half goal-rush which, sadly, were soon dashed

While Elstone and Matt Gendall went close just after the restart, the visitors were to offer no threat until Barrett's fine stop ten minutes from time. In the meantime, as the games as a spectacle deteriorated still further, Griffin blazed over from twelve yards following a good link up with Rowe, Hazeldine squandered a very presentable chance at the far post from Kempthorne's centre, and Griffin's speculative lob was easily gathered by the underworked Ryan Gendall. Adam Holland was cautioned for kicking the ball away and Hazeldine for dissent before Rowe finally scrambled home the second goal at the second attempt in stoppage time from Ansell's cross.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Michael Barrett; Adam Holland, Nick Carpenter, Richard Faircloth; Ross Pinhammer, Sam Kenny, Lee Hazeldine, Michael Kempthorne, Scott Ansell; Richard Griffin, Mark Rowe.

Mousehole (3-5-2): Ryan Gendall; Ali Thomas, Mark Trevail, James Tonkin; Caz James, Will Elstone, Jack Wing, Perryn Reynolds, Matthew Gendall; Emil Ivanov, Harvey James (sub. Denzil Keast).

Referee: Mr Tim Burley (Lanner).

Foxhole 2 Callington 2

Saturday 24th April 2010

Mark Rowe's penalty deep into stoppage time secured a point that was the least Foxhole deserved after a good display in which they created, and squandered, many opportunities. The Foxes went ahead on three minutes when Griffin beat the offside trap to race on to Kempthorne's pass to brilliantly lob Beman from twenty-five yards, but Callington responded immediately, as Faircloth did well to block the unmarked Burgoyne's shot and McShane flicking just wide Ashley Pook's free-kick. This set the tone for an entertaining end-to-end match, with the visitors clearly unable to cope with the pace of Griffin, who fired wide from Nicholls' assist and then lobbing over after Beman had misjudged a routine punt forward, while Callington often seemed capable of cutting through the home defence. Shortly after Ansell's effort had bobbled agonisingly wide, indecision between Faircloth and his keeper allowed Stevens, who had earlier hit a half-chance past the post, to toe-poke the equaliser from three yards in the final action of the first-half.

The second period was largely a story of Griffin being unable to blast Callington out of sight, rendering any last-gasp controversy irrelevant. First he headed straight at Beman from close-range, then he raced clear but could only find the legs of the keeper (Kempthorne blazing the rebound over the bar) before pulling his shot with the defenders trailing in his wake. Nicholls lifted a lob too high, Rowe set up substitute Bird, whose effort was blocked by McShane, and Pinhammer's volley clipped the bar, but the visitors also looked dangerous on the break as Mason outpaced Faircloth to force a fine save from Holland, Boon nodded over Green's corner before the same player shot wide at the near post. Five minutes from time, and not long after Kenny had been booked for a foul on McShane, left-back Boon again found himself in front of goal, but this time he fired into the corner, appearing to make Foxhole's profligacy very costly until Ashley Pook climbed onto Rowe's shoulders leaving referee Mills no alternative but to award a spot-kick.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Holland, Nick Carpenter, Richard Faircloth; Ross Pinhammer, Sam Kenny, Mark Rowe, Michael Kempthorne, Scott Ansell; Richard Griffin, Liam Nicholls (sub. CJ Bird).

Callington (4-4-2): Tom Beman; Matt Green, James Boon, Ashley Pook, Paul McAdam; Dennis Mason, Ryan McShane (sub. Lee Beer), Chris Clark, Jamie Pook; Sam Stevens (sub. Ryan Lucassi), Phil Burgoyne (sub. Mike Small).

Referee: Mr Mike Mills (Truro).

Foxhole 0 Perranporth 2

Tuesday 27th April 2010

Foxhole put a fine battling display but it was always a case of damage limitation against quicker and more composed opponents. Gosling created the first opening but Holland was equal to Rowson's effort before Davies twice broke clear down the left, being thwarted on each occasion by brave defending from Faircloth, who was soon also called upon to head off the line Rawlings' header. The bustling Trevaskis failed to control Davies' long ball, Harrington narrowly missed the target from distance and Harris somehow blazed over from six yards as the visitors' continued their search for the first goal, but the Foxes held firm, their only blemish in the first-half being Griffin's caution for a push on McQuade.

However, soon after Holland's fine save from Davies, Rowson's deep corner was headed in by the unmarked Stapleton on fifty-one minutes. Rather than opening the floodgates, Foxhole were instead to enjoy their best spell as Kempthorne volleyed over from the edge of the box and Burrows brilliantly denied Rowe, as the visiting defence were finally pressurised. It was therefore against the run of play that Harris notched the decisive second ten minutes from time, following up after Gosling's left-footed shot had been parried. Kenny came close to a late consolation, and Holland had to tip over Davies' drive, but the match petered out, although Hazeldine joined Griffin in the book for a challenge which caused substitute Brewer to be himself withdrawn.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Holland, Nick Carpenter, Richard Faircloth; Ross Pinhammer, Sam Kenny, Michael Kempthorne, Scott Ansell, Lee Hazeldine; Mark Rowe, Richard Griffin.

Perranporth (4-4-2): Daniel Burrows; Joe McQuade, Ben Goldring (sub. Sam Moustrides), Rob Stapleton, Dave Rawlings; Ian Gosling, Mike Davies, Dean Harris, Justin Harrington; Kayne Trevaskis (sub. Steve Brewer, sub. Kevin Lawrence), Steve Rowson.

Referee: Mr Steve Rose (Penryn).