Foxhole 1 Camelford 7

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 1 Camelford 7

Tuesday 19th April 2011

Foxhole's depleted outfit were no match for the champions-elect, capitulating spectacularly inside the opening twenty-four minutes of the second-half to concede five goals with some hapless defending. Already missing Ralph, Spaul and Adam Holland, the limping Rescorl's withdrawal after only nine minutes merely heightened fears of impending doom. By then, the Camels were already a goal up, their route-one tactics, evidently necessitated by the absence of injured schemer Balsdon, paying dividends within two minutes to present Pooley with a simple finish. Skipper for the night Holland soon had to move smartly to deny Pooley an almost immediate second, the loose ball somehow being poked wide with the net gaping by Reynolds, who then saw the keeper field his flick before releasing Boxall, whose effort bobbled wide.

Such was Camelford's dominance, Griffin's fine equaliser on 34 came somewhat out of the blue, but at least it was to prove the goal of the game, following some excellent work from Kempthorne. Unfortunately, the Foxes were on level terms for only three minutes: after the referee inexplicably deemed Grose's challenge on Murt unfair, Holland was unable to hold Gusterson's free kick, allowing Menhinick to bag the rebound. Rundle was booked for querying the award, as was Reynolds, also for dissent, as the visitors ended the half threatening a third, Gusterson going closest with a header from Boxall's centre.

Trudgian's departure within moments of the restart left a midfield void not even the willing Rundle could fill, to spark a woeful and meek surrender. On 50, Pooley's low cross from the right was parried to the opportunist Menhinick for his second tap in of the evening, and, two minutes later, Gusterson fed Reynolds whose centre seemed to roll over the line off Allen, with Menhinick again lurking. The rapid introduction of their three substitutes did not materially affect the rampant Camels' rhythm, as they added a fifth on 63, Pooley's cross being cleverly headed home by Gusterson. With the Foxes' defence at sixes and sevens, the visitors notched a sixth four minutes later through Andrew and a seventh with twenty-one minutes still remaining, Mr Howes again failing to win the approval of the home crowd with a mystifying penalty decision, Gusterson at least having the grace to look suitably embarrassed as he drove his spot-kick straight down the middle.

With almost a quarter of the match left, double figures was a realistic prospect, but Menhinick squandered his chance of a hat-trick by chipping over the bar, Metherall blazed too high from twelve yards from a pass by Gusterson (whose ability to find space was undoubtedly succoured by the inexperienced Foxes' disinclination to mark), while Looker's twenty-five yard free kick was safely gathered. The time taken to note down Griffin's ineluctable caution for tangling with a startled Boxall, and for treating Holland's leg injury, offered hope that the light would fail sufficiently, or perhaps heavy rain may set in, but the unpropitious weather conditions the village is otherwise routinely afflicted by, remained defiantly absent.

Foxhole (3-4-3): Ryan Holland; Daniel Allen, Tony Mackellar (sub. Joe Egan), David Grose; Brandon Tregidga, Tom Rescorl (sub. James Cutlan), Michael Kempthorne, Adam Trudgian (sub. Duane Upton); Richard Griffin, Aydan Rundle, CJ Bird.

Camelford (4-4-2): Josh Colwill; Dave Cann (sub. Dan Metherall), Shane Looker, Martin Haynes, Adam Sleep; Ryan Pooley, Paul Menhinick, Andy Boxall, Kevin Murt (sub. David Andrew); Mark Gusterson, Gyles Reynolds (sub. Lewis Impleton).

Referee: Mr Andre Howes (Mousehole).

[Can't keep up?!]

A great 3 points for the Camels towards their quest for the SWPL Div one west title!

[goosefish]

darin u failed 2 mention the ref was an ass that looked like he'd never even watched the game b4-total joker he would of looked more at home in willy wonkas chocolate factory :SM_carton: