Perranporth 2 Foxhole 2

[Darin Morse]

Perranporth 2 Foxhole 2

Saturday 18th February 2012

Despite dominating the opening ten minutes during which time they could easily have scored five times but were unable even to test Ben Mitchell, a desperately disappointing Foxhole were ultimately indebted to a fortuitous eighty-seventh minute equaliser from Ben Spaul, whose speculative effort from twenty-five yards really ought to have been saved. It would no doubt have been a totally different story had Morrison's goal-bound effort inside three minutes had not been deflected wide by Moustrides, had Stephen not twice tamely misdirected headers when well-placed, had Mewton been able to strike a shot on the turn with more conviction or had Turton's lob dipped under rather than over the crossbar. As it was, it appeared to dawn on Perranporth it might just be their day and proceeded to more than match the Foxes for the remaining eighty minutes, being driven on by the muscle of Miles in midfield while the speedy strike partners Wilton and Sanders ensured the visiting defence, so impressive recently against Newquay, were made to endure numerous hairy moments.

Skipper Adam Holland was no more ruthless than his attacking colleagues, squandering a hat-trick of opportunities midway through the first half, twice with more poorly directed headers and then failing to pull the trigger following a clever dead-ball move orchestrated by the surprisingly deep-lying Trudgian. Efforts from both Turton and May failed to unduly stretch Mitchell either, while some fairly lackadaisical play by Morrison and then Turton twice let in Sanders to race clear only to finish weakly. The Foxes were grateful that Sanders' finishing or first touch did not match his explosive pace on a couple of other occasions too, while both Wilton and Miles also displayed disconcerting profligacy.

The half-time topic concerning the small visiting faithful was whether their side would pay for failing to make the most of the strong wind and their fears were realised as the Foxes conceded twice before the hour mark. Soon after Dark had nodded over Laithwaite's corner and Ryan Holland had parried away Miles' thunderous drive, Sanders opened the scoring on forty-nine minutes, heading home at the near post an inviting centre from Barnes, who then made it 2-0 seven minutes later when his inswinging corner eluded everybody.

A timely response was required and Butler reduced the arrears on sixty-four when he flicked home Mewton's low cross from the right but it did not prompt a massive improvement, allowing the home team to comfortably deal with a series of unconvincing attacks even after a reshuffle which saw Trudgian pushed upfront. Further attempts from distance by Miles brought the best out of Holland while outside-left Dark continued to look dangerous although he blotted his copy book with a caution following a poor challenge on Spaul, whose late leveller came right out of the blue. Even then there was still time for Wilton to twice almost steal a deserved winner, Holland's clearance ricochetting off the onrushing forward only for the ball to roll agonisingly wide before a cross cum shot crashed against the outside of the upright.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Ryan Holland; Oliver Morrison, Ben Thomas, Adam Holland, Ryan Stephen; Andrew Butler, Pete May (sub. Joe Stone), Ben Spaul, Adam Trudgian; Connor Mewton, Ross Turton (sub. Richard Faircloth).

Perranporth (4-4-2): Ben Mitchell; Matt Laithwaite, Ed Rowe (sub. Alex Barnes), Sam Moustrides, Jason Barber; Sam Barnes, Lee Dark, Andy Miles, Ross Maynard; Ed Wilton, Aaron Sanders.

Referee: Mr Tony Allen (Bodmin).

[mini-mitch]

"Foxhole were ultimately indebted to a fortuitous eighty-seventh minute equaliser from Ben Spaul, whose speculative effort from twenty-five yards really ought to have been saved"

Harsh considering it was tipped onto the crossbar before spinning in off the line.

"A timely response was required and Butler reduced the arrears on sixty-four when he flicked home Mewton's low cross from the right"

It was actually a Jason Barber own goal but I suppose he won't want to claim it anyway.