Illogan 2 Foxhole 1

[Darin Morse]

Illogan 2 Foxhole 1

Saturday 6th December 2008

Foxhole's abysmal cup form continued against opponents who routinely appeared a yard faster and who went ahead after only two minutes when Maynard's poor clearance was seized on by Treloar to finish easily. Although the Foxes settled and Butler, Bromley and Nicholls each threatened an equaliser, the best chances fell to the home team, as Hobbs off the line hacked Sturmey's close range effort and Holland had to dive smartly to his left to deny Treloar a second. The Illogan forward line, led by the towering Cowper, held up the ball impressively and were much better served from midfield than Foxhole's, who were too often required to compete for high balls against the imposing Roberts and Calloway. Nevertheless, Hobbs ought to have levelled on the half hour but somehow headed wide Butler's deep free kick from six yards.

Foxhole enjoyed their best spell just after the break, but Warne twice failed to beat the keeper when well placed, while Rowe's header from Prince's cross lacked power. Against the run of play, Illogan doubled their lead on 57 as Widdershoven latched on to Wyatt's huge kick to lob the advancing Holland. The Foxes' switch to 3-4-3 quickly paid off when Rickard's fine run and cross was turned home with 21 minutes left by Bromley, who unfortunately injured himself in the process; within seconds, referee Howes adjudged Adam Holland's challenge on Cowper worthy both of a penalty and a caution, but Billy Holland brilliantly beat Cowper's firmly struck spot-kick before smothering the rebound.

The Foxes swarmed forward in a valiant bid to force extra time but the vocal Wyatt's tremendous save from Adam Holland's fierce drive was the only occasion he was seriously tested, although Calloway was fortunate to get away with a blatant push on Nicholls in the box. Illogan probably deserved their victory but the rough tactics they employed in the closing stages did them no credit, the referee inexplicably electing only to punish Williams for a first half foul on Butler.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Billy Holland 8; Matt May 6, Phil Hobbs 6, Mark Rowe 7, Lewis Prince 6; Andrew Butler 6, Jason Warne 6, Ross Maynard 5 (sub. Adam Holland 6), Adam Bromley 6 (sub. Kyle Friendship 6); Carl Rickard 6, Liam Nicholls 6.

Illogan (4-4-2): Barry-John Wyatt; Sam Fenton, Aaron Clarke (sub. Mark Pope), Matt Calloway, Jason Roberts; Ben Widdershoven, Gary Sturmey, Craig Williams (sub. Steve Tremayne), Rob Bray; Andy Cowper (sub. Ryan Cooper), Ryan Treloar.

Referee: Mr Andre Howes (Mousehole) 6.