SWPL WEST Three teams now under new management
- Details
- Created on Saturday, 28 November 2020 13:52
- Last Updated on Saturday, 28 November 2020 23:13
- Published on Saturday, 28 November 2020 13:53
- Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT Cornwall football's touchline ace
Second Half of KEVIN MARRIOTT's superb South West Peninsula Premier West season-so-far summary... The first burst of the season might have lasted only nine weeks but three of the 20 clubs in Premier West have already experienced managerial changes.
Bottom of the table Godolphin Atlantic had hoped the arrival of Andy Savage would turn the club’s fortunes around for the new campaign but after a challenging start, he felt he could not take the G forward.
Godolphin lost 12 of their 13 league games – the only point collected came from a 1-1 draw at St Dennis – and they stand on minus two points after failing to raise a team for the trip to Saltash United.
The latest break may have come at a good time for the club, who now have Paul Clarke, Adam Paterson and Josh Stockdale in place as the new management team.
After a poor start Launceston also decided to make changes at the top and have given former Plymouth Parkway and Saltash United favourite Dan Hart his first chance as a manager.
Hart, who played for the Clarets last season, will be assisted by former Ivybridge Town stalwart Todd Hanrahan, while Matt Hodgetts stays on as head coach.
Launceston showed signs of improving under Brad Gargett and Mike Bridgeman after a poor start which included an 8-0 home defeat to Mousehole on the opening day.
After eight successive defeats, the Clarets opened their account on October 3 with an impressive 4-1 victory over Wendron which featured a rampant four-goal first half.
Three days later Launceston played well again before being edged out 3-2 at early pacesetters Camelford but a 5-1 defeat at home to Saltash United proved to be Gargett’s last in charge.
Callington Town player-manager and club legend Sam Borthwick decided to step down after a 2-1 defeat at St Austell on October 7, the latest in a series of poor results.
Club chairman Steve Blatchford stepped in to be caretaker manager and Cally ended their pre-lockdown fixtures with a surprising and welcome 1-0 win at Newquay courtesy of Ross Rice’s late goal.
And goalkeeper Borthwick jumped at the chance to join title hopefuls Helston, where he starred in the side’s penalty shootout FA Vase victory at St Blazey at the end of last month.
Penzance have played only one game at their Penlee Park home – and that was a 6-0 defeat against an in-form Saltash side when both teams used the nearby Pirates ground for showers after the game.
There have been problems with the facilities at Penlee, with a leaky roof on the dressing rooms and clubhouse building leading to the electrics inside being turned off.
Penzance’s other 11 matches have been away, with victories at Callington, Godolphin and Sticker.
Porthleven’s three wins so far this season have come at their Gala Parc home against Callington, Penzance and St Austell.
Cup commitments and floodlight problems at Blaise Park restricted St Blazey to seven league games before lockdown, so they will expect to start climbing the table from 15th position when they catch up with fixtures.
Joint managers Shaun Vincent and Matt Hayden, who steadied the ship last season after some barren years at the club, have added quality signings this year.
Dan Perryman and Jack Alexander offer a real threat in attack while Jake Miller has provided quality and passion in midfield.
St Dennis were third from bottom of the table when last season was curtailed and they had won only five of their 25 matches.
This season’s 15 games have brought three wins and recent signings suggest the club is looking to push on when the campaign resumes.
They gave Bodmin a tough time at Boscawen Park; although losing 3-2, they pushed Darren Gilbert’s side all the way.
Sticker continue to try to play their attractive passing football and in Derrick Lucas they have one of the best left-sided midfield players in the league.
Lucas is their top scorer so far this season with nine goals but he offers Sticker much more with his range of passing.
Sticker will need to improve their home form, though, if they have ambitions to maintain a mid-table place. They have lost seven of their nine games at Burngullow Park, the only win a 4-1 triumph over Launceston.
Wendron United will resume in 13th place having made a steady start with four victories in 12 games, including a double over St Dennis.
They might be said to be punching above their weight but this a well run club with a team capable of matching anybody at their best.
Newquay sit comfortably at the top of the bottom half and have shown signs of climbing further.
They were ravaged by player unavailability in the early weeks of the season but a stunning 3-3 draw at Helston and a surprise 3-2 win at Saltash underlined their potential.
KEVIN MARRIOTT is a regular South West Sports News contributor reporting on non-League Cornwall football from touchlines across the county. Visit our match reports section for more of Kevin's top touchline views... and click here for the first half of Kevin's mid-season Peninsula West summary
Better still follow KJM Sport on twitter @KJMSport57
Action from Sticker vs Liskeard courtesy KJM Sport
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