SWPL WEST St Austell AFC 3 Liskeard Athletic FC 1
- Details
- Created on Saturday, 24 October 2020 22:07
- Published on Saturday, 24 October 2020 22:07
- Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at Poltair
Two goals in the last eight minutes secured a deserved home victory for St Austell against a Liskeard side who had led for the best part of an hour.
The Blues had taken a 10th minute lead courtesy of James Lorenz’s 23rd goal of the season and it took until eight minutes into the second half for the home side to level it up thanks to an own goal.
Seconds earlier Lorenz looked certain to make it 2-0 but home keeper Jason Chapman made a magnificent save.
With the match delicately poised, Lorenz limped off just after the hour and St Austell grabbed the initiative with a series of dangerous forays, mainly from the left wing.
They eventually took the lead in the 82nd minute when Chris Kilbey slid in at the far post to tap in a superb low cross from Cam Bidgood.
Three minutes earlier Liskeard had had a great opportunity but Ian Taylor’s fierce drive was brilliantly kept out by Chapman.
That’s how thin the difference can be between winning and losing – and to rub salt into Liskeard’s wounds, Bidgood made it 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 88th minute after Jack Podmore had been harshly adjudged to have fouled Kilbey.
In the ensuing dispute about the spot kick, Macauley Thorp was sent to the sin bin and Liskeard’s hopes went with him.
St Austell were worthy winners. It is refreshing to see a club, which has this season introduced a policy of giving home-grown players their chance, thriving.
Mark Smith’s young side are good to watch, they work extremely hard as a unit, and they battle to the end. They have no outfield star names, simply a good, close-knit team.
This was a second successive defeat for Liskeard but there’s no need to panic. Their first half performance, inspired by midfield men Thorp and Jarrad Woods, was excellent and if they had taken their chances in the opening 20 minutes when they were the better side, they would have been three goals clear.
Even this St Austell side might have found that difficult to come back from.
The news on Lorenz’s injury is encouraging, to the point that he felt he could have played on. But by the time he had got himself back on his feet on the sidelines after treatment from joint manager Martin Hodge, the Blues had already sent substitute Jack Podmore on in his place.
St Austell J Chapman, J Rogers, Z Smith-Brokenshire (B Thomas 58), K Friendship (M Duff 60), K Barrett, K Powell, M Searle, G Marris, A Butler (K Bishop 71), C Kilbey, C Bidgood. Subs not used: J Craddock, B Allen (gk).
Goals: own goal 53 Kilbey 82 Bidgood 88 pen
Liskeard L Gwillam, J Discombe, M Outtram, T Savigar (C Brown 51), D Peel, M Thorp, L Johnson, J Lorenz (J Podmore 62), I Thomas, J Woods, B Collins. Sub not used: T Cleveland.
Goal J Lorenz 10
Referee Graeme Martin
Attendance 173
SWSN Star George Marris
St Austell huddle post-match pic image credit KJM Sport
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