Falmouth Town manager Andrew Westgarth felt his side had ‘righted a few wrongs’ in defeating St Blazey 2-0 at Blaise Park on Saturday.
Goals in either half from David Broglino and Luke Barner saw league leaders Town pick up their 26th win from 27 league games this season, and avenged their sole defeat of the campaign at home to the Green and Blacks back in February.
Phil Lafferty’s side posed a threat for the majority of the match, but their hopes of rescuing a point or three were dashed when defender Martin Giles saw red for a challenge on Luke Brabyn just after the hour.
It edges Town ever closer to the South West Peninsula League Premier West title, with Westgarth’s side potentially able to cross the finish line when they return to Bickland Park next week should they win and other results go their way.
“[It feels] absolutely brilliant – three points and a clean sheet,” Westgarth said at full-time. “We knew the significance of this game. They caused us a lot of problems in the second half but the red card was absolutely idiotic, a shocking tackle that could have really hurt [Brabyn]. [We then] get the second goal and see the game out and I thought it was fully deserved.”
He added: “I wouldn’t say they had loads of chances, but the chances were very, very big. We always knew it was going to be Liam Eddy [who would have chances]. I thought Callum Kenny was excellent as the centre-forward, but I thought Liam Eddy again was a constant threat but Barnesy [Ryan Barnes] was brilliant. It hurt us losing at home, and we’ve righted a few wrongs there today.”
Ryan Barnes was a popular choice for the man of the match award following a series of top saves to keep his side in control of the game. The dependable custodian, who has missed just one game so far this season, made three important one-on-one stops to deny Eddy and Kenny, and also offered up a save of the season contender to tip Eddy’s goalbound strike onto his crossbar and away in the first half.
“Too often we talk about the centre-forwards and how big an impact they have on our team, but Ryan Barnes – oh my God – two world-class saves,” Westgarth said. I’m not just saying it but that second one off Liam Eddy onto the bar [was incredible].
“The first one Liam would probably be disappointed because he’s gone clean through and probably had too much time, but that second one, I was right in line with it and he’s got his fingers to it and plucked it out of the air – absolutely top-drawer.”
The win, coupled with a 4-1 victory for Liskeard at Penzance, means Town require six more points to secure the title. Wins in their next two games against St Dennis and Penryn Athletic will do it, but victory against the Saints next week may be enough if Liskeard lose to Wadebridge, although Westgarth insists he is only focused on what his own team are doing.
“Nobody is going to do us any favours,” he said. “We know how it goes at the end of the season. For teams [not fighting for anything], generally that hunger goes, so it’s just all about what we do and it’s been the same all season.
“The message hasn’t changed, it’s all about what Falmouth Town do: three points, on to the next game and we just tick them off.”