FALMOUTH TOWN 2-1 SHAFTESBURY
Falmouth Town completed our first Southern Leauge season with our third straight win and extended their unbeaten, run to 5 games, made all the more impressive since those games had all taken place in the last 7 days.
It is testament to the depth and spirit of this squad, and the support and indeed quality of Jon Perrow’s reserve side, that they have achieved this run missing many of the season’s key players. Today it was Tom Annear, Cam Hutchison, Luke Barner, Fred Walter, Bradley Leivers, Jacob Bowker, Jared Sims and Ollie Walker who were unavailable. To bring some experience to the young squad, Kirk Davies made his first start ever in the Southern League at Centre Back at 38 years of age.
The game was delayed by two hours as Shaftesbury were delayed on the A35 by an serious accident. Hence Falmouth knew that a win would give them a top ten finish and they started strongly. 10 minutes in, Luke Brabyn broke forward and created a one on one with the Shaftesbury keeper Shane Murphy, but Murphy saved well as Brabyn tried to put the ball between his legs. One minute later and Ollie Evans broke down the left and shot across the keeper, but he saved well again.
On the half hour mark Evans again broke down the right and played in the fast-improving Ned Symons on the overlap. He intelligently pulled the ball back from the touch-line to Jack Bray-Evans but he saw his shot saved well again by Murphy.
However, in the 39th minute, Town conceded against the run of play. A cross from the right found Shaftesbury’s Leighton Thomas who headed it past Coxhead, as Everall tried to make the block on the line.
The half finished with Falmouth still trailing at 1-0, but they only needed to wait four minutes before they deservedly equalised. A great ball down the right flank by Ned Symons found Rubin Wilson. With only the keeper to beat, Falmouth’s top scorer slotted his shot past Murphy and it was 1-1.
As the game progressed, Shaftesbury looked like they could cut through Falmouth’s defence at any time, especially when the speedy Tobias Holmes got on the ball. Harrison Jewell though was having another impressive game alongside Kirk Davies in the centre of the defence. What a signing he has proven to be this season.
Falmouth were still looking dangerous though when in possession with Jack Bray-Evans linking up well again with Wilson. Whatever Bray-Evans decides to do next season, there is no doubt that he has made a big difference to Falmouth’s performances over the last week, and he has undoubtedly brought the best out of Wilson.
Twenty-seven minutes into the second half, the front two combined to score the eventual winning goal. It came from a great forward ball from sub James Henwood, the first player to appear for Falmouth in the Southern League as a result of Falmouth’s link-up with local youth team Falmouth Community Youth FC. Henwood picked out Wilson who held the ball up and then played in Jack Bray-Evans who shot emphatically past Murphy for his first goal back for the club. Recreating his goal celebration from his last spell at Falmouth, he ran behind the goal in front of the Packet End and high-fived the crowd before celebrating with his fellow Town players.
Falmouth then had to work hard to protect their lead, but Shaftesbury continued to ask questions. Symons in particular making several last gasp tackles and interceptions. He looks another real prospect amongst this talented group of players.
Jack Bray-Evans then pulled up injured and with all substitutes used, the stage was set for an end of season cameo from manager Andy Westgarth. To equal measures of applause and good-hearted banter, Westgarth entered the fray. As the crowd sung a song about eating pies, Westgarth scythed down a Shaftesbury midfielder and was shown a yellow card by referee Neil Lane, greeted by loud cheers from the Town faithful.
Falmouth eventually saw the game out and claimed another impressive and, under the circumstances, unlikely win given the number of games played and the number of players being unavailable. With favourable results elsewhere, Falmouth finished their first ever season in the Southern League in a very creditable 9th place. A result that seemed unlikely before their mid-season rally following the Boxing Day win over Mousehole, when relegation looked more likely.
As has been the case in every one of Westgarth’s seasons in charge, Falmouth have maintained a continuous improvement, sticking to their ethos of promoting and developing young Cornwall-based players, which has resulted in the squad having an unbreakable spirit which has carried them through some periods of diversity, such as the runs of narrow defeats and the fixture congestion at the end of their campaign.
Falmouth now have two weeks to prepare for what might be the highlight of their season as they bid to retain the coveted Cornwall Senior Cup on Saturday, May 10th at Mount Wise in Newquay. It promises to be a great day out with four coaches of fans filled and many more making their own way there. A win would be a fitting end to another excellent season for Falmouth Town.
Goals:
Falmouth Town
Rubin Wilson 48′
Jack Bray-Evans 77′
Shaftesbury
Leighton Thomas 39′
Att:338
Shaftesbury: Shane Murphy, Mitchell McCann, Alefe Santos Dabadia, Tobias Holmes, Cameron Beard, Sam Davidson, Ryan King, Connor Cocklin, Leighton Thomas, Luke Delaney, Luke Burbridge. Subs: Aiden Viney, Moss Collis.
Referee Neil Lane.