Falmouth Town 2; Tiverton Town 1
Olly Evans 13’ Asa Hall 11’(pen)
Liam Prynn 14’
Att: 278.

Falmouth Town emerged victorious against their old rivals Tiverton Town by the odd goal in three in an exciting end-to-end encounter, which was ultimately defined by the profligate finishing of both sides, as gilt-edged chances were created, and spurned, throughout the game. All goals in fact being scored in a frantic 3-minute spell early in the first half.
Falmouth rotated their line-up from Saturday’s defeat at Hungerford Town with Malachy Davy, Andy Elcock and Olly Evans in for Paulo Sousa, Jack Webber and Jack Symons. Bradley Leivers was named on the bench as he continues his recovery from his recent injury. Former Falmouth Town player Josh Bissett lined up for Tiverton, having left to join the Devon club last month. Tiverton came into the game in good form having won two and drawn two of their last four games.
The first action of note culminated in Falmouth keeper Morgan Jones going down injured within the first two minutes. It was a fairly lengthy delay but the home side’s worries dissipated after a few minutes when he ran the injury off and posted another impressive display of goalkeeping.
All the fun started at the 10-minute mark when Harrison Jewell conceded a penalty after leaning into the ball in an attempt to control it, but was adjudged to have inadvertently brushed the ball with his arm. Referee Andrew Long pointed to the spot and Asa Hall stepped up to hit a powerful effort past Jones to open the scoring.
Falmouth promptly struck back within two minutes after a promising attack ended with a Massey strike which Tiverton keeper Louis Smith could only spill into the path of Olly Evans, who gleefully tapped it in. Within a minute Falmouth had added to their score. A break from Luke Barner down the right flank ended with a shot across the face of the goal. Smith again could only get one hand to the ball and striker Liam Prynn was on hand from one yard out to record his first goal for the club since joining in the summer from Mousehole.
As the game progressed, both attacking line-ups looked to have the upper hand on their defensive counterparts, and the succession of missed chances began. On 24 minutes Falmouth’s Oscar Massey was played through, but with only Smith to beat he saw his shot hit the bar and rebound to safety. Ten minutes from the end of the half, Tiverton had a good spell, with particularly their left back Corey Koerner looking dangerous going forward. A deep cross from the left was not cleared and the ball fell to Asa Hall who could only steer his free header over the bar from 3 yards out. Falmouth needed the half to finish and retain their all-important half-time lead, and somehow they managed it. However, few of the 278 onlookers would have thought that the 2-1 score-line would remain unchanged, given the open nature of the game thus far.
The second half started with a spate of yellow cards, with five being handed out by Long in a 15 minute period. Despite it not being a particularly physical game, most of the bookings were deserved due to a combination of late tackles and holding offences.
The chances continued and 11 minutes into the half Tiverton hit the crossbar. The ball then rebounded to Toby Stephens who miscued his shot with the goal at his mercy.
Tiverton were on top again, but 20 minutes in, Falmouth’s Prynn was played through with only Smith to beat, but Smith, not for the last time in the match, saved with his feet.
Oscar Massey had his own chance 11 minutes later, but Smith again saved with his feet to foil the prolific Falmouth wide man. History repeated itself soon after when another good chance for Massey was foiled by Smith.
The last part of the half was dominated by Falmouth, but both sides continued to carry a threat, and with six minutes of stoppage time added, the stalwarts who had chosen to watch the game, rather than stay in to watch the Champions League or watch a championship youth team over at Truro, were treated to an entertaining match that had jeopardy right up to the final whistle. Falmouth held on, and with other favourable results on the night, reclaimed 7th place in the league, and in-turn again occupy one of the prospective play-off places
Falmouth next face a real challenge away to the quirkily-named league high-flyers Swindon Supermarine on Saturday where they will be hoping to get something from the game to maintain their promising start to the season.

Falmouth Town: Morgan Jones, Malachy Davy, Max Cook, Harrison Jewell, Tom Annear, Jared Sims©, Andy Elcock, Olly Evans, Luke Barner, Liam Prynn, Oscar Massey. Subs: Aaron Ibbotson, Luke Brabyn, Jack Webber, Bradley Leivers, Jack Symons.
Tiverton Town: Louis Smith, Corey Koerner, Matthew Wood, Ed Palmer©, Josh Bissett, Asa Hall, Owen Howe, Toby Stephens, Jacob Welllington, Jack Kennell, Aaron Wellington. Subs: Louis Slough, Finn Roberts, Aiden Horne.
Ref: Andrew Long.