Falmouth Town will walk out at their Bickland Park home as league and cup champions this weekend when Newquay make the trip to west Cornwall on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Town’s Cornwall Senior Cup final triumph over Wendron United in their last outing on Easter Monday completed a memorable bank holiday weekend for the club, having been crowned South West Peninsula League Premier West champions three days earlier on Good Friday.
The pair of victories capped off what has been an extraordinary campaign for Andrew Westgarth’s side, who have won 33 times and lost just once across both competitions.
Now, five days after completing that league and cup double, Town will enjoy the chance to kickstart a lap of honour on home soil with the first of three games at Bickland Park over the final eight days of the campaign.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, Westgarth said: “We’re on the home stretch now and the pressure is off. The Easter weekend was quite an intense period with a lot riding on it and decisions had to be made.
“We knew the significance of those two games and to get them both won in the manner in which we did was so pleasing.
“It almost feels like now we can do a victory lap, which is great and I think the boys can really enjoy the last three games with no pressure and see off what has been a memorable season.”
He added: “We want to finish the season as strong as possible because we’ve got the Champions Bowl game to play for as well, which is another chance to collect some silverware.
“We had a great party on Monday [after the final] and then gave the boys five days’ rest and now we can go again and look forward to these three games.”
Newquay come into Saturday’s game during one of their poorest runs of the season, having lost four of their last five games – including a 3-1 defeat to bottom side St Dennis two weeks ago before suffering a 5-1 humbling at the hands of cross-town rivals Godolphin Atlantic on Good Friday.
Cam Turner’s spot-kick was all Craig Ainslie’s side could take from their derby duel at Mount Wise, with goals from Matty Walker (2), Eli Evans (2) and Josh Margetts making for a not-so-Good Friday for the Peppermints.
A 1-1 draw at Bodmin Town on Wednesday night put an end to their run of four successive defeats, although it could and perhaps should have been three points but for a late penalty save from Bodmin stopper Adam Robathan deep into stoppage time.
Falmouth will be familiar with Newquay, having already played the Peppermints twice on the north coast this season. Town ran out 4-0 winners when they met in the Senior Cup quarter-final in January, before triumphing 3-0 in the league game at the start of March.
“The Senior Cup game was a massive moment in our season and they did give us a tough game [in the league game],” Westgarth said. “They’ve found a bit of bad form and are struggling, and I think teams that are struggling are probably looking forward to the season ending so they can regroup and recharge the batteries before they go again.”
He added: “I’m sure it’s a game they’ll want to reclaim some pride back [after the Godolphin defeat]. Having played for Newquay myself I know how much the Newquay-Godolphin games mean to the town and I’m sure they’re hurting as a club.
“I’m sure Craig [Ainslie] is a bit disappointed with it and I’m sure there will be a reaction.”
Last five games: Falmouth Town
April 18: Falmouth Town 1-0 Wendron United (Senior Cup)
April 15: Penryn Athletic 2-3 Falmouth Town (SWPL)
April 9: Falmouth Town 4-0 St Dennis (SWPL)
April 2: St Blazey 0-2 Falmouth Town (SWPL)
March 26: Sticker 1-3 Falmouth Town (SWPL)
Last five games: Newquay
April 20: Bodmin Town 1-1 Newquay (SWPL)
April 15: Newquay 1-5 Godolphin Atlantic (SWPL)
April 5: St Dennis 3-1 Newquay (SWPL)
April 2: Launceston 2-0 Newquay (SWPL)
March 25: Camelford 3-0 Newquay (SWPL)