Jim’s five star toppers
News Archive > Sport > Jim’s five star toppers
It was another game of two halves on Saturday, as Newquay struggled to find any rhythm to their play in the first 45mins, the home club were looking to claim a big name scalp before they depart the SWPL at the end of the season.
The Tamarside club have struggled to attract players and supporters to the attractive Mill Park ground, a point highlighted as the travelling Newquay fans outnumbered the home support by 3 to 1, once again giving Millbrook their biggest gate of the season for the third year running.
The committee have taken over all roles dispensing of paid staff to keep the club afloat, but without the villagers support the club had no alternative but to pull out of the SWPL at the end of the season, they will drop two Divisions to the East Cornwall League Div One.
With Paul Robertson out after an operation and other absentees Paul Hampshire, Scott Palmer and Orrin Crowle, manager Hilton was forced to name his 16yr old son Lewis and assistant manager Lee Hawkey as substitutes.
Former Truro City favourite Christian Lett stepped up from Newquay's reserves to pair up with Luke Weldhen in what looked to be a formidable front line, Middleton and Rigby controlled the centre of the park, with Sam Hunter and Jake Hartigan patrolling the wings.
It was Millbrook who looked the more lively in the early exchanges and Ryan Barnes had to be on his toes on a couple of occasions.
It took The Peppermints 17mins to break the deadlock, as Lett controlled a throw in from the right. turned in the box and fired home from 12 yards.
The remainder of the half ebbed and flowed with neither side looking likely to add to the scoring, the only moment of concern being when Barnes looked to be suffering an injury, he managed to last the full 90mins no doubt grateful that there is no game for two weeks.
McKune and Bicknell had little to do but ensured that what defending was required of them, was completed without fuss.
Whatever was said at half time worked but only after the home side looked to equalise as they started the brightest, Dean and Bradshaw working hard to protect the struggling Barnes.
And it was Bradshaw who broke down the right to set up a swift move that ended with Sam Hunter slotting home at the far post on 52mins. Letts got his second on 62mins after a Hartigan free kick on the right was punched clear, only for the ball to be returned over the top of the defence, Lett ran onto it and slotted past the advancing keeper.
Manager Hilton brought on his son Lewis for his first team debut, the youngster certainly did not look out of place and the Newquay Youth production line seems to have unearthed yet another talent.
With just 8mins remaining, Luke Weldhen got the goal he deserved, collecting the ball on the edge of the area and surrounded by four defenders, he fired home an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
Assistant manager Lee Hawkey came on with just minutes to go and rounded off a good second half for The Peppermints with a goal from the very top drawer.
Tom Hunter who had also come on as a substitute laid the ball into the path of Hawkey 25 yards out, he took the ball in his stride and casually curled it right footed into the top corner much to the delight of everyone who had travelled from Mount Wise.
Newquay remain top of the table but must hope that the teams immediately below them, take points of each other in the games to come.
St Austell have yet to face Newquay at Mount Wise on Tues 6th April and must also play the other title challengers Perranporth and Hayle, the latter also play each other so points will be dropped by someone along the way.
All four clubs have also applied for promotion but Newquay are the only club certain to attain the ground grading required by the SWPL, the others all have major works required on their grounds.
This Saturday, the SWPL have a day off so Newquay Combination League side take centre stage again at Mount Wise against old rival Falmouth Town 2.30pm kick off. Sat 20th March sees the SWPL side travel to Plymouth to take on Vospers Oak Villa.
Man of the match - Sam Hunter, his best game in a Peppermints shirt.
SWPL Football Div 1 West Millbrook AFC 0 - 5 Newquay AFC REPORT by Mark Charles
